A beloved Korean comic character from the 1960s is making a high-tech comeback, as the classic four-panel newspaper strip 'Kkeobeongi' transforms into short-form animation using artificial intelligence technology. The project, announced Thursday by content company KCD Company, will bring the iconic character to modern audiences through Naver Webtoon's new Cuts platform, marking 55 years since the character's original debut.
Kkeobeongi was the creation of legendary cartoonist Gil Chang-deok (1930-2010), featuring a lovable, goofy kid with permanently droopy eyes and a distinctive bald patch on the side of his head. Long before webtoons became Korea's cultural export powerhouse with their vertical scrolling format, children in the 1960s and 1970s would eagerly flip through newspapers to find the four-panel strips tucked into corners, getting their daily dose of comic entertainment from this mischievous character.
The revival project is being spearheaded by KCD Company, which was founded last year by Gil's daughter Gil Hye-yeon specifically to manage the late cartoonist's copyright and intellectual property. The company is utilizing cutting-edge AI technology to transform the static four-panel comics into moving animations as part of a broader intellectual property expansion strategy. The project has received backing from the state-run Gyeonggi Content Agency, with Seoul Webtoon Academy Chairman Park In-ha serving as the project director.
Kkeobeongi enjoyed an impressive run as a fixture in Korean children's comics over two decades. The character first appeared in Manhwa Kingdom magazine in 1970, then moved to the children's edition of The Joongang Ilbo newspaper from 1973 to 1977, and finally ran in The Chosun Ilbo's children's section from 1980 to 1990. Throughout this extensive publication history, the mischievous character appeared in a total of 1,584 episodes, capturing the hearts of multiple generations of Korean children.
The comic series serves as more than just entertainment—it functions as a fascinating snapshot of Korea during its developing years. The episodes captured significant milestones in the country's modernization, including the opening of Seoul's first subway line in 1974. One memorable strip shows Kkeobeongi's aunt splurging on what were then considered exotic luxury treats—pizza and bananas—but the unfortunate protagonist is too sick to enjoy them. In another episode, he sneaks a forbidden sip of his father's prized Coca-Cola, which was also a rare indulgence at the time, only to get caught in the act. These charming vignettes offer valuable glimpses into a Korea that was far removed from today's economic prosperity and global cultural influence.
The comprehensive revival project extends beyond just the animated shorts. KCD Company plans to publish complete collections of Kkeobeongi's entire newspaper and magazine runs, along with reissues of Gil Chang-deok's other beloved works including 'Lady Soon-ak-jil,' 'Jae-dongi,' and 'Go-jip-se.' The team is even going so far as to recreate the original cartoonist's distinctive handwriting style, developing a custom typeface called the 'Gil Chang-deok font' specifically for use in the new animations.
'Gil Chang-deok is one of the most cherished cartoonists in Korean comics history,' said project director Park In-ha. 'His characters capture the childhood memories we all share.' This sentiment reflects the deep cultural significance of Kkeobeongi and Gil's other creations in Korean popular culture, representing a bridge between the country's humble past and its current status as a global entertainment powerhouse.
