Government-Led Event Aims to Promote Korean Digital Comics in Asia and Europe

Courtesy of MINISTRY OF CULTURE, SPORTS AND TOURISM

A government-organized exhibition showcasing K-comics and webtoons will tour six countries across Asia and Europe from Friday through November, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency (Kocca) announced on Thursday.

The "K-Comics World Tour" will launch in the Philippines on Friday, with subsequent stops in Vietnam, Indonesia, Belgium, Italy, and Singapore. The tour aims to introduce Korean digital comics to new audiences, with each event tailored to the preferences of local readers through partnerships with cultural centers in the respective countries.

The exhibition in the Philippines will be held at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila from Friday until August 10. It will feature adaptations of two popular romantic comedy webtoons, "What's Wrong with Secretary Kim" and "The Red Sleeve," both of which have been turned into successful drama series. "What's Wrong with Secretary Kim" was adapted into a Filipino drama in March and achieved significant popularity on the streaming service Viu.
 

▲ Poster of the ″K-Comics World Tour″ exhibition in The Philippines / Courtesy of MINISTRY OF CULTURE, SPORTS AND TOURISMVisitors to the Manila exhibition will be able to explore real-life recreations of the office setting from "Secretary Kim" and participate in a workshop hosted by the illustrator of "The Red Sleeve."

The remaining exhibitions will feature recreations of popular works suited to local tastes, as well as activities such as open competitions for local creators, talk sessions, and business meetings.

An official from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism stated, "Many comic readers around the world are more familiar with traditional published works and may find webtoons less accessible. Our hope is that, much like BTS and Blackpink have expanded the reach of K-pop globally, this world tour will help Korean comic creators gain a broader audience and establish a presence in the Asian and European markets."

The tour is part of a broader effort to promote Korean cultural content internationally and support the expansion of the country’s creative industries.

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