'Ttungttanji' Cartoonist Kim Wooyoung Dies; Children's Comics Icon Leaves 8,556 Installments After 30 Years

His death on September 24 was announced belatedly
Serialized "Ttungttanji" for 29 years from 1990; returned to drawing in 2021
"Ttungttanji Manhwa Ilgi" sold 380,000 copies; received the Gobau Comic Award and Nunsol Award

It has emerged that veteran cartoonist Kim Wooyoung, who brought laughter to generations of young readers through his four-panel comic Ttungttanji for nearly 30 years, has passed away.

Cartoonist Kim Wooyoung. Korea Manhwa Contents Agency.

According to the Korea Cartoonists Association and the Korea Manhwa Contents Agency, among others, Kim passed away on September 24. The Korea Cartoonists Association announced his death on its official website on October 7.

Born in 1939 in Seoncheon, North Pyongan Province, Kim moved to the South as a child and grew up in Busan. His birth name was Kim Hyegyeong. He later worked under the name Kim Wooyoung before officially changing his name to it.

Talented at drawing from an early age, he entered the world of comics as a teenager with the publication of Mullebanga. He went on to create period dramas and humorous comics, including Sansongjang, Cheoljjukkot Pineun Gohyang, Palsakdongi, Seoreumgil Gumanri and Baekje-ui Byeol.

In the late 1960s, he expanded his work into animation. At TBC's animation department, he took part in producing the Japanese-Korean co-productions Golden Bat and Yokai Ningen, contributing to the early days of television animation production in South Korea.

The work that made Kim's name widely known was undoubtedly Ttungttanji. The four-panel comic debuted in the Sonyun Chosun Ilbo on March 1, 1990. Through the daily life of Ttungttanji, a mischievous boy with three tufts of hair sticking up, it humorously portrayed children's school life, family and friendships.

The original run lasted 29 years, ending on April 1, 2019. The comic ran for a total of 8,556 installments. When he stopped the series because of declining health, Kim expressed regret, saying, "I wanted to make it a full 30 years and pass 10,000 installments."

His work was not limited to four-panel comics in newspapers. Published in 1993, Ttungttanji Manhwa Ilgi compiled the newspaper comic in diary form and sold approximately 380,000 copies. The series later expanded into a range of spin-offs combining learning, history and exploration, including Ttungttanji Myeongsimbogam, Ttungttanji Samgukji, Ttungttanji Seokgishidae, Myeongtamjeong Ttungttanji and Ttungttanji Manhwa Yeongeo Ilgi.

After stepping away from drawing for a time, Kim returned in 2021. Having recovered his health, he resumed the series under the title Doraon Ttungttanji and continued working with his family. The series ran through December 2022. In this way, Ttungttanji, first introduced in 1990, met readers across generations for more than 30 years.

Kim also maintained a strong interest in religious comics, in addition to comics for children. Through his work with the Korean Christian Cartoon Mission Association, he continued to explain the Bible and theology in accessible comic form.

His work was also recognized for its contribution to children's culture. He received the 4th Gobau Comic Award in 2004 and the 25th Nunsol Award in 2009, presented by Saekdonghoe to people who have contributed to the development of children's culture.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.