Choi Seong Guk (pictured left) is believed to be the first North Korean
defector to author a webtoon, with his series called ‘Rodong Simmun [a wordplay
on Rodong Sinmun, North Korea’s state-run newspaper: ‘simmun’ means
investigation or inquisition].’ Mr. Choi will be publishing his webtoon series
each Wednesday through Naver’s ‘Comic Book Challenge’ page, which started at
the beginning of the month. His intriguing and realistic depictions of North
Korean defectors resettling in South Korea and the hardships they endure is
drawing attention from a diverse readership.
South Korean readers have praised the series as ‘compelling
and fun,’ with some commenting that they felt they “really need to try and
better understand those who come from the North.” North Korean defectors are
also getting into the series, saying it takes them back to their initial days
of resettlement in South Korea and “accurately depicts the differences in
culture between North and South Korea.”
Choi’s background is also noteworthy. For many years, he
worked at a studio called SEK in North Korea prior to his defection in 2011.
After living under North Korea’s socialist system, he experienced challenges in
adjusting to the markedly different lifestyle in South Korea, even though he
felt that he understood it. His former job in North Korea required him to draw
pictures to match a pre-written script, and he found it to be a significant
departure from his old mindset to be able to freely compose both a story and
the drawings to go with it.
In a recent email interview with Daily NK, Mr. Choi said
that because of this he has struggled greatly. “It’s really been do-or-die”, he
wrote. “The hardest thing has been writing scripts on my own.”
However, rather than giving up, Mr. Choi is striving to
achieve his personal dream. As a North Korean, he feels a sense of duty to more
fully understand his home country, and attempting to do so is not always easy.
Nevertheless, he enjoys his work immensely.
Mr. Choi wrote, “I have never in my life been as excited
about my work as I am now. I want to work hard and afterwards write something
from the perspective of liberal democracy that in a subtle way draws out
the cultural differences between the North and South.”
Mr. Choi’s positive outlook has been bolstered by the
support that he has received online for his work. He said that he found it both
surprising and rewarding when internet users started leaving messages in
response to his stories telling him to ‘keep up the good work.’
Whereas in the past he would merely focus on his work, he is
now mindful of his readers when composing new webtoons. “It’s amazing. I can
also feel how I am changing together with my readers. I feel like I am becoming
a more complete person and growing at the same time,” he wrote.
Mr. Choi finished his email to DailyNK by mentioning his
aspirations, saying, “In South Korea, I find it incredible that all kinds of
things are seen as talent and can be used to earn a living. I would hope to
share this with defectors that have come to the South after me, and if possible
share it with people in the North too,” adding, “This is despite the fact that
many people in the North would find it impossible to believe that South Koreans
can enjoy the works of a North Korean defector.”
