Wind Breaker manhwa has been canceled after nearly 12 years in a shocking turn of events that few saw coming. It was one of the most popular manhwas published on Webtoon, with over 600 million views. Thus, the cancellation has elicited reactions from fans worldwide.
But why was such a popular manhwa, considered one of the best works Webtoon had to offer, cancelled?
Reason why Wind Breaker manhwa gets canceled after 12 years
On July 11, 2025, Webtoon and the author of the beloved series, Jo Yong-seok, came forward to announce that the Wind Breaker manhwa has been cancelled. The parties revealed that this was because several cases of plagiarism had been found in the work. The author also confirmed these allegations in a message included in Part 4 Chapter 177.
The series was perhaps one of the most successful works on Webtoon. Moreover, it had kept fans entertained for nearly 12 years and had received much acclaim worldwide. According to the reports, Jo had been tracing works of other artists and claiming them as his own. This has created a huge uproar amongst fans, with many feeling sorry for the creator.
The author apologized to his readers for letting them down. He stated, “Some scenes referenced from guidance materials were expressed similarly or almost identically to images from other works.” He also cited burnout and intense deadlines as a reason behind his actions. However, the creator admitted that it was his fault for failing to “uphold the standards.”
Since the story did not have a proper ending, Jo confirmed that the series’ manuscript would be shared via his personal blog for long-term readers to find closure. Claims of plagiarism are far and few in works as big as this manhwa, but it seems that Wind Breaker is one such rare case. The success of the same was considered to be a major win for the entire industry.
