By Honorary Reporter Jadiene Shani Teng from Philippines

The Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines from July 4 to 6 held a three-part “Meet the Mentor” workshop focused on the webtoon industry. Building on the series’ tradition of featuring prominent Korean figures in fields such as literature, film, and visual arts, this event further strengthened KCC’s commitment to fostering cultural exchange and connecting Filipino audiences with Korea’s creative industries.

I attended on the opening day an event featuring Cho Gwang-jin, creator of the hit webtoon "Itaewon Class" (2016).

Attendees on July 4 pose with webtoonist Cho Gwang-jin in a group photo after the workshop. (KCC in Philippines)

Cho started things off by sharing the beginnings of his 12-year webtoon career and his roles as an artist, scriptwriter, director and entrepreneur. His journey began in middle school but a friend years later ignited his passion for drawing.

After years of balancing part-time jobs and drawing, he achieved success in the field, something that also inspired an aspiring artist like myself.

Webtoonist Cho Gwang-jin, creator of "Itaewon Class" (2016), on July 4 speaks at a workshop hosted by the Korean Cultural Center in Taguig, Metro Manila. (Jadiene Shani Teng)

Cho highlighted three important factors for creating a webtoon: topic, intention and elements. He urged creators to determine if a story is feasible, identify its main purpose and create key characters, saying his experience as a part-time restaurant server was instrumental in creating "Itaewon Class."

Creating content is like gambling, he added, emphasizing the importance of choosing projects wisely as his next project was not as successful as "Itaewon Class."

“Itaewon Class” (2020) is a K-drama based on the eponymous webtoon created by Cho Gwang-jin. (JTBC and Kakao Page)

Another tip he shared was not to be afraid of criticism, calling it "useful feedback and nourishment for future projects." He also explained how to meet tight deadlines and the importance of balancing them with quality.

msjeon22@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.