Korean cartoonist holds an exhibition in France

“I’m a little nervous because this is my first time speaking to Western audiences," Huh Young-man said. The 69-year-old renowned Korean cartoonist attended a special exhibition for his cartoon at the Korean Cultural Center in Paris and said that it is the very first exhibition outside Korea, not just for him but also for Sikgaek.

“Sikgaek,” a comic strip that continued for six years from 2002 to 2008 in the Dong-A Ilbo, was hugely popular as it introduced hidden cuisine and food materials of Korea. The exhibition, celebrating the 130th anniversary of the diplomatic relationship between Korea and France, also had a partial translation of the cartoon to help the understanding of the French people.

Jacques Ferrandez, the author of Frères de Terroirs, the French version of Sikgaek, also attended the opening ceremony. He toured France from Normandy in the north to Corsica in the south, drawing cartoons about unique local cuisine.

When Ferrandez said, “I crisscrossed France with a chief. I always put local dialects in the cartoon,” Huh said that he had done the same. “Even after I studied and prepared a lot, sometimes I couldn’t get an inspiration at the moment when I had to write a story. Then, I went to the place once again," Huh said. "I always put local dialects because they make the story more real.”

Huh also talked about his challenges that he had when he started carrying the cartoon to the Dong-A Ilbo in 2002.

“The downside of cartoons is it does not smell. To help readers feel the taste, I had to draw pictures very vividly," he said. "On top of this, there was time pressure from the daily newspaper deadline. I busted stress by searching for a new cuisine."

“It’s not easy to make the best work but Sikgaek is the one to me," he said. "In that sense, I’m regrettable that I couldn’t make the 100th volume.” When asked whether he wants to try it again, he said with a smile, “Oh again? No, I can’t. I don’t have energy anymore.”

“Like anyone else, I’m interested in food and money,” Huh said. “I’m preparing for a cartoon exploring restaurants selling a bowl of rice and small dishes and a cartoon about staples. But it is worrisome because such restaurants for ordinary citizens have limited food options.”

Though he visited France, a country known for gourmets, he said Korean food is the best for him.

“However famous French cuisine may be, I hate greasy food. I’ve never eaten up steak in a wedding ceremony," Huh said. "But wine goes really well with oysters. Luckily, it’s an oyster season, so I'm thinking about having a lot of oysters here.”

The exhibition will continue through Jan. 4 next year.

Jung-Min Dong ditto@donga.com