Thank you for the supports and interest toward the Lezhin Comics issue. There are numerous problems around the issue, so I would like to list up the major incidences periodically.
1.On August 2017, Lezhin Comics Korea suddenly announced the closer of web-novel service to their writers only two weeks before the actual termination date. Although the company held web-novel contest in order to hire new authors, just two months later, 
Lezhin Comics closed the service and fired the authors saying that the web-novel service was not making enough profit. The authors and platform users were very upset when they heard this irresponsible notice. The authors claimed for the proper announcements
about the service termination, and asked for the extension of the period of remaining service. As a result the company delayed the termination date to a month from two weeks, so the web-novel service ended on Sept. 2017.
2.On Sept. 2017, one of Lezhin’s major artist 회색(Gray), the author of 월한강천록 had made public disclosure on SNS about company not paying her the profits of Chinese service for two years. Back in the time, 회색(Gray) was forced to work on her webtoon series 
even after she reported her cancer diagnosis to the company. Instead of the proper rest, what 회색(Gray) got was her editor’s response saying “The cancer shouldn’t be a trouble, I’m ill too.”, which made 회색(Gray) hard to focus on her medical treatment.
Since she wasn’t the only one who hasn’t got paid for the Chinese service for long period time, 회색(Gray) had strongly demanded Lezhin Comics to properly distribute the profits (from the Chinese service) to the artists. However the company’s response was very avoidant.
As the issue took so many attentions on SNS, Lezhin finally distributed the profits to the artists. It was right after when Lezhin's certain editors and employees started to spread inappropriate rumors about 회색 throughout the Korean comic industry, calling her ‘Lier’.
3.The Lezhin Comics has been collecting ‘late fee’ from the artists and authors, which is up to 9% percent of their monthly income. The fee was charged if the artists and authors were late for more than two days from the due date. 
It had been proved that some artists paid more than about 920 dollars per month, and 회색 was charged more than 10 thousand dollars during her entire publication, including the time when she was suffering from her cancer diagnosis.
4-1)On December 2017, an article about Lezhin Comics’s ‘blacklist’ was published on newspaper for the first time. The article reported that EunSong and Michii, (two Lezhin Comics contract artists) who had risen up their voice for the better welfare were listed on the ‘blacklist’. 
The blacklisted artists have to go through the enormous economic loses, because the company excluded their webtoon series from the entire advertisements and promotional events. 
4-2) Michii had lost about 9,100 dollars from the unfair contract; however, Lezhin told her to think it as a donation for the company. Meanwhile, EunSong had to work on her webtoon series all by herself without an assigned editor,
after hearing her previous editor saying ‘No editor here in Lezhin Comics wants to work with you’. After losing her rights, EunSong issued about her situation on SNS.
4-3) Many artists, authors and platform users were upset when they heard about the wrongdoings of Lezhin Comics, so they started to boycott the platform. Starting from EunSong, huge body of webtoon artists and authors from Lezhin declared indefinite postponement on their series.
4-4) At the same time, Lezhin Comics was denying every single factors about the blacklist and its existence. The company ended up cancelling scheduled meeting of authors and Lezhin Comics.
4-5)On Jan 1st, the authors gathered around in front of the Company building to protest.Many readers also attended to show their solidarity.On that day, the protest and evidence of blacklist were broadcasted all over the country through the evening TV news.
5. Korean artists and readers were very furious about this situation. On 2018 Jauary 1st, through the media, Lezhin comics announced their accusation against both EunSong/Michii due to the spread of rumor, and also they'll terminate both artist's contracts without notice.
EunSong/Michii haven't ever told about this in advance, and the fact about spreading rumor is clearly a lie (REALLY). What was worse is that Lezhin Comics haven't sued the media while claiming false information.
6. Currently the artists are banding together acting as a group. Various artist associations, including Korean [SF writers association], [Cartoonist association], [Game Developers Guild] has issued a statement of condemnation against Lezhin Comics.
7. On Febuary 6th Lezhin Comics will end the service of every comic of Eunsong/Michi and will sue both artists claiming that both artists are the ones to have responsibility for compensation for damage, including refunds.
That day, artists and authors will gather in front of Lezhin Comics's company building to protest against their wrongdoing.
(For now the protest had ended with strong solidarity and prosperity of attendees)
(For now the protest had ended with strong solidarity and prosperity of attendees)
The problem of Lezhin Comics is not simple and is very complicated. This is a very important issue which the future of freelancer artists’ right is on. Everyone is doing their best to fight against Lezhin Comics so please spread words about this issue as much as you can.
Thank you always for the supports, interest and wishes.
#lezhin_blacklist
#lezhin_blacklist
