Jang Bong-kun's Recollections Through His Pen My Newspaper Story 1

Hankyoreh Newspaper had a reader cartoon column. Around 1991, I consistently submitted cartoons for about a year, and my work was published several times. One day, I visited with several cartoonists and teacher Park Jae-dong to have lunch together. He was a tall and handsome man.

After that, one day, teacher Park called and asked if I would like to try drawing pictures. I went to Hankyoreh, and as a result, I began drawing illustrations for the newspaper pages. Over the next four years, I worked as a freelancer drawing illustrations for Hankyoreh, and eventually teacher Park entrusted me with the "Drawing Board" column on Thursdays, which he took off. Even before that, I had been drawing cartoons little by little in an underground organization, but this was the beginning of my proper career as a cartoonist.

When I had a child and my future looked bleak, it was teacher Park who opened the path for me. Though I was a freelancer, he made sure I earned a decent income. He gave me lots of advice and is my great teacher. Last year, I heard he suffered from shingles, and I should send him beef from time to time, but I have not been able to do so. I am only accumulating a debt of gratitude in my heart.