Do you enjoy content? Movies, web novels, webtoons? These days, all kinds of creators are turning intangible content into tangible collectibles—for their fans, and to stay connected with them.
There are people who serve as the bridge between creators and their fan communities. Meet the team that works tirelessly to turn a wide variety of creators’ content into products and showcase them Wadiz! Let us introduce the Creator Team and our Producer.
Pro, please introduce yourself and tell us about your role on the team!
Jonghyun: Hello. I’m Director Park Jong-hyun, and I oversee the Creator Team Wadiz. The Creator Team handles all products where “content” is the core focus. As a Creator Producer, my job is to discover compelling, undiscovered content and introduce it to our supporters. We handle categories such as characters/merchandise, publishing/classes, and culture/artists.
The Creator Team’s responsibilities can be broadly divided into two categories. First, we partner with IP companies to secure high-quality content. We design business opportunities from a mid- to long-term perspective and help build a strong foundation for the creator category. Second, our PDs* take charge of specific categories to proactively expand our project portfolio and creator ecosystem.
*Project Directors (PDs) are responsible for sourcing and sales.
A community of people who are passionate about content, to the world and expand it, living by the motto of “combining passion and profession.” .
Eunjeong: Hello! I’m Lee Eun-jeong, Category Lead of the Creator Team. To date, I’ve met with over 600 individual artists and creators and managed more than 300 projects. This is the result of consulting on the business growth of diverse creators under the motto, “Let anyone with content succeed.”
Creators who have spent a long time focusing on their content often struggle with developing and executing business strategies, such as planning, promotion, and marketing. A PD acts as a boosting guide, working alongside creators to brainstorm ideas and suggest directions so that their projects stand out to Wadiz.
Jung-ah : Hello. I’m PD Choi Jeong-ah from the Creator Team. I primarily collaborate with creators in the content IP and publishing markets to plan and manage projects. I find great fulfillment when creators’ rough-cut ideas are polished into polished works through my efforts and go on to build a dedicated fanbase!
If I had to describe my job in a nutshell, I’d say it’s about “suggesting various options and broadening makers’ horizons so they can make the best choices.”
Joo-hyun: Hello. I’m Kang Joo-hyun, Category Lead for Publishing and Classes on the Creator Team. My job is to create a new paradigm that transcends the limitations of the traditional publishing market. I identify the content people want and, moving beyond the physical constraints of books, deliver the content itself directly to our supporters. The same applies to our classes. We identify content that aligns with the ever-changing trends of society, commercialize it so that it can be useful in people’s lives, and deliver it to them.
How did you come to join Wadiz?
Jonghyun: I’d like to start my own business Wadiz. Wadizis a platform where founders gather—that’s the main reason I joined. Meeting founders, listening to their stories, and helping their products connect successfully with the market—through this work, I’m gaining indirect experience in entrepreneurship and clear lessons on the “how-to.”
Eunjeong: Before joiningWadiz, I earned a master’s degree in arts management in New York and worked at a public institution under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, where I planned and managed various support programs for artists. During my master’s program, I researched fundraising in the arts and culture sector through crowdfunding. After that, while interning at art museums and Broadway theaters in New York, I also managed fundraising campaigns on American crowdfunding platforms like GoFundMe (gofundme.com). That’s when I became completely captivated by the appeal of crowdfunding—its ability to generate publicity, marketing, and funds in a short period of time—and after returning to Korea, I joined Wadiz, the country’s largest crowdfunding platform.
Joo Hyun: Previously, I worked as a planner, editor, and MD at a publishing company, where I developed children’s toys and books. The biggest reason I decided to join Wadiz was my “desire for growth.” I wanted to break away from the conservative publishing structure and work outside of a traditional publishing house.
When I first joined Wadiz, Producer Jonghyun asked me, “Why did you leave a publishing company to come here? We don’t do any publishing here.” I replied, “Precisely because there’s nothing here, I want to build it from the ground up.” And indeed, since I joined, the Wadiz publishing category has more than doubled in size thanks to my efforts. That’s why I believe the role of a Wadiz Product Manager is one of the few great positions where my personal growth directly contributes to the company’s growth.
Wadiz Creator Team
What are the biggest advantages of the Product Development role Wadiz, and what unique experiences can you expect?
