Hey girlbenji! I didn't know you were featured as well. I should probably pm you for advice since mine just started. I think I know who your editor is, I'm hoping she recovers soon.
Now I'll also like to chip in on the topic. There isn't a hard and fast rule to getting "Featured". Like girlbenji said, when Webtoons first came to the states, nobody gave them chance cos they were new. Nobody did the researched or bothered to find out that they have been doing so well in Korea for 10 years. So they went out to get whoever they could. There's also new featured that ain't very good, and also new featured that are good, that has low low numbers. I can quote one that's super good and I still don't know why the numbers are so low. 1000. That is such a super sick comic. They did went on hiatus. So really, it's as good as anyone's guess. Some of the featured has writers who are (1) actors, (2) musicians (3) talents from the hollywood that I think they just wanted to work with to see if they can get a following. And though the likes are low for some, ratings low, it doesn't indicate they dont do well. You can't see the amount of subs or viewership they have. So just looking at numbers don't mean anything as long as you can't see the actual final stats. So it doesn't mean these featured webtoons ain't doing well.
On the other hand, I know so many famous writers, artists, some even have 50K + instagram followers. When they start pateron, they have less than 20 supporters. So discover webtoons that has huge following can mean different things to webtoons. I don't know the data but I'm sure Webtoons has their own plans and to be honest, the new webtoons format is so new and young in the U.S. market. Webcomics has always been 1 page of update per week and here is a megahouse that is doing 40-60 panels of comics weekly for their individual story. That is almost like 8-12 colored comic pages. Which brings to the next point, why are some discover with high numbers that ain't selected. My own assessment and theory. (1) They ain't consistent. The comics ain't updated weekly and even if they are, are less than what Webtoons is looking at panel wise. I know, there are webtoons that has around 20 panels weekly featured. That is why it's so hard because EVERY CONTRACT on webtoons is different. (2) Content. The stories ain't what Webtoons are looking to target. If you want to ask what stories they are targeting, it's the same question as asking publishers like First second, Scholastic, Oni Press. Good stories . Its very general and they can't spill the beans because if they give you specifics and you send them something that falls in line and they don't like it, what are they gonna do? (3) There's too much on discover, the team in L.A. for webtoons is slowly expanding but it's a small team looking at so much art and content and doing social media, shows, marketing, curation, editorial. It's a lot of work that most people don't have a clue, realize or sympathies with. Add on to that they probably need to check back in with the main officer in Korea so its not like these things are easy. Looking out for their webtoons contest is another way. They recently made a contest and the winner won $80k. The quarter final winners also get a featured contract I believe. (there's a big discussion on how they choose the winner and that's another story all together which I have no clue.) They have run I think 3 - 4 contest since 2014.
There's no hard and fast rule in getting featured with Webtoons and I've heard so many people (on the internet and in real life) reject the offer when it was place onto their table because the requirements differ. It's not for everyone though. They do a lot of scouting but they have cut down on their comic con shows so it's difficult. The best feedback you want, get on one of the comic cons they are going and go for the portfolio review. I did one in 2015 and that's how I got to know Webtoons. I can't even count how many artist/writers I've introduced to them that has gotten featured but me myself, I've waited for 3 years. I've always wanted to work with them but I take nothing for granted. Webtoons never owed me anything. And I would say the people in Webtoons are amazing and mostly, this is a business. If you want to become featured, just look at some of the featured comics and try to learn from them. Noblesse, for a long while, the best and most popular Webtoons has 100-120 panels weekly. How many artist and writer can commit to that number weekly consistently? It's still mind blowing every time I think about. Just insane.