Interview with Author Park Minam
Meet the Trending Author
vol. 246
[Younger Man is Frustrated]
Author Park Minam | Kakao Webtoon
Come on in~ Come on in~!
Served up by our highly ambitious author,
a hot, honest, and bold... story overflowing with desires is hereπβ€οΈβ¨!!!
A tension-filled story of a 'younger man' who charges straight ahead like a tank, and 'Yeonha', who finds herself helplessly drawn to himπ
The interview with Author Park Minam of <Younger Man is Frustrated>,
starts right now!
[INTRO]
Q. Author Park Minam! Thank you for agreeing to this interview! Could you briefly introduce yourself before we begin?
A. Hello, I'm Park Minam, an ambitious artist brimming with ambition. I've been drawing ambitious comics for 10 years now.
Recently, I opened and have been running an art exhibition space called Cut the Kake.
β³ Hello~!π₯°
[About Park Minam]
Q. It's been a while since you visited Webtoon Guide! How have you been?
A. Time flies so fast! It feels like just yesterday that I had an interview with Webtoon Guide.
A lot has happened since then... Hahaha! It really feels like it's been a continuous rollercoaster of days.
There were hard times, I moved, and I overworked myself. I think I was a bit exhausted.
I was living a repetitive routine of working and meeting deadlines, but since early this year, I've been trying to engage in new activities bit by bit.
I went on a couple of overseas trips and finally realized a long-held dream.
I've been enjoying a lot of cultural activities, which naturally led me to meet many different people. I also started working out again!
I'm having the most energetic and happy times of my life as a writer, so every day feels fulfilling.
Q. I heard you've been using your pen name 'Park Minam' since middle school.
Is there any special affection or behind-the-scenes story attached to this pen name that you've kept since your fresh school days?
A. There isn't a hugely special story. Back in middle school, I joined the Japanese club for an after-school activity.
As is typical in foreign language classes, we had to make names in that language, and the Japanese name the teacher gave me was 'Minami'.
A wind blowing from the south? I remember it meaning something like that...
My friends shortened it and called me 'Minam', and that turned into 'Park Minam'....
I thought it was funny, so I used it as my blog nickname, and it has carried on to become my author name now.π
I think it happened because I don't easily change things once I decide on them.... Anyway, since it's a pen name I've used for a long time, I have a deep affection for it.
β³ Oddly looks similar... or maybe not...?π€
Q. The Queen of Prolificacy! As the saying "Trust and Read Park Minam" goes, every work you present, whether short, long, or regardless of genre, makes us exclaim "As expected!!"
You cross various genres, but do you have your own standards or attractions when choosing or challenging each genre?
A.Β It has to turn me on...β€οΈβπ₯
The number one priority in choosing any genre is, 'Do I want to draw this?'
'Does it truly move my heart?'(It's really hard to express the phrase 'turns me on' in a beautiful way haha)Β is the criteria.
Of course, there are genres where I can't spread my wings fully due to realistic factors, but...
Since I personally read and enjoy various genres from a reader's perspective, my tastes as a consumer seem to be reflected when I create.
Q. Do you have your own routine or special know-how from planning a webtoon to serializing it?
A. The planning starts the moment someone asks me to sign a contract... lol
I'm joking. I often jot down memos of themes I've been pondering or thoughts that pop up,
and I often flesh them out and develop them from there.
I tend to approach short stories a bit more roughly compared to long series.
For short stories, platforms or agencies often set a broad theme and plan it,
so I tailor my ideas to that while also incorporating keywords I've wanted to do to construct the story.
In the case of long series, I sometimes think of keywords in advance like short stories, but usually, it's various life worries I wanted to address,
and I mainly conceptualize based on the relationships I want to portray more closely and scenes where emotions clash within them.
β³ Short stories bursting with dopamine
Sometimes characters come out first, and sometimes scenes pop into mind first.
Sometimes I come up with the exact title first and build the story around it,
but there are also times when the story and finished manuscript are out, yet I can't think of a title right up until the serialization schedule is set...
Works conceptualized this way are either decided for immediate serialization and revealed to the world depending on the situation at the time,
or they age in my memo pad for several years.
