A Chance for Overseas Promotion for Korean Webtoons
The ‘Korean Comic Festival’ conducted by the University of Washington (UW) Korean Studies library was a success.
The UW Asian Languages and Literature professor Jo Hee-kyeong held the ‘Online Comic’ workshop with the title of “Web Comics: New medium”.
It was conducted in English, and many students and professors from the Korean Studies program participated. Professor Jo analyzed how Korean online comics, the ‘Webtoon’, can be created and its state of business.
The Korean webtoon began to develop around 2003, just as Gangpul’s comic “Soonjung Manhwa” was serially published on an internet portal site called Daum. Professor Jo explained as “In Korea it became standard to publish webtoons vertically after coloring, but in Japan black and white comics were published just like they are on paper”.
During a question and answer session with the audience, Professor Jo said “Portal sites such as Naver and Daum are already prepared for overseas expansion, onto English Webtoon portal sites. The online comic is expected to grow tremendously as a medium.”
The Korean Comic Festival is evaluated as it affects to not only Seattle Korean communities but also field of Korean culture.
As the webtoon becomes another facet of popular culture coming out of Korea, known as the Korean Wave, the festival is considered a success at introducing Korean comics to other countries. The most popular Korean cartoonist Yoon Tae-ho, creator of Mi-Saeng was invited and met foreign fans.
The program was well constructed. The festival was led by the UW, and around 200 Korean fans participated through the UW’s program Booksori. The lecture and reception brought together Koreans and Americans, a noted goal of Booksori.
A small comic book store was set up at the UW to promote comics to Koreans and Americans through a variety of interesting attractions.
The festival was support by the UW Korean Studies library, the Korean government, the Seattle Consulate General, and the Seattle Korean community.
UW Korean Studies librarian Lee Hyo-Kyeong said “the comic book store is still open. This festival was successful and I appreciate your keen interest and love”.
