Q. Congratulations on the completion~! How have you been spending your days?

A. It's been a while since I had such a relaxing time without any pending work, so I've been meeting up with dear friends and family,
   and also 'binge-watching' the contents I wanted to see but had been putting off.
   Since I was so rushed and chased by time during the serialization period, I'm trying to enjoy having plenty of free time.

Q. I understand that <Aria of the Withered Branch> is your debut work. How did you feel when you first started serializing?

A. First of all, I felt very anxious and nervous.
   The difference in work methods between webtoons and illustrations was bigger than I expected,
   and it was hard to use the shortcuts(?) I used during illustration work,
   so I was most worried about whether my new style would be well-received by the readers.

Q. What changes occurred in your mindset between working on the very first episode when you debuted and working on the final episode?

A. I think the biggest change is that the anxiety I felt starting the series turned into a sense of relief.
   It was my first time holding onto and running a single project for several years,
   so personally, it was a good experience that helped me build self-confidence.

Q. Was there a moment during the serialization period when you felt, "I've really grown a lot at this point"?

A. Due to the nature of the work, group shots often appear, and there are quite a lot of characters in a single episode,
   and since I'm not a fast drawer, there were many times during the preparation period and the early stages when I wouldn't get any results even after working on it all day.
   Later on, I became able to draw group shots and do other tasks simultaneously,
   so I felt that I had really gotten used to this work.

   As the work logs I wrote in my spare time piled up, I was able to identify the times of day when I could concentrate properly and when my condition was best,
   and it helped sort out the times needed for simple tasks, which greatly improved my work efficiency.

Q. When was the hardest 'crisis' during the serialization period, and how did you overcome it?

A. After finishing Season 2, I experienced sudden burnout along with a recurrence of back disc pain that I've had for a long time,
   making it difficult to continue working.
   Fortunately, with the help and consideration of my PD, I took a long hiatus and combined medical treatment, mental recovery, and exercise.
   As a result of consistently working on it even a little bit every day, I was able to safely resume Season 3.
   (Once again, thank you to the PD at that time! 🙇‍♀️)

Q. After finishing a long-term serialization, do you have your own 'style' or 'know-how' established in terms of drawing or directing?

A. I like expressing the unique traits of various characters,
   and <Aria of the Withered Branch> was a perfect fit for that, so I learned a lot while working on it.
   Visually, I thought about what differences to give in silhouettes like hair, body shape, and facial features,
   and even when drawing the same sitting pose, I would think, 'How would this character sit considering their personality?'
   I tried to give subtle differences to their poses. 

Q. I'm curious about your workspace! Please introduce it to us~!

A. Sure~^0^!!
   It's a place where I work hard, but since I love cute and charming things,
   it's also a space where I've gathered my little tastes to look around and rest when I'm tired.🥰

△ Pilgrimage to the holy site 🙏✨

 [About <Aria of the Withered Branch>]

Q. Out of many works, what was the reason you decided to adapt <Aria of the Withered Branch> into a webtoon?

A. When I first received a webtoon offer, I had no experience reading genre novels, so I struggled with selecting a work,
   but through meetings with the PD, based on the manga, anime, and other media works I usually liked,
   they recommended a few works closely related to my taste.
   One of the works on that list was 'Aria of the Withered Branch'.

   First of all, I was drawn to the title out of curiosity, and as I read the work, images I wanted to draw came to mind,
   so I naturally thought, 'Ah, I want to do this!' and decided right away.
   Actually, when I found out later that it was quite a long story to adapt into a webtoon,
   I broke out in a cold sweat wondering if I could handle it for my first webtoon project,
   but they say ignorance is bliss, and I think it's a good thing I just pushed forward as I was drawn to it.☺️
   Otherwise, I probably would have just worried and never made a decision.

△ And this is how we meet our masterpiece...✨

Q. As you wrapped up the original story's long journey as a webtoon, what did you focus on the most in directing the final group shot?

A. I tried directing and drawing it with the same composition as the scene in Episode 27.
   I understood it as the moment Alcheris first thought of the space she shares with the demigods as a 'home' and a 'family' to return to.
   By directing the final scene's group shot with the same composition,
   I tried to convey the feeling that the demigods had finally been accepted by Alcheris as a 'complete family'.

△ Why... am I... crying? 🥲

Q. When adapting the extensive psychological descriptions and text from the novel into webtoon panel layouts, what directing devices did you focus on the most?

A. Since webtoon work itself was a first for me, solely with the thought of 'I hope it reads well,'
   I focused on one top priority to show, such as a character's facial expression or action,
   and made sure to capture it clearly.

Q. Are there any details in your drawing that you paid special attention to in order to express the protagonist Alcheris's 'eyes devoid of the will to live'?

A. Should I call it the gleam in the eyes?
   In the beginning, I was careful not to make her eyes look too sparkly.
   As the story progressed, I was able to add highlights to her eyes and make them somewhat sparkly.✨
   From a sharp and slightly edgy feeling in the drawing and expressions,
   I wanted to give a feeling of her gradually softening up and becoming more comfortable.

Q. Are there any special colors or effects you use to express the unique 'mystique' of the Demigods?

A. I think I crafted the artwork focusing on making them more handsome, beautiful, cute...! and striking...! compared to when drawing other characters(...) 