β³ What is your favorite work?
First of all, if conditions allow, I tend to rush straight into serialization.
I keep the planning stage of establishing the base as short as possible.
I practically focus on character sketches, text storyboards, and drawing storyboards needed for serialization to dive into it quickly.
I try to agonize less and make the most of the impromptu wits that come out during the drawing storyboard stage.
To sum up: writing down keywords and core themes of interest to flesh them out,
and when an opportunity for serialization comes, just drawing up the storyboard without overthinking. I guess it can be summarized like this.
Q. Your works are famous for having unique and distinctive art styles. Is there anything you consider important in developing or maintaining your art style?
A. I always have a lot of worries about my drawing style.
Honestly, the art style I aim for and like is not realistic drawing based on reality, but rather art with strong deformation.
I prefer American animation styles or cute SD styles where the body proportions completely change.
Somehow, it ended up like this....
Until the early and mid-stages of serialization, my art was unstable, so I tried various things and had a lot of concerns, but
in its own way, I think it has entered a somewhat stable period now.
I have never sincerely thought that my serialized art style so far is that unique and distinctive,
but since so many people say so, I feel both happy and awkward.
I don't really know the reason...(I truly want to know.. why you think so.. so that I can recognize it and develop it further....)
Therefore, it's hard to give a clear answer on how I develop and maintain my art style.
However, speaking from the position of someone who has endlessly pondered and is still pondering over art...
I think it comes down to having stable drawing skills and a clear direction of the art one pursues.
Personally, I lacked in that aspect, which is probably why I experienced highly unstable artwork.
Q. You've experienced various platforms, I'm curious if you're also considering new platforms or expanding overseas.
A. I am always open to new platforms!π
Expanding overseas, I'd definitely want to do it if I can.
I absolutely love having new experiences here and there.
Q. As a writer, what do you think is Author Park Minam's strength?
A. Hmm, well... Maybe the fact that I try to overthink less?? That I just start (commit to it lol) and think later..??
Actually, a strength can easily become a weakness.
I feel that what seems to be my strengths could also be my weaknesses, so it's a bit embarrassing to say it myself.
Still, a strength as an author that I've recently thought about is...
My tendency to aim for positive human growth, pacing the balance between dark aspects and bright, cheerful aspects to bring the romantic comedy genre to life,
and being good at pulling off comedy-heavy R-19 scenes. It's embarrassing...π
β³ All those strengths are right here!! Right here, here!!ππ
Q. I'm curious how you take readers' feedback during serialization and reflect it in your work. Are there any memorable reader reactions or comments?
A. Since I've spent almost my entire career doing real-time serialization... I tend to reflect readers' feedback a lot.
I also think that's the strongest advantage of real-time serialization.
Readers' feedback always gives me new inspiration,
sometimes the reactions are what I expected, but other times they show completely unexpected reactions, predictions, or thoughts.
Among those, I reflect good elements as long as they don't harm the main flow of the story.
If a character with a minor role gets a good response, I increase their screen time,
or I've even modified the fate of a character who was originally planned to meet a tragic end.
Also, there have been times when unplanned episodes were added due to readers' feedback.
The reverse is also true. However, if it deviates too much from my initial intention, I often just tightly close my eyes and boldly push forward.
Q. Aside from webtoons, you're also running an exhibition space called 'Cut the Kake',
I'm curious about the special motivation or behind-the-scenes story of how you came to run the gallery 'Cut the Kake' yourself!
What does 'Cut the Kake' mean to you?
A. It was a dream that naturally formed while I was majoring in fine arts in college.
I've been wanting to create an art exhibition space for 10 years, and I used to vaguely imagine what it would be like to create a space with close friends.
Even after becoming a webtoon author, that burning desire didn't subside.
So I made an attempt to turn it into reality in 2020, exchanging ideas with several people, but I couldn't execute it.
Then, starting in 2024, I began talking about the space with my peers who now co-run Cut the Kake with me.
We were able to have more specific conversations than before, and as time had passed, the experiences each of us had accumulated shone through, allowing us to plan the space.
