Festival celebrates comics' past, future
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Park Jae-dong, left, chairman of the 18th Bucheon International Comics Festival Steering Committee, poses with the festival’s honorary ambassador Julian Quintart during a press conference at the Press Center in downtown Seoul, July 14. / Courtesy of BICOF
Poster of 18th BICOF
By Baek Byung-yeul
Visitors to the 18th Bucheon International Comics Festival (BICOF) can get a glimpse of the past and the future of Korea through “manhwa” (comics) history.
Under the slogan “Manhwa! 70+30,” this year’s BICOF will focus on Korea 30 years from now, as imagined by local cartoonists.
As Korea marks the 70th year of liberation from Japan, BICOF also sheds light on how Korean comics have reflected the lives of the Korean people during the past seven decades. Visitors can enjoy cartoons dealing with historical moments, such as the Japanese occupation period, the Korean War and social changes through urbanization and industrialization.
BICOF said it also aims to expand its presence around the world.
“The goal of this year’s BICOF is to become a must-see international comics festival,” Park Jae-dong, chief of the organizing committee said to reporters during a press conference at the Press Center in downtown Seoul, July 14.
“We are planning a number of events with renowned artists. For example, there will be a live drawing show featuring Korean cartoonist Kim Jung-gi and Belgian cartoonist Bernard Yslaire who held an exhibition at the Louvre,” Park said.
The BICOF will feature world renowned cartoon works, ranging from Japanese cartoonist Miri Masuda’s “Su-chan” series to some 40 cartoon cuts from French weekly magazine Charlie Hebdo. Finnish cartoonist Tove Jansson’s popular Moomin illustrations and comic strips by cartoonists from the Czech Republic will also be featured.
For comic fans, star cartoonists Yoon Tae-ho, best known for “Misaeng,” Kim Poon and Jo Joo-hee will hold fan meetings alongside veteran cartoonist Jang Tai-san who will give a lecture with the Belgian cartoonist Yslaire.
BICOF is the country’s largest market place for local artists. A business fair for manhwa and a group discussion on “one source multi use” strategies for local works will also be held.
Julian Quintart, the Seoul-based Belgian celebrity, and animated characters featured in CJ E&M’s “Robot Trains” were named the festival’s honorary ambassadors.
The festival will take place in Bucheon, on the southwestern outskirts of Seoul, from Aug. 12 to 16. For more information, visit www.bicof.com.