The latest update from Kakao entertainment is on September 23, 2026. If you publish or read web fiction on Tapas, you may have seen recent reports that Kakao Entertainment plans to shut down the North American Tapas platform.
The news has raised obvious questions for creators and readers: What happens to existing novels? Where should authors publish next? Will readers still be able to access their libraries? And what alternatives are available for webnovels?
Here is what is currently known, what has not yet been clarified, and what readers and authors can do in the meantime. The situation is still unclear.
What happened to Tapas?
On September 22, 2026, multiple Korean and international publications reported that Kakao Entertainment is ending its North American Tapas service as part of a broader restructuring of its story-platform business. MoneyToday reported that Kakao Entertainment planned to notify publishers and rights holders about the Tapas service termination, including information about the shutdown schedule, title management, and settlement procedures. (머니투데이)
Kakao is also consolidating its Korean story platforms, with Kakao Webtoon being integrated into KakaoPage. Reports say the broader platform restructuring is expected to take place during 2026. (Seoul Economic Daily)
However, the timeline and detailed transition arrangements for Tapas users and creators are still important open questions. As of September 23, reports indicate that further information about the transition is expected, while Tapas users are already discussing the situation on the official Tapas forums. (ICv2)
Major concern of authors and readers
Tapas has been used by both webcomic creators and web novel authors, so the implications aren't limited to comics.
Creators may have years of published chapters, drafts and source files, cover artwork, readers, reviews, reading statistics, monetization history and many more. Readers may also have their followed novels, reading lists, purchased chapters, in-app currency, and saved content.
The Tapas community is already discussing these concerns, with creators asking how they can preserve their work and where they can continue publishing. One current forum discussion includes a web novelist asking about alternatives for web novel publishing. (Tapas Forum)
Has Tapas given a final shutdown date?
A detailed final schedule for users and creators should not be assumed until Tapas/Kakao provides it. Some reports describe the service as being terminated, while other reporting has described the process as a planned shutdown. MoneyToday reported that publisher and rights-holder notices would include the service termination schedule and follow-up procedures. (머니투데이)
Confirmed: Kakao Entertainment is ending its North American Tapas platform as part of its restructuring.
Still requiring detailed guidance: The treatment of all creator accounts, published work, reader purchases, ink balances, and user features.
Until those details are published, creators should avoid assuming that their wish or account data will automatically transfer somewhere else.
What should Tapas authors do now?
The first step is simple… Back up your work. If Tapas is currently your only copy of your novel, make another copy now.
Save every chapter, manuscript files, cover images, character artwork, novel description, chapter notes, images used inside chapters, etc.
Don't rely on a platform to remain available long enough for you to recover everything later.
This is not specific to Tapas. Maintaining your own copy is good practice for any independent author.
Check your existing publishing agreements
Before moving a novel, check whether you have any exclusive publishing, licensing, or monetization agreement with Tapas or another platform. This matters because moving a story isn't simply a technical process.
You need to know -
Who owns the copyright?
Is your agreement exclusive?
Are there licensing obligations?
What happens to your existing paid content?
What happens to your account after the platform closes?
Don't assume that deleting a novel ends every contractual obligation.
Where can Tapas authors publish next?
There isn't one replacement platform that works for every author. The right option depends on your genre, audience, publishing model, monetization requirements, and whether you want to cross-post.
Some platforms authors may want to research include:
1. NovelCult
NovelCult is a web-fiction platform for publishing and discovering serialized novels, including Fantasy, LitRPG, Cultivation, Action, Romance, and other genres.
NovelCult's published author terms state that authors retain ownership of their work and that publishing is non-exclusive. Its migration tools also support importing existing novels from several platforms.
Authors can also use optional Early Access monetization for eligible novels.
2. Royal Road
Royal Road is a major web-fiction platform with a strong presence in LitRPG, progression fantasy, fantasy, and related serial fiction. It may be worth considering for authors whose work fits those communities.
3. Wattpad
Wattpad is a broad social storytelling platform with communities around many genres, including fantasy, romance, science fiction, and young-adult fiction. It can be relevant for authors who prioritize a broader social-reading environment.
4. WebNovel
WebNovel publishes novels across genres including fantasy, action, romance, cultivation, and other web-fiction categories. Authors should examine its current publishing agreements and monetization terms before moving an existing work.
5. Scribble Hub
Scribble Hub is another web-fiction platform with a broad range of genres and tags, including fantasy, LitRPG, isekai, romance, and other niche combinations.
What about NovelCult?
For authors specifically looking for another place to publish web novels, NovelCult is one option to investigate. There are a few practical details worth knowing rather than relying on promotional claims.
- Authors retain ownership
NovelCult's FAQ states that authors retain ownership of their content. (FAQ)
- Publishing is non-exclusive
NovelCult states that its publishing licence is non-exclusive. That means authors can publish elsewhere as well, provided another agreement doesn't prevent them from doing so.
- Existing stories can be migrated
NovelCult has an existing migration workflow for bringing novels onto the platform, including supported sources such as Royal Road, Scribble Hub, and FanFiction.net. (Migrate your novel)
Do not assume that a Tapas import is currently supported unless NovelCult's migration tool specifically provides it. You can migrate Tapas story to NovelCult. (Click here)
- Public chapters can be read for free
NovelCult says public chapters can be read without an account. An account is used for additional features such as following, saving novels, reading progress, comments, ratings, and reviews.
- Authors can use Early Access
Eligible authors can offer paid Early Access, allowing subscribers to read advanced chapters before those chapters become publicly available. (Monetization Guide)
What should Tapas readers do?
Readers don't necessarily need to make an immediate decision about moving. But if you have spent years building a library on Tapas, it is reasonable to keep track of official announcements and save information you don't want to lose.
Consider making a list of novels you're currently reading, authors you follow and follow then in social media, series you want to finish, author websites, patreon pages, discord communities, social media accounts, and other platforms where your favorite authors publish.
This is useful because a creator may decide to move to a different platform or publish independently.
What happens to purchased content?
This is one area where readers should wait for official instructions rather than relying on speculation.
Current reports have focused on the shutdown and the expected notices to publishers and rights holders, but detailed information about every reader purchase, remaining balance, or access arrangement should be confirmed through official Tapas/Kakao communications. (머니투데이)
For comparison, Tapas has previously published individual series-removal notices explaining what happens to purchased episodes when a particular title leaves the platform. Those notices show why the treatment of purchased content can depend on the specific circumstances.
So if you have purchased content, keep your purchase records and wait for the official transition instructions.
What should authors look for in a new platform?
Don't choose a new platform simply because it appears first in a search result. Ask these questions yourself first:
1. Do I keep my copyright?
Understand exactly what rights you grant the platform.
2. Is publishing exclusive?
If you want to cross-post, this matters enormously.
3. Can I migrate my existing chapters?
An import tool can save considerable time.
4. How does monetization work?
Check paid chapters, subscriptions, early access, revenue share, payout requirements, and payment providers
5. Can readers discover my story?
Look at genres, tags, search filters, rankings, recommendations, new-release areas, and community features
6. Can I leave later?
Understand what happens to your content if you decide to stop using the platform.
7. Does the platform fit my genre?
A romance-focused audience and a LitRPG-focused audience can behave very differently.
The most important takeaway for creators is to keep a copy of your work. A platform can change its business model, remove a feature, change its monetization system, or eventually close. Having your own whole stuff means you have options if something changes.