We started preparing in earnest this year, and finally opened on June 20th.
It's a brand new space that hasn't been around for long.
Many people ask how we ended up creating such a space, but honestly, I think it's just a form of self-realization.
An old dream? Cut the Kake is a precious dream to me, and a place that breathes new vitality into me.
β³ Cut.. the.. Kake... Noted, notedβοΈποΈ
Q. The name 'Cut the Kake' is very impressive. If there is a background or hidden meaning behind this name, please let us know!
A. While having a meeting with the management team about what to name the exhibition space, the title of my 2016 exhibition came to mind.
That was around the time I debuted in webtoons! I remember working on webtoon manuscripts in the semi-basement house I lived in back then, while doing oil paintings at the same time.
I drew diligently and had fun, and the title of that exhibition was <COLLAGEN X CUT THE CAKE>.
I mentioned it to the management team just in case, and everyone liked it, which is how the space name Cut the Kake was born.
I wanted to give it a slight twist, so I changed the English spelling from Cake to Kake.
At first glance, it looks like the word 'cake' we all know, but it's slightly different.
Actually, 'kake' means cake or a round, flat lump in Norwegian,
and when pronounced in Japanese, it can mean a piece or fragment.
I thought it would be nice if it was a fun word that could be understood in multiple ways!
Saying 'Cut the Cake!' implies cutting a cake and sharing joy,
and it's said to be an idiom meaning for several people to start something together or enjoy it together.
I hoped our space would be a place where creators' diverse art worlds are cut, shared, combined, exhibited, and enjoyed by everyone together.
Q. I heard you and two other planners are leading 'Cut the Kake' together.
I'm curious about the unique operational philosophy or artistic direction the three of you are pursuing for 'Cut the Kake'!
A. First, we strive for a creator-friendly space.
Business viability and money are important, but the value we consider more important and what we pursue is
'Let's do fun things in this space!'.
To do so, we respect the artists' art worlds, create a venue where they can express themselves freely, and hope to resonate with the audience.
A space can perhaps be like a body.
Depending on what clothes it wears and what decorations it puts on, you can express yourself according to the mood.
We want to create synergy with the artists for every exhibition and show as diverse appearances as possible.
Next, we want to attempt combining as many different genres of art as possible.
Just as I majored in painting but have a career as a webtoon author, the two planners on the management team also have interesting backgrounds.
They majored in painting and art theory, but one has mainly done book-related exhibitions, and the other has mainly done media art exhibitions.
We want to freely unfold our respective interests while simultaneously sharing each other's fields and trying various projects.
I hope it becomes a space that can collaborate not only with art but also with other genres like music and theater, or even fields that aren't art at all.
Q. It doesn't seem easy to juggle webtoon work and running a gallery. What positive influences do they have on each other?
Does your experience with 'Cut the Kake' reflect in your webtoon work, or conversely, does your perspective as a webtoon author help with running the gallery?
A. It's definitely not an easy task. That's why I relied heavily on the other two operators in the early stages.
As time passed, I got a sense of how to carve out and distribute my time.
Actually, I've become more efficient with my time for webtoon work than when it was the only thing I did.
I am certainly receiving a good influence.
After 10 years of working alone holed up in a room as a creator,
becoming a space operator and meeting various people definitely feels refreshing.
I've received a lot of new inspiration through conversations and collaborations with many people.
The various experiences I gain from running the space are often immediately reflected in the details of my webtoon content.
It's great because it makes me think of many new materials and situations.
Conversely, there are many times when my experience as a webtoon author has been helpful in running the space.
Honestly, I had basically let go of fine arts for several years, so I was secretly quite worried,
but there were actually new points we could try when looking at things from a webtoon author's perspective.
The management team accepted those parts positively and complemented them, allowing us to conceptualize exhibitions from various angles.
Q. In the last interview, you briefly introduced your studio with a photo. Have there been any changes to your studio since then? I'm curious!! Please show us around~!
A. The studio! I moved to a new one last year! It's been over a year now.
The previous studio was a typical small studio apartment. The current one is a bit more spacious.
