Modern Korean Manhwa Exhibition

[Floating_Sakura]

On April 26th, Mainichi Communications posted a report of the first manhwa exhibition in Japan, along with an interview with some manhwaga who has come for the exhibition. The following is the translation of the report, done by Manga Jouhou's translator, Doraneko.

Report: “Modern Korean Manhwa Exhibition” is being held in Kawasaki. Famous Manhwa artists are also coming to Japan for the event.




On April 21st, Kawazaki City Museum in Kawazaki City, Kanagawa has launched the “Modern Korean Manhwa Exhibition”. This exhibition, which exhibits the works of thirty Korean manhwa artists, is for celebrating the tenth anniversary of the twinning of Kawasaki and Bucheon as friendship cities. It is also the first of its kind in Japan as a “close-up” of Korean manhwa. The museum has been organizing numerous manga related exhibitions such as “Minna no Doraemon Exhibition” and “The World of Mitsuteru Yokoyama Exhibition.” It is expected that it will continue its cultural exchange with the Korean manhwa industry in the future.

The exhibition period will last until June 3rd. Opening hours are 09:00 to 17:00 from Tuesday to Sunday, except that it will be open on 30th April and closed on 1st May. No entrance fee is charged.



We have conducted an interview centered on the manhwa related issues with Yuuji Hamasaki (staff member of the Kawazaki City Museum) and Yoon Jun-suk, who both have been involved in this exhibition project.


- Would you please share with us the details on how this exhibition was started?

Hamasaki: Although this project which features manhwa has been under planning since a long time ago, the timing was not good enough to put it into action. In this year, the tenth anniversary of the twinning of Kawasaki and Bucheon as friendship cities has provided an opportunity for us to realize this project. Another contributing factor is that Bucheon has been positioned as the special city for manhwa in Korea and a base for cultural activities.

- What is the current position of manhwa in Korea?

Yoon: It is popular among young people, but the view that it is child-oriented is still strong. Unlike in Japan, Korean adults do not have the custom of reading manhwa in trains. On the other hand, since Korea is a nation with a great emphasis on examinations, books called “educational manhwa” are selling extremely well.


- For adults, are mediums like movies mainstream entertainment?

Yoon: As expected, movies and television dramas are quite popular. Since Koreans especially like television dramas, the audience base of live-action productions is wider than that of manhwa.


- Would you please tell us the unique characteristics of manhwa?

Yoon: As Korea began the popularization of information technology at a time earlier than Japan, manhwa artists who use the internet instead of magazines to publish their works have been increasing. Flash animation is also more popular in Korea. In addition, even though newspaper comic strips are not the backbone of the Japanese manga industry, black comedies and parodies are very popular in Korea.


- With the development of digital coloring, vibrant palettes are often used.

Yoon: Koreans have always been in favor of colorful palettes. I think it is a national characteristic of Korea.


- What is the condition of Korean manhwa and animations in the overseas?

Yoon: Just like the movie industry, both the manhwa and animation industries have been receiving support from the government. Exportation of works targeted at Europe and America has been active. If anything, it seems that manhwa is better received in Europe than in America. It has also been said that “Japan is the most difficult of all.”

- What is the reason for that?

Yoon: Although Japan position as a manga nation may be one of the reasons, the differences between the systems may also be another one. For example, while manhwa artists in Korea set up their own offices and handle the managerial works themselves as directors, editors and publishers are the default channels in Japan. Manhwa production in Korea has little to do with editors and publishers. Such areas seem to be different between the two countries.

- Manga works from different magazines in Japan are serialized in the same Korean magazines.

Hamasaki: Licensing seems to be done on a title-by-title basis. In the past, Japanese publishers charged very high license fees and piracy was rampant. Now, the situation has improved.


- There are also Korean magazines that serialize both manga and manhwa.

That is true. But since Hangul is read from left to right, all Korean publications, including manga magazines, are printed in that format. On the contrary, Japanese manga magazines are printed from right to left. For this reason, magazines that serialize both begin with manhwa printed from the first page with the left-to-right format, while manga are printed from the back with the format of right-to-left.


Six famous manhwa artists from Korea will arrive in Japan to join a related event on 28th April. Besides influential artists of the manhwa industry such as Kim Dong-wha and Lee Hee-je, Pak So-hee who has gained popularity in Japan by his work “Kun” will also come to Japan. There will also be autograph and drawing sessions. As it will be an invaluable opportunity for learning about the manhwa scene in our neighboring country, wouldn’t it be a good idea for you to pay a visit to the event?

Translated by Doraneko
Translated from Mainichi Communications
(Pictures are also taken from Mainichi Communications, check out the link for more.)