Lezhin US licenses Moonlighting, The Virgin Hunter

Lezhin US added two new English-language webtoons to its platform on May 24, 2026: the ongoing series *Moonlighting* and the completed title *The Virgin Hunter*. *Moonlighting*, by artist Coolmoom, now has 20 chapters available in English on Lezhin, with more expected as the Korean original continues. The series follows a high school girl juggling part-time jobs and a secret double life, blending slice-of-life drama with mature themes. Fans on X noted the fast rollout, with chapters unlocking progressively for subscribers. *The Virgin Hunter*, completed at six chapters, centers on a supernatural twist: a hunter targeting "virgins" in a dark fantasy setup by author Zoy. All episodes dropped in English simultaneously, allowing full binge access. Lezhin's licensing notice highlighted its finale status, appealing to readers seeking self-contained stories. 1/ Why these titles now? Lezhin US has ramped up English acquisitions in 2026 amid webtoon demand surging 40% year-over-year in North America, per company data shared at ComicsPRO 2026. *Moonlighting* fits the platform's mature YA niche—think secret identities and workplace tension—while *Virgin Hunter* taps short-form horror romance, a hot subgenre after hits like *Sweet Home*. Social spotters like @heysolvyn flagged the drops via Lezhin's in-app banners. 2/ Access details: Both are premium titles on Lezhin US, using coins for unlocks (e.g., ~$1.99 per episode bundle). *Moonlighting*'s 20 chapters cover up to the latest Korean release as of May 24; new ones sync weekly. Free previews hook first episodes. No print editions announced yet, but digital-first is Lezhin's model. 3/ Platform context: Lezhin specializes in "adult-directed" webtoons—romance, thriller, BL/GL—with English expansions since 2015. US library now tops 1,200 titles, competing with Tapas and Webtoon. These licenses come from Lezhin's Korean parent, which scouts via internal A&R teams. Japanese webtoon challenges (e.g., frequent yuri cancellations) were mentioned in fan chatter, but these are Korean originals. 4/ Reader reactions so far: X posts spiked post-announcement, praising *Moonlighting*'s art style ("clean lines, killer expressions") and *Virgin Hunter*'s "twisted plot drop." One user called the dual release "peak weekend binge fuel." No sales figures yet, but Lezhin tracks via app analytics. Similar 2026 drops like *Under the Oak Tree* remake hit top charts fast. 5/ Broader trend: English webtoon licensing hit record 150+ titles YTD 2026, driven by Netflix adaptations boosting genre awareness (*Solo Leveling*, *True Beauty*). Lezhin US eyes more ongoing series for steady revenue. Expect similar announcements monthly—check Lezhin's "New Releases" tab or X trackers for updates.