I have a lot of stuff, and I had the desire to do oil painting again, so I found a larger space.
Honestly, wanting to invite friends over to hang out was a big part of it too.π
Since the space was a bit too big for me to use alone, I lent a corner of the studio to a friend who works as an art exhibition installation technician.
So somehow, even though it's a webtoon author's studio, it has become a suspicious space with paints, lots of tools, and various unknown materials scattered aboutπ
β³ Good work comes from a good space... Nod nod
[About <Younger Man is Frustrated>]
Q. It's a work with a strongly impactful title. It might feel quite direct, but is there a special reason or behind-the-scenes story for choosing the title 'Younger Man is Frustrated'?
A. It was originally a working title. I was going to change it if I thought of a better one~~~ but I couldn't think of anything.π₯²
I can't always do it, but I often like to play around with double meanings in titles,
so I tried to make it so the protagonist's name (Yeonha) could be confused with the word 'younger person' (Yeonha).
As for the frustration.... it wasn't meant in a dirty way at all!! Probably? Haha...πππππ
Since the protagonist Baek Yeonha is set to be suffering from sleep deprivation, I was thinking of frustration of the desire for sleep...
and at the same time, I thought it was a word that could lightheartedly express the desires and deficiencies that many characters in the story have.
I wanted to draw the countless clashes of the characters' desires, and I thought going with a direct title might actually have a better effect.
β³ Anyone else click because of the title?...ποΈ
Q. The setting itself of an 'older woman, a workaholic suffering from insomnia' and a 'straightforward younger man who helps her sleep' is very fresh!
How did you first come up with such unique subject matter? Are there any experiences around you or other works that inspired you?
A. It started from a very simple thought.
It suddenly occurred to me. I've drawn a few romance comics so far, but I've never drawn a younger man character before!
So I thought, "Ah, let's draw a younger man this time."
Also, honestly, my insomnia is quite bad... sob. I have a bit of a workaholic side too.
I always wished I could sleep deeply and well, so I thought, 'How about using this as material for a comic?' and they naturally came together.
I wanted to contemplate the problems I have through my work and also resolve them in a fantasy-like way.
Ultimately, I also want to find an answer.
Q. The protagonist 'Baek Yeonha' is a character who experienced burnout from just working, and her suffering from insomnia after quitting seems to resonate heavily with modern people.
What was the most important aspect you considered when creating the character Baek Yeonha?
A. As I briefly mentioned in the previous question, while working on <Younger Man is Frustrated>,
I wanted to find answers to the problems and worries I personally hold.
For that reason, unlike protagonists in my previous works, the protagonist 'Baek Yeonha' has a lot of my own problems projected onto her,
Because of this, when drawing certain conflict situations or inner struggles,
I pay a lot of attention to adjusting the distance between the character and the author.
β³ Pat pat...
Also, while the protagonists of my previous works were often true to their desires and proactive,
in this work, I wanted to set a character with a personality I hadn't drawn before as the protagonist.
A somewhat timid, introverted... very shy character! But it was so hard!!
Because I put in my own problems, the disposition itself shares similarities with me, but maybe because the personality is so different...
it was hard to lead the story. Then naturally, Baek Yeonha developed the attribute of suddenly accelerating (acting impulsively).
But I felt that attribute didn't clash too much with the character's disposition I had built, so I kept it.
Baek Yeonha's impulsive actions are being utilized well as various devices in the story.
Q. This younger man character! His straightforward approach of offering to help the 'noona' sleep is a total heart-fluttering point,
What charm did you want to highlight the most when designing this younger man character? I'm also curious about your thoughts on his name and detailed settings!
A. Joo Sungbin!! This sly fox boy!π»
First, appearance-wise, I designed a character that looks like he would appear as a second male lead in a typical romance comic. It might actually just be my type..?
He looks very sharp and scary on the outside, but I wanted to give him a 'gap moe' (unexpected charm) where his inside is the opposite.
I often saw some readers questioning Joo Sungbin's unusual eyebrows,
but I actually designed them thinking of a male friend of the same age I saw when I was 20.
They really exist....! lol Of course, there's some comic exaggeration added.
