Beast, a K-pop group with fans all around the world, made a grand appearance at the 15th Bucheon International Comics Festival.
But they're not here to perform they're here to promote a comic book that will be published next week.
The comic features all six band members in a plot that casts them as superheroes who try to save the world.
The group's members will also serve as honorary PR ambassadors for Korean comics, appointed by the Korea Manwha Contents Agency, the organizer of the festival.


[Interview : Yoon Doo-joon, Singer
Beast
] "We members all spent our childhoods reading Korean comic books, and we are very pleased to be able to contribute to the development of Korean comics."


[Interview : Park Ji-won
jiwonpark@arirang.co.kr] "Many young Korean comic book artists are trying to break into the global market, but some have already found success."

Keum Suk Gendry-Kim is one of these artists.
Her latest work, published in France earlier this year, has garnered both critical and popular acclaim.
The book, a biographical story set in modern Korea, was listed as a recommended book by Fnac, France's largest book retailer.


[Interview : Keum Suk Gendry-Kim, Graphic Novelist
] "My work is about my family from the 1970s to 2010. Even though it is about an ordinary family in Korea, critics say French readers can connect themselves to the story, as the story reflects the universal nature of family values."

Talent scout C.B. Cebulski of Marvel Comics,.. the largest comic book publisher in English-speaking countries,. says Korean comics have their unique style that appeals to the global market.


[Interview : C.B. Cebulski, Senior Vice President of Creator & Content Development
Marvel Comics
] "The Korean style that I see is fast-paced, but really focuses on the real tender moments, I think that draws on a little bit more from Korean drama, the kind of emotional beats, they're very good at telling stories with characters' faces and using body language, just as much as they're telling strong action stories."

As K-wave fans are looking forward to enjoying more of Korean pop culture products, Kcomics can earn a wider global readership, with their unique illustrations and storytelling style.
Park Ji-won, Arirang News.

Reporter : jiwonpark@arirang.co.kr