According to MK, Jo Yong Seok announced he would stop publishing the series after episode 177 of part 4 on 11/7. He stated, "Some drawings I used for my series are quite similar or nearly identical to other works. This is clearly my fault. After a long time living under the pressure of weekly deadlines, due to my impatience, I haven't been able to maintain the standards I should have as an author. I sincerely apologize to the readers." Jo Yong Seok, 41, is a freelance comic artist.

Representatives from Naver Webtoon, the platform where Wind Breaker was published, confirmed the manhwa's similarities in layout and imagery to other works. Readers discovered some images resembling those in Japanese manga such as Yowamushi Pedal (Akita Shoten) and Tokyo Ghoul (Ishida Sui).

An image in "Wind Breaker" (left) is said to resemble "Tokyo Ghoul". Photo: X

On Twitter and TikTok, readers shared favorite moments and bid farewell to the series. Many expressed regret and hoped Jo Yong Seok would eventually finish Wind Breaker. Others stated they couldn't condone plagiarism and supported the decision to discontinue it.

According to Screenrant, plagiarism isn't uncommon in the anime and manga community, but Wind Breaker's cancellation due to this reason came as a shock, significantly impacting Korea's webtoon industry. Launched in 2013, the series became an icon over more than a decade, accumulating over 600 million views.

Image from "Wind Breaker". Photo: Naver

The series attracted fans to the genre and became a starting point for similar works. Fans have claimed the manhwa is one of the most complete and engaging works offered by Naver.

The story revolves around Jay, a quiet boy obsessed with cycling. Jay admires his uncle, a professional cyclist. He overcomes many difficulties and gradually becomes an excellent cyclist. The series has been translated into English, Japanese, and Chinese. Some websites in Vietnam also host the series.

Ha Thu (according to MK, Screenrant)