By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
Wonju city government in Gangwon Province Wednesday filed a 123-million-won ($100,000) compensation suit against a cartoonist who inserted abusive words about President Lee Myung-bak in its promotional gazette.
The cartoonist, identified only as Choi, 44, caused a stir after he drew a cartoon containing the offensive remarks in the June edition of the publication.
In the cartoon, which is supposed to be in honor of Korean Vietnam War veterans, a couple of people bow in front of a monument, but behind them stand two statues with ``Lee Myung-bak should die,’’ and ``Lee Myung-bak son of a b****’’ written on their torsos. The words had been subtly hidden in the form of patterns.
The cartoon somehow passed censorship checks and the magazine was released to the public. The city government later had to recall and discard all copies of the edition.
``The cartoon was drawn in such a manipulative way that not many people could notice what was written in the first place. However, the content was so humiliating for not only the head of the state, but all public servants. We will fight for the dignity of the city,’’ the office said.
The 123 million won includes compensation of 100 million won, fees for the printing, recalling and discarding of the magazine, it added.
bjs@koreatimes.co.kr
