[Edaily Reporter Kim Una ] How can a story that began as a single comic book be expanded into tourism content, performances, and merchandise? Lin Zhengde (Im Jeong-deok), the author of the Taiwanese youth comic “Young Gun,” analyzes how the creator economy is changing in the era of platforms and artificial intelligence (AI) and proposes ways to enhance the value of creators.
Author Lin Zhengde will deliver lectures over two days at “2026 Content Universe Korea,” taking place on the 16th and 17th at the Goyang Flower Exhibition Hall in Gyeonggi Province. On the first day, he will discuss the creator economy and the expansion potential of comic intellectual property (IP), and on the second day, he will address the Greater China content market and AI collaboration.

In the “Creator Economy” session, which begins at 1:30 p.m. on the 16th, he will speak on the topic “From Comic Books to the Content Universe: How Are Platforms Reshaping the Creator Economy?” In his presentation, he will explore how to expand the value of creators in an era shaped by AI and platforms. He will highlight the changes in AI, IP, talent, regional development, and international collaboration that he has witnessed over his 40-year career as an author, and explain how these elements converge to form a single creator economy.
He will also examine examples of how a single comic book can expand into brands, tourism, exhibitions and performances, merchandise, and various other forms of content. In addition, he will introduce strategies for leveraging local regions as narrative assets—transforming history, figures, industries, and landscapes into characters, emotions, and worldviews. Following the presentation, a roundtable discussion on the theme “The Next 10 Years of the Creator Economy” will be held with Professor Jeong Su-hee of Duksung Women’s University and AI media artist Lee Yum.
At 10:00 a.m. on the 17th, Lee Byung-kyu, CEO of Rajen Entertainment, will deliver a special lecture. Under the theme “The Future of Korea-China Joint AI Content and Mega IP Business in the Greater China Region: Is the Greater China Content Market a Burden or a Boon?,” he will highlight market opportunities and challenges.

“2026 Content Universe Korea” is being held under the theme “The Infinitely Expanding Content Economy: Connecting Creators, IP, and Fandom.” Over the course of two days, the event will feature a series of lectures by 24 domestic and international experts, as well as various exhibition and hands-on programs, including a “Toy Story” pop-up store by The Walt Disney Company Korea and a flea market hosted by popular influencers. The participation fee is 10,000 won per person, but admission is free for those who pre-register on the website by 5:00 p.m. on the 15th. A prize giveaway will also be held for pre-registered attendees, with winners selected by lottery to receive prizes such as international airline tickets and hotel stays.