Reaper Scans, a well-known scanlation site that housed web novels and webtoons, officially announced its permanent shutdown on May 9. The closure follows receiving a cease-and-desist letter from Kakao Entertainment, a major player in the South Korean digital content industry. The site had long operated in a legal gray area, offering its global audience unauthorized fan translations of popular titles. Its sudden shutdown marks a significant moment in the ongoing conflict between content publishers and unofficial translation sites.

In a statement posted on its homepage, Reaper Scans confirmed its decision to comply with Kakao Entertainment’s legal notice. “After receiving a Cease and Desist from Kakao Entertainment, we have decided to permanently shut down Reaper Scans and stop any and all distribution of unauthorized fan translations,” the announcement read. The move has left a significant gap in the online fan community, particularly among readers who relied on the site for accessible English translations.