Eunjeong, Producer: The biggest advantage of beingWadiz is that you can choose the projects you want to work on and drive them forward. It’s an environment where you can truly combine your passion with your career! It’s truly fulfilling to do work you love rather than just following orders. Above all, because you’re doing what you love, you can grow at an unprecedented pace.
I sometimes meet with the YouTubers and influencers I follow in person. It’s a win-win situation because I get to hear their success tips and practical insights! The experience of collaborating with people I’ve always wanted to meet, sharing insights, and growing together is a privilege unique to Wadiz. It’s no exaggeration to say that “oneWadiz PD embodies the insights of 500 company leaders.”
I also love being able to work from anywhere. Since I have to meet with prospective makers, I can’t avoid going out on business trips. As a PD, I have the privilege of using any FASTFIVE location nationwide. In fact, I visit the FASTFIVE locations in Gangnam and Hongdae more often than I go to the Pangyo headquarters.
Jung-ah, Producer: Many of theWadiz PDs used to be called MDs or PMs at their previous jobs. Everyone Wadiz PDs are all-rounders,”. Since many of our makers are in the early stages of their businesses, we need to be all-rounders who can provide tailored consulting—not just in sourcing, but also in sales, planning, operations, and marketing—depending on the maker’s stage of business development. Thanks to this, I experience constant learning and growth, along with a deep sense of fulfillment.
Joo-hyun, Producer: The greatest strength ofWadiz is autonomyand rapid growth. PDs decide for themselves where to work, what goals to pursue, and how to achieve them. (Where else can you find a company like this?) Of course, this autonomy is only possible because of a strong sense of responsibility and mutual trust.
As a PD on the Creator Team, you’ll often have meetings with external partners. By sharing insights with emerging brands and creators, you’ll develop a keen eye for the market and a deep understanding of products. (I promise!) As you build a track record of successful projects, you’ll not only grow personally but also gain the experience of helping products and the market thrive. I hope everyone gets to experience the wonder of how your personal growth becomes the growth of the maker, and how that growth, in turn, becomes the growth of the company.
The sourcing/sales PD role in each category has a 6-month probationary period. What do you do during that time?
Jonghyun, Product Manager: Wadizcore business is “funding,” which involves introducing products that haven’t yet been launched on the market. Because it’s a unique platform, six months is the minimum time required to understand its structure and learn the ropes. During the probationary period, PDs gain experience with a variety of projects. They handle projects across all areas—not just their primary category—to deepen their fundamental understanding of Wadiz. You could say this is a period for learning the so-calledWadiz grammar.”
What are the most important skills or experiences required for the role of Wadiz PD?
Jonghyun: First An eye for content, Second Identifying a USP (Unique Selling Proposition), Third Marketing and communication skills. First, you need to know what kind of content will resonate best in the market. Then, you must match the identified content with the optimal creator. This is where the USP comes into play. A USP refers to knowing which points to emphasize and how to appeal to the audience. Once a great product is created, marketing skills are required to sell it effectively in the market. You must be able to communicate with the fanbase, understand their sentiments, and meet their needs.
Do you have any personal beliefs or principles that you always try to follow at work?
Jonghyun: Wadiz5 Principles I most strongly identify with the second principle: “We enjoy riding the waves of rapid change and stay ahead.” Trends in the content industry shift incredibly quickly. If you can’t enjoy riding these waves of rapid change, it’s hard to have fun working on the creator team.
Joo Hyun: 5 Principles I really like the first principle, “Do the right thing.” Even if there’s an opportunity to boost revenue, I won’t source content that I personally deem inappropriate. I also strive not to harm the market ecosystem. In meetings, I tend to emphasize the basic ethics expected of a creator.
Jung-ah: My favorite of the three principles is “We meet each other’s needs.” I actively share the know-how I’ve acquired with my colleagues. As a market expert, I realized that while having my own unique expertise as a PD has its advantages, it can also sometimes lead to a narrow perspective. So, every week, I share everything relevant to our work—from market trends to sales strategies—with my team members, and we work together to address and improve upon these areas.
When we share our expertise with one another, we gain new insights that spark fresh ideas. I approach my work with a sense of responsibility, believing that my personal growth leads to the growth of my colleagues! I’m proud to say that we are “smart and wise colleagues who are always willing to generously share their expertise.”