β³ This...!! This!!! This fox-like guy!!π¦
Internally, I wanted to depict a mature and stable attitude compared to his young age.
I wanted to make a character who handles various conflict situations so maturely that you'd wonder if someone like him... exists.
At the same time, I also wanted to draw the sides that would typically be seen at that age.
I try to express that side a lot when he's among friends his own age.
I'm also trying to express the trait of becoming insensitive in other areas when he focuses on one thing.
Compared to Baek Yeonha, I think the character Joo Sungbin could easily feel flat,
so I am thinking a lot about how to make him a more multi-dimensional and rich character.
β³ A fox-like guy saves the nation π
Q. It's also an 'older woman, younger man' couple romance, what do you think is the most attractive part of this dynamic? Are there any differences from standard romances?
A. The part I pay the most attention to is making sure the two characters develop into a mutually complementary relationship beyond their age gap.
And also resolving the natural conflicts that arise due to the age gap well.
While showing the fun aspects that can arise from the universal images of older and younger partners,
I also break down those images. I guess that would be the attractive point...
β³ May the happiness of these two be contagious to the readers as well π₯°
Q. It feels like the work goes beyond simple romance and tackles realistic themes like 'insomnia' and 'burnout'.
Was there a message you wanted to convey to the readers through <Younger Man is Frustrated>?
A. I wanted to unravel the problems and concerns I have through this work.
Especially things like workaholism and burnout.
I can't talk about it in deep detail because I still have to unfold it in the work moving forward, but
ultimately, it's a story that starts from self-loathing and anxiety about 'oneself failing to function in relationships on a small scale, and in society on a large scale.'
I feel that these lead to overwork, which then brings burnout, resulting in insomnia in the aftermath.
I have many worries about how to resolve these fundamental problems in a healthy way.
Because if left neglected, I will definitely fall one day and be unable to get back up.
I'm hoping to find the answer to this problem myself within <Younger Man is Frustrated>.
Also, I think it would be nice if it becomes an opportunity for the readers viewing the work with me to think about these related issues at least once.
I would be even happier if it could have a positive impact.
β³ πππ₯³
Q. Your art style is always the best, but what do you pay the most attention to when directing a specific scene or mood?
Is there a particular emotion or sensation you want readers to feel?
A. I pay the most attention to the characters' facial expressions!
I consider expressing emotions well to be important, and the part where that shows most directly is, as expected, their facial expressions.
In the same vein, I also pay a lot of attention to various indirect elements that express emotion.
Like subtle gestures or actions... And aesthetically, I pay a lot of attention to the overall silhouettes of the characters.
Because I want them to be structurally pretty and interesting silhouettes at first glance.
I hope the art and direction I painstakingly focused on to express emotions are conveyed well to the readers enjoying the work.
I'd love for readers to feel the sensation of experiencing the characters' emotions together.
Q. When expressing internal emotions like Baek Yeonha's 'insomnia' or 'frustration' through the visual medium of webtoons,
are there any directing techniques or color palettes you pay special attention to?
I'm curious how readers can better feel Yeonha's frustration or the butterflies with the younger man through the art!
A. First, I think I use narration a lot.
I don't really prepare a separate color palette beforehand. But there are definitely colors I end up using frequently.
When dealing with conflict situations, clashes of complex internal thoughts, or emotions bursting out after being condensed for a long time, I often use intense colors.
Hot pink, fluorescent sky blue, light green, etc. I mostly use colors that are only achievable in RGB.
It seems the colors I frequently used in my painting work are heavily reflected in my webtoon work as well.
I also think that using these intense colors as accents might visually convey the characters' emotions well to the readers.
It also might just be that I use them a lot because they are colors I like. I tend to work relying a bit on intuition.
For heart-fluttering scenes, I use a lot of pastel-toned pinks and yellows.
Trying to explain it in words makes it seem difficult. Honestly, I just go with the feeling... lol TT
β³ The author's unique sense of color!! π¨
Q. While working on <Younger Man is Frustrated>, is there a scene or line you personally feel the most attached to?
We want to hear about the author's favorite moment!
