"I Will Take a Break to Reorganize" Apology from Webtoon 'Helper' Creator Amid 'Elder Abuse' and 'Sexual Exploitation' Controversy [Full Text]

Poster of the webtoon 'Helper 2: Killberos'./Photo by Naver Webtoon

A scene criticized for misogynistic depiction in the webtoon 'Helper 2: Killberos' / Photo by Online Community Capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Seul-gi] The author Sak (real name Shin Jung-seok) of the Naver webtoon "Helper," which caused controversy over misogyny issues such as sexual exploitation and sexual commodification of minors, as well as violent expressions including elderly torture, apologized saying, "I will take a break for a while to reorganize."

On the 14th, Sak wrote on the Naver webtoon serialization page, "The biggest intention of the direction was to show the true faces of villains and demons in the crueler and more vicious real world than comics and to punish all the vulnerable people who have been hurt regardless of gender or age on their behalf," he said.

He added, "Since only some scenes were edited and spread, it has been misunderstood as a comic that simply commodifies sex to make money, but that was not the intention when planning the story," and explained, "Due to my lack of ability and shortcomings in direction, my sincerity was not well conveyed, but I would appreciate it if you understand that I worked every week with all my heart hoping for justice."

He also apologized regarding the violent and elderly torture claims over the scene where the elderly female character 'Pibada' is tied up, shaved bald, and forcibly injected with drugs.

Sak said, "Unlike Season 1, the problematic scene was an unavoidable choice to make Pibada's (character name) 180-degree mental change believable, and I felt deeply sorry inside the whole five hours while drawing that scene," adding, "Since it was the scene I put the most effort into throughout the entire series, it seems to have been conveyed more strongly than usual."

The post also included an apology statement from Naver Webtoon.

Naver Webtoon said, "We apologize for not managing the expression level more carefully during serialization while providing the work for ages 18 and over. The provocative expressions and depictions in the work caused concern to many," and added, "We will be more attentive in reviewing important and sensitive subject matter expressions and communicate more closely with authors to ensure careful reflection in their work."

Below is the full apology statement from author Sak

I would like to say this as I go on hiatus.

1. Regarding the opinion that Season 2 was ghostwritten

First, I have multiple drawing styles. Since Season 2 has a different genre and worldview from Season 1, I newly combined and transformed my drawing style to fit the planning intention while preparing Season 2. Afterward, I have continued to slightly modify the drawing style according to the characters' growth speed and episode atmosphere. This was a new challenge for me, but I feel sorry and regretful that it caused a sense of alienation for those who have been following since Season 1 and eventually led to misunderstandings. What I earnestly ask is that some people have hurt my assistants who help me with my work by falsely claiming and harshly accusing them of ghostwriting without fact-checking. Please refrain from doing so.

2. Regarding concerns about sexual exploitation or commodification

Season 2's biggest intention was to show the true faces of villains and demons in the crueler and more vicious real world than comics and to punish all the vulnerable people who have been hurt regardless of gender or age more painfully on their behalf. To do this, it was necessary to reveal how evil these masked villains truly are, and inevitably uncomfortable scenes had to be drawn in this process. For this reason, we made the major decision to change Helper from an all-ages rating to 18+. Since only some scenes were edited and spread, it has been misunderstood as a comic that simply commodifies sex to make money, but that was not the intention when planning the story. Due to my lack of ability and shortcomings in direction, my sincerity was not well conveyed, but I would appreciate it if you understand that I worked every week with all my heart hoping for justice.

3. Regarding the direction of Pibada (elderly female character)

If you look at Helper Season 1 Episode 66, before parting with Gwangnam (the protagonist), Pibada was a person with deep affection for others and a positive spirit. However, in Season 1 Episode 80, the returning Pibada shows a negative view of people and a completely different side from the previous Pibada. So, in the Helper worldview, considering Pibada is the strongest in mental strength, what kind of events would have caused such a change? Probably, I am the person who cherishes and loves the character Pibada the most in this world. The problematic Season 2 Episode 247 scene of Pibada's mental brainwashing was an unavoidable choice to make Pibada's 180-degree mental change believable. I felt deeply sorry inside the whole five hours while drawing that scene, but I thought it would be disrespectful to express it clumsily, so I put the most effort into that scene throughout the entire Helper series. Therefore, it seems to have been conveyed more strongly than usual (some scenes are being revised). I want to clarify that the scene was expressed for this reason and was never intended to shock or hurt readers who love Pibada (I cannot even imagine the intention of elderly torture, so I will simply say 'No'). However, in the end, Pibada's affection for people entrusted to Gwangnam returns to her, and she somewhat returns to her former self, so please do not worry too much. Good influence always comes back around.

In conclusion.

Since it was rated for adults, it is true that I expressed more freely than for all-ages works. Whenever high-level expressions appeared, the Naver Webtoon team in charge advised me to be careful with the rating of 18+ on Naver Webtoon so that readers would not feel uncomfortable, but I, as the author, greedily expressed slightly more than their guidance. As a person who loves comics, I have thought that comics are somewhat stricter than other content regarding expression levels, and I tried to expand the range of expression a little. However, it seems to have backfired, and I sincerely apologize to the many readers who love webtoons, various authors, and the minority of enthusiasts who want to enjoy more diverse comics. The reason I was able to draw comics, make a living, and enjoy life gratefully for about nine years was thanks to readers who interpreted my insufficient comics better than they actually were and supported me. The reason I did not read comments was not to be uncommunicative but because comments have strong influence, and I was worried that I might be affected even a little and fail to show the comics as originally planned to readers. I will take a break for a while to reorganize. I ask for your generous understanding.

Below is the full apology statement from Naver Webtoon

Hello, this is Naver Webtoon. We apologize for not managing the expression level more carefully during serialization while providing the work "Helper 2: Killberos" for ages 18 and over. The provocative expressions and depictions in the work caused concern to many. We will be more attentive in reviewing important and sensitive subject matter expressions and communicate more closely with authors to ensure careful reflection in their work.