A New Horizon for 'Women's Narratives' with Unique Characters
Newcomer Manga Award: 'No Reason Not to Be Pregnant'
Reader Popularity Award Voting from 1st to August 11
The Korea Manhwa Contents Agency announced on the 2nd that the winner of the 21st Bucheon Manhwa Grand Prize is the work "Jeongnyeon-i" by writers Seo I-re and Na Mon.
The Korea Manhwa Contents Agency announced on the 2nd that the 21st Bucheon Manhwa Award winner is "Jeongneoni" by writers Seo I-re and Namon. [Photo by Munhakdongne]
The grand prize-winning work "Jeongnyeon-i" features unique female characters: Yoon Jeongnyeon, who wants to become rich; Heo Yeongseo, who aspires to be the best gukgeuk actress; and Hong Juran, who quietly strives by the side of the one she loves. Although their desires differ, they all seek to achieve their dreams through the art and stage of female gukgeuk. The work is praised for opening a new horizon of "female narratives."
The selection committee stated, "Despite using the unique and Korean subject of female gukgeuk, the work stands out for its ability to tell the story in a way that appeals to the general public."
This year's winners were selected from works published last year (at least one volume published or more than 30 episodes serialized). Through a candidate recommendation committee, five works were chosen for the grand prize category, five for the rookie manhwa category, and five for the overseas manhwa category. For the academic category, five works were selected from manhwa-related research books, academic journals, and doctoral dissertations related to manhwa. A total of 20 selected works underwent evaluation by the selection committee to determine the final winners in the four categories.
The Newcomer Comic Award was given to "Pregnancy with No Reason Not to Do It" by writers Noh Kyung-moo and Ssoki. [Photo provided by Korea Manhwa Contents Agency]
The Rookie Manhwa Award went to "An Hal Iyoo Eomneun Imshin" ("No Reason Not to Get Pregnant") by writers Noh Kyung-moo and Ssoki. This work is a manhwa adaptation of the animation of the same name, which was invited to 24 domestic and international film festivals and won eight awards. Set in South Korea in 2030, when the birth rate is 0.4, it is a black comedy about a man undergoing pregnancy to support his wife who has repeatedly failed in vitro fertilization attempts.
The selection committee commented, "The bold satire and imagination directed at Korean society, which currently has a birth rate of 0.78, show the challenge and daring that only a rookie can bring. It is truly a work befitting the Rookie Artist Award."
The Overseas Work Award was given to "Cheonmak-ui Jadugar," which depicts the life story of Sitara, a slave girl who manipulated a powerful empire through "knowledge" in 13th-century Iran during the Mongol Empire era. [Photo by Korea Manhwa Contents Agency]
The Overseas Work Award was given to "Cheonmak-ui Jadugar" ("The Tent’s Magician"), which depicts the life story of Sitara, a slave girl who manipulated a powerful empire through 'knowledge' during the 13th-century Mongol Empire era in Iran.
The Academic Award went to Professor Yoo In-hyeok of Jeonju University for his work "The Narrative of Human Managers and Emotional Capitalism in Korean Platform Storytelling," which analyzes the sociocultural significance of the "manager narrative" popular in current web novels and webtoons, examining how the characteristics of contemporary capitalism that emphasize human resource management are culturally represented.
Additionally, the "Reader Popularity Award," chosen directly by readers from the nominees for the grand prize, rookie award, and overseas manhwa award, will be decided through online voting on the Bucheon International Comics Festival website from the 1st to the 11th.
The awards ceremony is scheduled to take place at the opening ceremony of the 27th Bucheon International Comics Festival on October 3rd. An exhibition of the winning works will also be held during the festival period.
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