A. The final scene of episode 10 definitely comes to mind. The scene where Baek Yeonha suddenly acted impulsively and whipped off her clothes.π€£
While drawing that scene I wondered if it was okay to do that, but I couldn't help it.... lol I remember it because it was funny.
Another line I remember and like is in a scene in episode 36.
It's a line from a comedy panel where Choi Naryeong is imagining things in her head. It's a parody of a famous meme, but it's personally so funny to me that I really like it.
β The embarrassment is shared by everyone...
Q. Are there any hidden stories like little 'foreshadowing hints' or 'Easter eggs' in the work that only you know about?
A. The logo used for Shim Ji-woon's cafe "H&J", which serves as a major setting in the story, is the logo of "Hong & Jang Art Office" run by my close friends!π€
I used it with permission. I was surprised to see someone in the comments recognize it!
Also, for the names of Joo Sungbin's friends, I used the names of my younger brother's friends with their permission lol Mr. Kang Ji-ho, thank you always...!
I like putting the names of my acquaintances into my comics.(If they allow it!)
And... in the scene where Yoon Joo-hyun appears in episode 8, I parodied my favorite games 'Your Turn to Die' and 'Ace Attorney'.
I was happy that some people recognized it.
β³ Are there any other fun things you all have found?
Q. Are there any memorable episodes while serializing the work, or anything among the readers' reactions that exceeded your expectations or left a deep impression?
A. There are episodes where I personally paid a lot of attention to the content and direction,
I wrote all the narrations for episode 44 with intense care, so it's hard to pick just one, but,
'I thought my daily life, running as if being chased, was already so packed with work that there wasn't room to fit a needle, but it seems there was a gap after all.'
'Lee Gi-hoon asked for nothing more than that narrow gap.'
'I liked that. However, when that daily life collapsed, I realized just how sharp the shape of what filled that gap was.'
I feel attached to this part.
I paid a lot of attention to the visual direction using the metaphor of a 'gap', and it's an important narration that can explain the inner mind of the character Baek Yeonha.
I also paid a lot of attention to the direction in episode 54.
'The sudden loss was so deep and dark, not knowing how to fill it, I just kept running as I always did.'
'Unable to endure it, I just collapsed. If I stay like this, it might get filled-'
'While I'm stopped, echoing constantly in my head: Does the me who fails to function have any value?'
'Echo echo echo. Even while stopped, still feeling chased. Still feeling like I'm running. I'm endlessly spinning my wheels.'
I like this part too. I think I like all the narrations that reveal Baek Yeonha's deep inner mind. Because it was hard when I was drawing up the storyboards....
β³ Pat pat 2...
I also like the past flashback part from Lee Gi-hoon's perspective in episode 62.
I put a lot of care into the direction, and also tried some experimental attempts.
Because that process was really fun, it's one of the episodes I'm attached to. I wrote all the narrations for that episode with great enjoyment.
Drawing Lee Gi-hoon's inner thoughts is always fun.
β³ Watch your back at night
Readers don't particularly like her, but I also pay a lot of attention to Choi Naryeong's episodes.
I enjoyed working on episodes 69, 71, and 72.
I remember intentionally drawing the bouquet Choi Naryeong brings in her first appearance in episode 69 stitch by stitch myself without using assets.
Because it was a point I considered important....
I pondered a lot over the direction of episodes 75 and 76 too, so they remain strongly in my memory.
As for the readers' reactions...
After launching 'Younger Man is Frustrated', I wrote the 'Author's Note' all at once without much thought, but people found it incredibly funny.
I totally didn't expect it, and I still don't really know which part was funny, but since then, I feel like I've developed a slight compulsion that it has to be funny.π
But I also can't force humor. I just write whatever naturally comes to mind, and I'm happy whenever they like it.
Q. Are you perhaps also considering the possibility of adapting this work into other media (drama, animation, etc.)?
I think many readers are hoping for a live-action adaptation!
A. I am... always open to those things! Please make it! A drama! Animation! Game! Please make it!!!
A screen adaptation! I want it so badly! Send me proposals! I'm wide open! Hahahahaha
[Outro]
Q. There are many works full of realism, and many with a strong fantasy vibe... Are there any works currently being adapted for screen?
