‘The Mogul Merchant,’ a new online comic book created by the Cultural Heritage Administration, is released on Feb. 17. The 14-part series will be published serially online every Wednesday.
Part one of “The Mogul Merchant” (물상객주, 物商客主), a new online comic book that explores Korea’s cultural heritage, was published on Feb. 17. The 14-part miniseries will be published serially online every Wednesday until May 18.
“The Mogul Merchant” is the first webtoon, or online comic book, produced by the Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA). Set during the later years of Joseon, the story follows the adventures of a reputable salesman, the “mogul merchant” in the title. Traders at the time relied on such salesmen to market their goods and to bargain with potential buyers. The creators of the comic book used a database of actual stories that the CHA had accumulated over the past five years to develop a plot that is rich in anecdotes and cultural content.
In part one, we are introduced to the mogul, Kim Haksoo, the protagonist of the series. We also meet Seo Kiyeon, a sharp and witty young woman from a noble family that has hit on hard times. Their story takes off amid the busy stalls of Songpajang (송파장, 松坡場), one of the 15 largest private markets of the Joseon era. Here, while searching for the next hit product, Kim Haksoo meets Seo Kiyeon who is now an eager businesswoman trying to get ahead. As the story unfolds, interactions between the two, and the string of events and incidents that confronts them, keep readers engaged.
The webtoon also uses illustration to reproduce historical landmarks and other cultural artifacts, making it easier for the modern reader to understand and to appreciate various facets of Joseon society.
“The Mogul Merchant” will be published at the youth site of the CHA’s homepage (kids.cha.go.kr), at the Korean National Heritage Online website (www.heritage.go.kr), and at the CHA mobile site (m.cha.go.kr). Additionally, it can be found at the Educational Broadcasting System’s student learning website (www.ebs.co.kr) and at its companion mobile site (m.ebs.co.kr).
By Lee Hana
Korea.net Staff Writer
hlee10@korea.kr
Issue number one of ‘The Mogul Merchant,’ released on Feb. 17, takes the reader to the market streets of Songpajang, and introduces the two main characters, the salesman Kim Haksoo and the woman merchant Seo Kiyeon.
