Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Issues Severe Warning to Cartoon Animation Promotion Agency for Displaying 'Yoon Seok-yeol Car' Exhibition

"Extremely Contrary to the Purpose of Encouraging Students' Desire to Create Comics"
"Strict Review of Evaluation Criteria and Selection Process, Followed by Appropriate Measures"

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism expressed regret over the Korea Manhwa Contents Agency's exhibition of a cartoon satirizing President Yoon Suk-yeol at the Bucheon International Comics Festival. In a statement released that day, the ministry said, "A work that blatantly dealt with political themes was selected and exhibited in the nationwide student cartoon contest held for middle and high school students," adding, "This is completely contrary to the purpose of the event, which is to encourage students' desire to create cartoons."

The controversial work, titled "Yoon Suk-yeol Train," was exhibited at the 25th Bucheon International Comics Festival held from September 30 to October 3. It was drawn by a high school student and won the gold prize in the cartoon category of the 23rd Nationwide Student Cartoon Contest held in July and August. In the work, President Yoon's face is depicted on the front of a train. In the driver's cabin, a woman presumed to be First Lady Kim Keon-hee is waving her hand, and behind her, men dressed as prosecutors holding knives are lined up in the passenger cars. Citizens in front of the train are shown fleeing with surprised expressions.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism expressed regret, stating, "The Korea Manhwa Contents Agency, which hosted the nationwide student cartoon contest, is a foundation affiliated with Bucheon City and receives government funding of 10.2 billion won from taxpayers. The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Award is also given as the grand prize in this contest." The ministry added, "When approving the use of the event's sponsorship name, we also notified that 'approval may be revoked if social controversy arises.' We will thoroughly review the judging criteria and selection process of the contest and take prompt related measures," issuing a warning.