[Digging Travel] "Enjoying Everything About Comics"... Now Bucheon is a 'Comic Heaven'

The 27th Bucheon International Comics Festival Opens
A Global Comics Festival Gathering Comics Artists from 23 Countries
Various Events Including Exhibitions, Conferences, Consultations, and Participatory Activities

From childhood to the present, whether flipping through books or scrolling on screens, 'manhwa' always excites our hearts. The 27th Bucheon International Comics Festival, the largest comics festival in Korea where you can experience the development and diverse works of manhwa all in one place, will be held until the 6th at the Korean Manhwa Museum area in Wonmi-gu, Bucheon City.

The 27th Bucheon International Comics Festival site.
[Photo by Korea Manhwa Contents Agency]

The slogan of the Bucheon International Comics Festival, which opened on the 3rd, is "Manhwa! A Bigger Encounter." The atmosphere on site is heating up with cartoonists, editors, and cosplayers from 23 countries around the world gathering together.

At the opening ceremony, the "2024 Bucheon Manhwa Awards" ceremony took place. The grand prize was awarded to Seo I-re (writer) and Namon (illustrator) for "Jeongnyeon-i." The New Artist Award went to "No Reason Not to Get Pregnant" by Noh Kyung-moo (writer) and Sokki (illustrator). The overseas work award was given to "The Plum Tree of the Tent."

Both "Jeongnyeon-i," set in the 1950s women's theater, and "No Reason Not to Get Pregnant," which presents provocative imaginations in the era of low birth rates, can be seen through special exhibitions at the Korean Manhwa Museum. On the 5th and 6th, talks with the artists will also be held on site.

The 27th Bucheon International Comics Festival site.
[Photo by Korea Manhwa Contents Agency]

The commemorative exhibition "Fumetto," celebrating the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Italy, was also opened. The atmosphere was further elevated by live drawing from Tanino Liberatore and a congratulatory performance by Dario Sansone, the music director of Napoli Comicon. The exhibition offers a comprehensive look at the history of Italian comics, which may be somewhat unfamiliar domestically but showcases a unique sensibility.

The highlight of the festival, the "Caricature, Opening Hearts" program, continues throughout the festival period. Additionally, a free outdoor comic library with over 3,500 comic books is operated at the festival's outdoor plaza.

The 27th Bucheon International Comics Festival on site.
[Photo by Korea Manhwa Contents Agency]

Along with comic events for citizens, an international business meeting for those in the comic industry was also prepared. On the 4th and 5th, webtoon officials from 12 overseas countries including France, the United States, Japan, China, India, and Saudi Arabia, along with about 70 domestic companies, participated to discuss ways to export webtoon content. The day before, a business consultation meeting for one-person creative enterprises was held at the Korea Manhwa Contents Agency Business Center. Mentoring events were also conducted to support the serialization of works and expansion of secondary businesses for resident companies. During this period, the Korea Manhwa Contents Agency and tablet specialist company Wacom signed a business agreement to nurture webtoon talent.

Shin Jong-chul, president of the Korea Manhwa Contents Agency, said, "The Bucheon International Comics Festival will be the best festival for citizens and manhwa fans, as well as a market event that supports the foundation of webtoon artists and content companies."