Rare Joseon woodblock recognized as early manhwa added to comics archive

The image shows a part of "Uiyeoldo," a 17th-century woodblock print from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) recently acquired by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Manhwa Contents Agency (KOMACON). Courtesy of KOMACON

Rare historical artifacts tracing the origins of Korean comics, including a 17th century Joseon-era woodblock print widely regarded as a precursor to modern manhwa, have been acquired by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Korea Manhwa Contents Agency (KOMACON).

KOMACON announced Tuesday that it has secured “Uiyeoldo,” a woodblock print produced in the 1600s, as part of a 636-piece collection deemed crucial to understanding the early development of Korean comics. The acquisition also includes original manuscripts by the late master cartoonist Kim Jong-rae (1927-2001), obtained through purchases and auctions.

“Uiyeoldo” was printed in Seonsan, in what is now North Gyeongsang Province, during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) to promote the values of loyalty and faith to the public. It features stories with illustrations such as the tale of a loyal ox that saved its owner from a tiger. Each illustration includes a description and the names of the characters, leading many to regard it as the first known Korean comic.

The acquisition also includes the late cartoonist Kim’s original works made in the 1960s. These include the revenge drama “Jangbu,” the gambling action comic “Majeon” and “Nageune,” an adaptation of a traditional Korean folk tale.

Seen is an image of late cartoonist Kim Jong-rae’s (1927-2001) cartoon work “Jangbu,” recently acquired by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Korea Manhwa Contents Agency (KOMACON). Courtesy of KOMACON

These newly acquired manuscripts are expected to be a valuable resource for future research conducted on the artist. Kim’s original manuscripts for his masterpiece, “Searching for Mother” (1958), were already designated as a National Registered Cultural Heritage in 2013 and are housed at the agency.

Also secured in the acquisition are seven rare single-volume comic books from the post-liberation era. These include “Brave Boy Ddolddoli of the Sea” (1947) by Oh Tae-wan, “Hong Gil-dong” (1952) by Yun Jin and “Living Corpse” (1953) by Lee Jong-hyeon.

“Brave Boy Ddolddoli of the Sea” is particularly noteworthy as a key document for studying the publishing styles of the time, as it features landscape-oriented binding, a mix of illustrations and handwritten text, and thick paper for all inner pages, the agency said.

KOMACON President Baek Jong-hoon said the agency acquired these rare comic materials with a vision to systematically collect and preserve items with high cultural and artistic value for future generations.

“The newly acquired 'Uiyeoldo' and Kim Jong-rae’s works are precious materials that form the roots of Korean comic history,” he said in a statement. “We will continue to actively collect comic materials, which are the source of K-content, to protect our cultural heritage.”

The new materials will be digitized and made available to the public at the Korea Manhwa Museum in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province.