There has been a surge in creator and art projects lately. Why do you think so many creators are turning to crowdfunding platforms?
Eunjeong: Art and crowdfunding are a perfect match. Whether it’s creating that long-awaited debut album, launching a drawing class that shares my unique expertise, or producing the first merchandise featuring my own characters, crowdfunding turns creators’ vague dreams into reality.
In particular, Wadizis a community of 5.5 million supporters who are ready to listen to and support the value of those dreams. These are supporters who are willing to fund even a 10 million won project if they truly feel its story and value. As an opportunity and a breakthrough to introduce projects and brands to these supporters with a deep interest in culture and the arts, many creators have recently been turning Wadiz.
Jung-ah: There are no limitsWadiz. Creators themselves become the content, and whatever form of reward they choose to offer can be turned into a project! They can create brand merchandise or host in-person lectures. For creators with diverse personalities, it’s an endless space where they can showcase themselves. That’s what makes it so appealing.
Another benefit is that you can meet new fans (supporters), build a fanbase, and strengthen your brandWadiz. It seems to have become much more than just a platform for raising funds; it has taken on greater significance as a space for personal branding and communication.
Is there a project or maker that stands out in your memory?
Eunjeong: I’ve directed many projects worth tens of millions of won, but the project byAiletsol Maker,who took on a new challenge,stands out the most in my memory. The maker, who had just graduated from art school, was working primarily with oil pastel drawings. At the time, independent artists mainly worked on projects like posters, postcards, and calendars. Ailetsol launched a Wadiz crowdfunding campaign featuring a new sketchbook, an oil pastel kit, and five original artworks she had drawn herself. She successfully raised approximately 50 million won. Notably, the five original artworks sold out in less than an hour after the project went live! This was a far better result than they would have achieved through sales at a regular gallery. The artist said that through the Wadiz crowdfunding project, they learned a great deal about how to market their art and content. It was most rewarding and fulfilling to help independent artists find their own strategies to take their businesses to the next level.
Joo Hyun : The crowdfunding campaign for the English conversation e-book by Ivy League alumna Im Seo-mistands out the most in my memory. CEO Im Seo-mi has run four projects. The fundraising amounts have steadily increased from 10 million won, to 50 million won, to 100 million won, and finally to 280 million won. This growth stemmed from the quality of the content, and the key factors were meticulous fanbase management and distinctive story-based marketing. I mention this project in every meeting. I consider it an example of a high-quality content project that continues to grow, rather than one that succeeds once and then fades away.
What kinds of makers, projects, or art fields would you like to feature on Wadizin the future?
Joo Hyun : Society is changing at a rapid pace. In the past two years alone, we’ve seen the emergence of new trends like NFTs and ChatGPT—things we’d never even heard of before. As these trends continue to emerge, I want to be the first to introduce them to my supporters and share great content with them.
Jung-ah: Wadiz, very few creators launch projects featuring books as standalone items. That’s because Wadiz supporters are people who want to own the “content itself.” Daewon CI (Needle Book)’s Complete Collection of Makoto Shinkai Novels funding project, I became even more convinced.Wadiz supporters truly recognize the value of the content itself, and Wadiza platform for communication where we can showcase it to our heart’s content.” Going forward, I want to consistently launch projects that expand the content’s IP so that the content can be remembered for even longer.
What kind of "dream" do you have Wadiz?
Jonghyun: I hopeWadizbecomes a mecca for creators. Wadizisn’t a niche platform, but it has the capacity to embrace a diversity that rivals any niche platform. Crowdfunding plays a pivotal role in the process of creating new products while communicating and collaborating with fans. I hope that when creators start thinking beyond content and consider expanding into business, Wadizis the first platform that comes to mind.
Wadiz Creator Team
What kind of new colleagues would you like to work with in the future?
Jonghyun: I want to work with proactive and self-motivated colleagues. If you have a clear vision of what you want to achieve and a firm sense of purpose, you’ll be a great fit for the Creator Team. Wadizstill has many areas to pioneer, and this new challenge can be difficult to tackle without a strong sense of determination. I want to provide an experience where your personal vision aligns with the company’s strategy. To do that, you first need to be clear about what kind of person you want to be and what kind of work you want to do, right?
