Sanctions Inevitable for Korea Manhwa Contents Agency Displaying and Selecting 'Yoon Seok-yeol Car'

Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism: "Confirmed Violations of Approval Conditions, Strict Implementation of Related Measures"

The Korea Manhwa Contents Agency, which exhibited a cartoon satirizing President Yoon Suk-yeol at the Bucheon International Comics Festival, is facing sanctions.

On the 4th, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) announced that the Manhwa Contents Agency violated MCST approval requirements while conducting the National Student Cartoon Contest. The contest plan submitted by the agency when requesting approval to use the sponsorship title listed four disqualifying conditions: ▲unclear identity of the work’s submitter or cases of plagiarism, unauthorized use, or copyright infringement ▲works with political intent or those that defame others ▲works that do not meet submission guidelines (format and length) ▲works with excessive selection or violence.

The controversial work is titled "Yoon Suk-yeol Train," drawn by a high school student. President Yoon’s face is depicted on the front of the train. In the driver's cabin, a woman presumed to be First Lady Kim Keon-hee is waving her hand. 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 shocked expressions.

"Yoon Suk-yeol Train" won the gold prize in the cartoon category of the National Student Cartoon Contest held in July and August. It was also exhibited at the 25th Bucheon International Comics Festival held from September 30 to October 3.

The MCST stated, "The disqualifying conditions were omitted from the contest guidelines and were not notified to the judges," adding, "There was also no thorough review of whether the work was an unpublished original creation." They further said, "We judge that the Manhwa Contents Agency decisively violated the initial approval requirements in conducting the contest."

The Manhwa Contents Agency is a foundation affiliated with Bucheon City and receives partial funding from the MCST’s 10.2 billion KRW budget for comics-related projects this year. The MCST Minister’s Award is also given to the grand prize winner of the contest. It appears difficult for the agency to continue enjoying such benefits in the future.

Article 9 of the regulations on the use approval of sponsorship titles by the MCST states, "If the sponsorship title is used in violation of approved matters during the event or causes social controversy, or if application documents are prepared or submitted by fraudulent means, the competent department may cancel the approval and refuse to approve the use of the sponsorship title for three years from that time."

An MCST official said, "Selecting and exhibiting a work that blatantly deals with political themes in a national student cartoon contest targeting middle and high school students is extremely contrary to the purpose of the event, which is to encourage students’ cartoon creativity." The official added, "There are sufficient grounds for cancellation of approval," and stated, "We will promptly and strictly implement related measures according to regulations and hold responsible parties accountable."