Or, if there's a work you absolutely wish would be made into a live-action drama, please let us know!
A. I recently shared the news on Instagram alongside Younger Man is Frustrated, but my completed work <Witch, 30> is being produced into a short-form drama.
Could this work really be adapted for screen..? I also had a lot of thoughts when I got the proposal, but the video production team adapted it amazingly well.
I think they're absolute geniuses.π
I hope it comes out soon. Also, personally among my completed works, I've thought for a long time that <The Man Who Doesn't Give> would suit a screen adaptation well.
I would really appreciate it if someone made it. Please. Please... Please..!π€£π€£π€£π€£π€£
β³ Ohooo π€©
Q. Could you say a word about your future work activities or plans?
A. First off, it's concluding <Younger Man is Frustrated> well.
I don't even know when it will end... I think there's still a long way to go.
And personally, there is a hetero romance work I'm trying to prepare. I don't really know when, where, or how I'll be able to show it.
But it's a work I've been planning since 2018, so I'm putting quite a lot of effort into it. I hope I can show it to you soon.
Also, in the meantime, there might be a possibility of serializing a light short story or an R-19 hetero comic of about 40 episodes.
There isn't a plan I can speak of definitively yet... However, I don't think I'll be able to work as prolifically as before.
Maybe it's because I'm getting older... It's hard now.π₯² I don't think I can do it like I used to anymore.πππ
There are really so, so many things I want to do!!!! Why do I only have one body? If only there were about three.... heh
Q. I'm curious how Author Park Minam's world of works will develop in the future. Are there any new genres or themes you want to try moving forward?
A. I like all genres without discrimination! I want to try fantasy, and I want to try action too.
Personally, I also really love mystery, thriller, and sci-fi, so I definitely want to draw them someday.
I'm also interested in Wuxia. I have a short synopsis written down, but my understanding of the Wuxia worldview isn't very high....
Definitely someday. There are themes I want to tackle. I usually establish a theme before starting a comic.
A theme I want to tackle next is "shame". I am dealing with it in earnest in the upcoming work I mentioned above. Please look forward to it.
An area I want to experiment with is... the art aspect.
Since I personally prefer highly stylized drawings, I want to blend the art style I want with my current settled art
to draw something simpler yet more complete.
Q. Compared to how prolific you are, there's a serious lack of merch... (Sob) Are there any news about official merchandise or events related to your works?
A. Not... yet... I'm sorry sob sob.... I guess it's hard to make a lot because I'm busy.π
And do you... want merch of my comics? It seems like... you don't really want it..?π€£π€£π€£
Just kidding! Still, I will try to make time to create lots of merchandise in the future! Please send me all your merch suggestions~ Event ideas too!π
Q. Thank you so much for your hard work answering this long interview. It wasn't in the prepared questions, but is there anything you really want to say regarding <Younger Man is Frustrated>?
A. I think I've said everything I wanted to say.
I would appreciate it if you keep watching how the frustrations of the protagonist Baek Yeonha, Joo Sungbin, and many surrounding characters in <Younger Man is Frustrated> are resolved,
and how they grow.
I hope that many people experiencing burnout in this tough modern society can empathize together while reading this comic,
and that it becomes a venue to ponder together on how to overcome it.
If I may add one more thing... This is a bit unrelated to the comic though.π
At my art space Cut the Kake.. I will probably... hold a solo exhibition around January of next year.
I would be truly delighted if you came to see my painting exhibition later on too!πβ€οΈβπ₯
Q. Finally, if you have any words for the readers who love <Younger Man is Frustrated>, please say them to your heart's content.
A. Readers, I am always loving you infinitely.
Thanks to the comments and reactions you leave, I can stand up even when things are tough.
When I get stuck or exhausted while working on a manuscript, I read your comments. It touches my heart.... Then my motivation blazes up again.
What should I do? I don't know how to express my massive feelings of love.
I can't explain it in words. I truly love you. Please enjoy reading it until the very end. And don't forget me... LOVE.π