Born Hong Seong-hyeok in Seoul, webtoonist extraordinaire Hong Jac-ga (who spells his name as one word in English “Hongjacga”) has won raves from critics and readers alike for his nuanced style of drawing. His repertoire consists of assorted genres ranging from romance, horror and medical thrillers to space (sci-fi) operas, the latter for which he is most famous for.

Hit Space Opera

Hong’s signature artistic style featuring sentimentality and tenderness is an eclectic complement to the sci-fi genre. © Hongjacga

Hong’s hit serial “Space Sweepers” was released this year and is about the crew of the starship Victory who seek to escape a dying Earth. The second episode saw the webtoon earn two million accumulated views and five million by the 15th on Naver Webtoon and Kakaopage.

Due to COVID-19, the film adaptation of this webtoon has been delayed for nearly half a year. As a Korea’s first sci-fi blockbuster starring an A-list cast, the film is highly anticipated by fans of the genre both at home and abroad.

In 2015, the webtoonist also did a web comic of the Star Wars saga, “Star Wars: Story Before the Force Awakens,” for Disney and Marvel Entertainment. Despite the legions of Star Wars fans worldwide, Hong said he did not face much criticism but that it was not an entirely smooth ride.

“In addition to the pressure, I faced an outright backlash from the project’s outset. I reacted by tending to the project with utter grit. Simply put, I toughened up and refused to let antagonistic views put me down. Another approach that helped me persist and funnel my energies and concentration into the artwork itself was to consider the work as part of a celebratory occasion. As a Star Wars fan, I know what an honor and joyous occasion it is to invest in an intellectual property marketing endeavor of Disney,” he said.

Crafting Narratives

“My most fulfilling endeavors are those in which I’m the sole owner and conceiver of the narrative and its constituents,” he said. His affinity for not merely conveying stories but also creating them led to his transition from a hobbyist to a professional webtoonist.

“Even when working on my first webtoon as a side hustle while at a gaming company, I was lucky enough to enjoy parts of my profession. Though my transition happened more as the consequential fallout of a publishing deal, it was something I definitely yearned for. I craved to tell my own stories, something illustrations in crafting virtual characters or for publications or advertising projects didn’t afford me. Admittedly, the transition felt abrupt at the time but looking back, everything worked out well and I’m lucky to have a steady inflow of webtoon projects,” he said.

His debut as a storyteller and webtoonist came in 2006 with the fantasy occult series “Dorothy Band” on Daum Webtoon; inspired by “The Wizard of Oz,” the work was made into a musical in 2014. Another of his original narratives premiered as a film a year later, “The Cat Funeral,” based on his eponymous 2009 serial on Daum Webtoon. The poignant and youthful romance of this work featured sentimental imagery and Hong’s trademark illustration style present in much of his works.

So where does he get his inspiration to create his stories? “It differs every time, and though I can’t necessarily trace particular points of epiphany, I cherish each of my works with great affinity. It’s hard not to, considering that every one of them are candid reflections or bits of my own self at their respective points in time,” he said.

The webtoonist colors a recent work on his device. © Hongjacga

Literary Tools

Like any great storyteller, Hong puts much thought into creating the base for his content, like composing of his characters and devising the plot. “Having solid elements in place tends to make the sequential steps of my storytelling easier. Having dynamic characters is often a great asset for not only making stories intriguing but also facilitating my workload,” he said.

“As a storyteller, all I hope for is for my content to resonate with my readers. It’s incredibly rewarding to receive feedback on how individuals have gained solace through my works.”

Ownership and Sharing

Calling the interactive nature of the webtoon medium “a double-edged sword,” Hong said, “Transparently responding or reacting to audience feedback doesn’t always fare well for the story. But once I read the comments, I can’t help being influenced to implement them to a degree. I have to consciously avoid this trap because even knowing that I shouldn’t let my storytelling be swayed is insufficient to prevent it.”

“Despite the inherent and ongoing struggle between retaining my pre-determined direction for the plot and accommodating reader feedback, engaging with my audience is an integral part of the job.”