The ColorfulLandscape of Manhwa

Korean manhwa has only recently begun to sound its voice in the internationalcomic industry. In the past, the most representative comic form in Asia was theJapanese manga. This caused some to mistakenly assume that Korean manhwawas a spinoff of Japanese manga.Now Korean manhwa is gaining recognition in the U.S. and in Europe,and manhwa is emerging as a distinctive brand. Along with mainstream,popular manhwa, translations of auteur manhwa are being published aswell. This recognition seems to be based on the fact that Korean manhwahas not only achieved the commercial perfection of Japanese manga but alsodemonstrates a distinctive perspective and aesthetic.The history of modern manhwa in Korea began exactly one hundred yearsago. It was in 1909 that the first political cartoon appeared in the inauguralissue of Daehan Minbo, the bulletin of the Korean resistance group DaehanHyeophoe. This issue of list_Books from Korea covers the first century ofKorean manhwa history and showcases the new challenges young artists faceregarding Korean manhwa in the 21st century. Internet manhwa, historicaldrama, and martial arts manhwa that show quintessentially Korean features arealso introduced.As with all forms of art, the journey of Korean manhwa parallels Korea’sturbulent history. In the aftermath of the Korean War in the 1950s, manhwawas the only imaginative outlet available to children scarred from the war,and in the 1980s, it comforted the underprivileged and offered relief from thedespairing reality of the autocratic military regime. However, Korean manhwa,branded as low culture, has also been subject to relentless censure andsuppression. In the 1970s there was even a ‘Manhwa Burning’ every Children’sDay on May 5th.Korean manhwa in the 21st century is evolving into a spectrum thatencompasses children’s manhwa, educational manhwa, auteur manhwa, and Internet manhwa. Bright young artists are presenting new forms ofmanhwa, creating original works that have been adapted into films, dramasfor television, and games. The growth of Internet manhwa from the 1990sonwards based on the unique Internet culture of Korea, in particular, offersa new creative space for young artists to experiment under circumstancesin which printed space is less available. A growing trend now is to publishmanhwa that have already been popularized on the Internet.It is our hope that this special will provide a comprehensive introduction tothe burgeoning landscape of Korean manhwa. We also hope that this will opena window to the reader becoming newly acquainted with the innovative talentof Korean manhwa artists.

By Kim Jinwoo (Editorial Board Member)