Ever found yourself completely absorbed in a webtoon—only to realize you’ve been crying, laughing, and healing alongside the characters? Chances are, it was one of the Studio LICO webtoons. Known for their emotional depth and visual elegance, Studio LICO projects delivered beyond stories but a whole package of experiences.
But who exactly is behind these unforgettable moments? If you’ve never looked past the panels to discover the studio shaping Korea’s most heartfelt digital worlds, now’s the perfect time to dive in.
LICO: The Quietest but Most Powerful Studio in K-Webtoons
You’ve probably read “Holding You Close,” cried over “Marry My Husband,” or watched those emotionally rich animated teasers that seem to breathe more than move. But have you ever wondered who is behind them?
Because while flashy names and franchise labels dominate headlines, there’s one creative force that rarely shouts: Studio LICO, the silent giant quietly redefining how Korean stories are made, shared, and remembered.
Beyond just a normal studio, LICO has successfully built an ecosystem where emotion is engineered, visuals are curated like fine art, and “content” means something that’s actually personal, just for you.
So, What Exactly Is Studio LICO?
Studio LICO (short for “Life with Content”) is a digital storytelling studio founded in July 2017 under the powerful wings of Naver Webtoon Corp. Its goal? To create and adapt content that feels alive—not just entertaining, but emotionally intuitive, visually refined, and ready for global resonance.
LICO isn’t a brand slapped onto a project after the fact. It’s the kind of studio that builds the project from the inside out—from early storyboarding and illustration to animation, web serialization, and even game publishing.
And yet, it rarely demands the spotlight. Because for LICO, success isn’t about volume. It’s about impact.
Where You’ve Seen Them—Even If You Didn’t Know It
If you’ve been anywhere near LINE Webtoon, Naver Series, or even the K-drama scene, you’ve likely come across their work:
“Marry My Husband”
The webtoon that went viral and became a blockbuster K-drama, and even Japanese remake. Studio LICO’s visuals were praised as “perfection,” with their emotional framing often credited as the backbone of the adaptation’s success.
“Holding You Close”
A 2025 breakout romance fantasy webtoon built on softness, trauma, and healing—not spectacle. Its quiet, reflective tone is pure LICO storytelling.
“Lovers of the Red Sky”
And there’s also the famous historical romance webtoon, “Lovers of the Red Sky” that also turns into a brilliant K-drama adaptation.
Meanwhile, others notable projects of Studio LICO includes, “See You in My 19th Life,” and “Young Boss.”
What Makes Studio LICO Different? A Deep Dive into Their Projects
1. Content First, Format Later
While many studios chase trends, LICO does the reverse. Their motto, Life With Content, is way more than just a mere branding. Instead, it reflects a practice of crafting stories before actually deciding the medium.
That’s why some of their most successful IPs begin as web novels, then become webtoons, then go animated, and sometimes land on streaming platforms or even product lines.
2. Studio, Not Solo Artist
Unlike traditional manhwa production where a single artist and assistant drive the series, LICO operates as a true studio team. They have a brilliant team of writers, illustrators, animators, designers, and even cultural researchers working together coherently. This then resulting in a story that feels lived in, not just drawn.
3. Engineered Emotion
If there’s one thing that defines LICO, it’s emotional fluency. Their characters cry without melodrama, laugh without slapstick. The visual language is often subtle—lingering hands, muted backgrounds, half-lit rooms—but always deliberate.
This is no accident. The studio’s internal culture values emotional continuity across scenes. Readers don’t just read LICO stories—they feel them.
Not Just Webtoons: Studio LICO Animate, Publish, and Expand IP Universes
Studio LICO isn’t locked into panels. They’ve created award-winning animations, and more recently started moving into mobile games (“Yumi’s Cells the Puzzle,” and “Go Soo”) and short-form Instagram comics like Hwanggu—a cute, expressive dog whose 4-panel stories even made it into Air Seoul’s in-flight safety videos.
They’re also known to run unofficial universe building, like their rumored “Afterlife Webtoon Universe” that connects several supernatural titles via subtle cross-references. You won’t find this spelled out in press kits—but fans notice. And that’s the point.
A Studio with Awards, But Still Something to Prove
Despite being under Naver Webtoon, Studio LICO’s early years were relatively quiet. Critics praised their design integrity—Red Dot, iF Design, and Brand Identity awards—but their name wasn’t widely known outside industry circles.
That began to shift post-2022, especially with the international success of “Lovers of the Red Sky,” “Marry My Husband,” and newer releases like “Holding You Close.” The world is starting to notice the quiet giant—and for good reason.
Still, compared to flashy animation giants or production studios with Netflix deals, Studio LICO plays the long game. They do not rush output, but craft ecosystems, instead. And that is why they’re often ahead of the curve.
Why You Should Pay Attention to Studio LICO Projects
If you’re a reader who values storytelling that isn’t just beautiful but more thoughtful, then Studio LICO should be on your radar. Their current slate of serializations spans everything from emotional horror and psychological romance to satirical comedies and social commentary. And they’re not afraid to take risks.
Where most studios double down on popular formulas, LICO leans into possibility. And that makes them one of the most important players in the evolving K-content landscape.
Studio LICO Isn’t Flashy, And That’s Exactly the Point
Now, you can actually think of Studio LICO as the K-content equivalent of an architect: they might not decorate the house, but they built the structure that holds everything together.
Their strength isn’t just in illustration. It’s in its vision, and not just in romance or drama—but in recognizing the fact that emotion, when handled right, is the most global language there is.
So, the next time a Korean webtoon leaves you speechless, pay attention to the credits. Because if it’s Studio LICO… it probably wasn’t an accident.
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