Manwha.

I've encountered the term about a few years back, while searching for new material to read. Manwha is not really a Korean term for Manga (which is the Japanese term for comic). A more politically correct meaning would be that it is a Korean comic, Manga-style. It wouldn't be hard for Manga readers to be reading Manwha. What gave me the hesitation was that, after reading an introduction from Manga Temple, I had the impression that Manwha, being a bit younger culture than Manga, had not quite developed, hence the art style is undeniably inferior to its Japanese counterpart.

Now I'm very particular about art. I mean, I could go on reading Manga that wouldn't have too spectacular an art like Takehiko Inoue's (of Vagabond) for example, if the story pulled it off. Or sometimes I just overlook it because it's smutty*. But I once dropped a certain Manga because the art was too lazy I couldn't even tolerate it, even if I always had this notion that all art of a particular Manga is bound to improve as chapters/volumes progress.

I had heard about this Manwha for quite a while now, and I never got to checking it out. Not until I decided to skip working on my thesis anyway. So I did, and honestly, for the first few chapters I wanted to stop. This is how it looked like:

But I had persevered because interestingly, no matter how much I felt the Japanese influence, the "Korean-ness" of the work was really strong. The story, if you can't gather from the picture, is of this girl Chae Gyeung, who attends the same high school as the Crown Prince of Korea, Lee Shin. There is a disclaimer at the start of the story that it is purely fictional, and that although the Korean Royalty does not exist anymore, let's just say that they do, up to this decade. It might be that I felt the Korean spirit in the story because of how much culture had been explained to me. I was bombarded with information about Korean Royalty right from the start.

The story goes on that the Prince has to marry at a young age so that the Princess-to-be might have more time to adjust herself to palace lifestyle, which is not a joke. The Prince, at this time, proposes to a close friend from school, but is rejected. He then realizes that he shouldn't marry the person he loves, because the life of a Princess is to be trapped in the palace, forced to follow strict rules and perform stressful duties. He decides it would be someone whom he wants to suffer. And that girl is Chae Gyeung.

It goes on without saying that, being a girly comic, love is bound to happen. The main difference I found with this Manwha and all other typical Shoujo (for girls) Manga is the story-telling. A typical Manga would have obstacles that come 100%, and disappear 100%. In this particular story, everything just comes, and nothing disappears. I read this story volume after volume. I couldn't stop because waves and waves of trouble just kept on coming. There might be an expected frustration on the part of the reader, but even with this style there are small favors the author does to please the reader. A smile here, or a hug there, but nothing to really satisfy your hunger to read more. You keep scrolling the pages, faster than a reading bullet (from David Ty), always asking the question When? When? When?

And though the art is still very distinct, and I did not expect that it would turn into a Manga anyway, it improved greatly beyond my expectations. So-Hee Park outdid herself. This story demanded attention to detail, and the artist was more than generous. Here are samples of the later scenes (from Volume 06):

(click on the thumbnails)

Even if I have read 14 volumes (92 chapters) in 12 hours, I was even slowed down by the Royal House terms that had to be explained time and time again. And would you believe that it was only after 14 volumes that these two Royals have an understanding about their feelings? And it was only after 14 volumes that I was allowed to sleep. In my sleep, and in my waking hours, I kept thinking about Goong.

*smutty: cute, girly hentai, not exactly porn. Cute, steamy sex, I suppose.

Title: Goong (means Palace)
Author/Artist: So-Hee Park
Vintage: 2002
No. of Volumes: Currently 15 in Korea, on-going
Where to get it: Mangatraders, or VK scans
Rating: /10

Credits: Korean-Manwha Scanlating group, VK scans scanlators, And the rest of the scanlators for this series who have not included their credits in the downloads.

 

Baboysai reads Goong again.

4 cared.

Nobody sees her as a potential girlfriend because although she looks good, is athletic, she seems to kick boys around too much. Literally.

I go home with her all the time, and nobody ever thinks anything is going on between us. I'm a dork, for God's sake.

But something does happen between us. Always. Only one thing. Sex.

I realize I love her. She doesn't see it the same way. Only one thing happens between us.

I kiss her, she kisses back. We pretend, for the sake of just pretending, that my brother is non-existent. We pretend, for the sake of just pretending, that we are a couple. The phone rings, and the game ends. She hurries to meet my brother at the door.

While my brother turns his back, she holds my hand. She's my older brother's girlfriend.

"We should break up. You and I just don't go good together. Everybody wonders why we're together. You're beautiful, you're class president, you're popular. I'm just nobody. We should break up."

"But you're so cute, and quiet. You don't complain when I make a mistake."

"You just want an obedient pet. You don't want a boyfriend."

"Kiss me."

I can't say no.

Like the usual fanfiction writer writes a disclaimer: As much as I would like to claim these short stories for my own, well, I can't.

They are actually just three of many short stories compiled in the form of the serial comic, Girlfriend, written by Masaya Hokazono and drawn by Court Betten. The stories in these volumes are very intense, and yet very familiar. These short stories are based on contemporary Japanese relationships.

I really find this comic to be a really good read. One-shots, as short comics are often referred to, are not my type. Even after I've taken the short story course in college, I've never tried reading one-shots. I do appreciate short stories, but I believed that if they came in the form of comics, it would really ruin the mood. But I now realize that it all depends on how the art delivers these stories that comics can also be a very powerful medium for short stories. Girlfriend actually opened my eyes.

Court Betten's art is also very subtle, but very defined. If the art were stronger than this, it would overwhelm the lines of the story, especially since the writer is so fond of strong one-liners. The art is just enough to deliver the message, not in any way grabbing the attention from the words, but without it, the story would have a weaker impact.

If short stories are your type, you should try reading this. That is, if you're comfortable with them. Because as you may have noticed, these stories are ALL adult-themed, and by adult-themed, I mean that there is sex involved. If you're okay with that, you won't regret reading this.

Rating: /10