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| Gu A-jin's fantasy occult thriller webtoon "Mirae's Antique Shop" / Courtesy of Korea Manhwa Contents Agency |
By Park Han-sol
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| An official poster for the Korean webtoon-themed exhibition, "Hola! K-Webtoon" / Courtesy of Korea Manhwa Contents Agency |
Co-hosted by the Korea Manhwa Contents Agency (KOMACON) and the Korean Cultural Center Mexico to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries, "Hola! K-Webtoon" is set to run from Dec. 5 to Feb. 5 next year at the Estudios Churubusco Azteca.
The show is themed around three webcomic titles that have gained popularity either in their original format or through their small screen adaptations: "Mirae's Antique Shop," "True Beauty" and "The Red Sleeve."
Gu A-jin's fantasy occult thriller "Mirae's Antique Shop" follows a young "cursed" girl named Mirae and her journey, which is filled with inexplicable encounters with supernatural beings and exorcisms.
Its gripping narrative is based on the artist's extensive research of Korean shamanism and Eastern philosophy and folklore. It has earned the work the grand prize at this year's Bucheon International Comics Festival (BICOF). The title has also been translated into Chinese and has been released in the country's webcomic platform, Dongman Manhua.
"True Beauty" is rather well-known to anyone who calls themselves a fan of Korean romance webtoons. The hit rom-com series, available in over 100 countries, revolves around a young woman who transforms herself with the art of makeup after experiencing bullying. During its run, the title exceeded well over 4 billion views worldwide.
It was also adapted into a tvN television series of the same name in 2020, starring Cha Eun-woo and Moon Ka-young in the lead roles.
"The Red Sleeve" is another webtoon that gained new life on the small screen last year. The period romance series portrays the love story between crown prince Yi San, who later becomes King Jeongjo of the 1392-1910 Joseon Kingdom, and a court lady named Sung Deok-im.
Starring Lee Jun-ho of K-pop boy band 2PM and Lee Se-young, the drama ended on its highest viewership rating of 17.4 percent.
At the exhibition in Mexico, the period romance title will be introduced alongside cultural artifacts that make appearances within its story set in the Joseon period.
Relevant historical documents and costumes donned by court ladies will offer a glimpse into the lives of those women, who provided essential services around the royal palace while remaining, for the most part, anonymous.
Also on view will be "gonryongpo," a dragon-embroidered robe reserved for royal family members, including kings. A chance to try on hanbok (Korean traditional dress) is another bonus offered for visitors.