Q. What kind of atmosphere did you intend when directing the first meeting scene between Alcheris and the Demigods?

A. In Alcheris's completely colorless world, I thought of them as people
   who suddenly appeared with wildly colorful and diverse personalities.
   From the sunken and dark atmosphere at the very beginning, marking the appearance of the Demigods,
   I intended to give a chaotic and boisterous feeling.

△ Al! It's time to be happy~!💐

Q. Is there any part where you added original directing or settings unique to the webtoon that weren't in the original novel?

A. Juri's hair comes to mind first..!

   Aria features quite a few long-haired male characters.
   At the time, following the PD's suggestion to differentiate him from other characters,
   they proposed how about having Juri's hairstyle change due to a battle.
   I wondered if it would be okay since it was a huge visual change, but I was relieved that the readers liked it too.
   It was fun to draw as well!

   Personally, I like both long-haired Juri and short-haired Juri.😍

△ I agree.🖐️

   And I don't know if this can be called a directing part, but
   from Season 3 onwards, to emphasize more of a family vibe, I matched their outfits in major episodes
   and worked by organizing character reference sheets as well.

Q. If there were changes in the artwork to show the protagonist's psychological healing process, what were they?

A. Compared to the beginning, the frequency of Alcheris's smiling face increased, 
   and I wanted her expressions to look much brighter and more natural..!

Q. Which character do you personally feel most attached to, and why?

A. I drew her the most during the progress of the work, and while following her journey from start to finish,
   I also received a lot of healing, so my heart goes out the most to the protagonist, Alcheris.
   Personally, the character I'm attached to because he's the easiest and most fun to draw is Heli.

Q. You've drawn numerous objects and spaces up until the finale. Among them,
   if you were to pick one prop or location that best symbolizes the mise-en-scène of 'inzup's <Aria of the Withered Branch>,' what would it be?

A. Department 2's office comes to mind first!
   It's a background that was created by gathering reference images of what I wanted and specifically requesting it from the company's 3D modeling team.
   They made it so beautifully to give a sense of life and capture the working scenes of the Department 2 friends, so it's my favorite background.

   And if I had to pick one more, it would be Juri's airship..!
   I was truly amazed and touched to see the rough concept art I sent to the team members come out perfectly modeled.

△ Dizzy from all the details 🌀

Q. How do you regulate your emotions when working on scenes that are emotionally draining?

A. Honestly, I only briefly immerse myself when checking the content before working, but once I actually start,
   because I'm busy trying to keep up with the spectacular weekly deadline schedule, I just get absorbed in 'How can I draw this to convey it well?'.🥲 

Q. Looking back after the finale, what are the top 3 'best scenes' chosen by you?

A. Episode 49, the Demigods and Alcheris.
   It's the scene where Alcheris realizes the affection and warmth given by the Demigods and heals from her past loneliness,
   and I like it because it's a scene where I felt warmth and healing even while drawing it.

   Episode 122, Season 2 finale.
   The scene where Juri clumsily comforts Alcheris
   is one of my favorites because I personally liked how the drawing turned out.

   Episode 135, the scene where Alcheris meets her deceased mother.
   While working on this piece, it was the scene I wanted to draw the most from the original novel.
   Thinking, 'I finally get to draw this scene,' it was deeply moving even while working on it.

△ Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo 🪄

Q. What do you think is the unique charm of the webtoon version of <Aria of the Withered Branch>?

A. I think it would be the fact that you can visualize and see the characters with various personalities from the novel!
   It was also fun drawing the bickering and bantering scenes between the Demigods and the Department 2 characters.

 [Outro]

Q. <Aria of the Withered Branch> has such beautiful artwork that many fans wanted merchandise.
   Is there any item you personally thought, "I really want to see this character or scene turned into physical merch"?

A. During the early conception stage, while designing a mini version of Poppy, I thought I wanted to make it into a plushie.
   It wasn't a Poppy plushie, but to commemorate the finale, I custom-made cotton dolls of Alcheris and Heli,
   and it was a fun experience from designing the patterns to revising and supplementing them.
   Since Alcheris's specialty is translating ancient languages, I'd also like to try making paper goods like notebooks or memo pads.
   It would also be nice to make acrylic stands of the Demigods with a family photo concept.

△ ...Why did I only realize this now...💧

Q. Among the reactions or interpretations left by readers during the serialization, was there a comment that made you slap your knee in realization,
   or a moment when you were the one being comforted? Please share.

A. In Episode 99, there is a scene where Alcheris, who turned into a child due to a potion, reunites with the Demigods and smiles while being held in their arms.
   I saw a comment saying, "It seems her emotional expressions became more honest since she is in a child's body,"
   and thinking about it, I thought, 'That could be it!'

   Additionally, as I put a lot of care into conveying emotional expressions,
   seeing the readers' joyful or healed reactions served as encouragement and motivation,
   and seeing the readers get angry at Arisinia and Dürsen (Alcheris's father)
   also gave me a feeling of vicarious satisfaction(?).😆

Q. Do you have a special message you'd like to convey to the assistants and editorial department who worked with you on your first project?

A. Every time I worked on an episode, I keenly felt that this is absolutely not something I could do alone.
   Because you guided and helped me in so many areas, even in moments when I stumbled, I could quickly regain my balance
   and safely run towards the finale of the work.
   Thank you once again!

△ Overwhelming gratitude!! 🙇‍♀️

Q. 2026 seems like it will be a year of another beginning for you.
   Is there any news readers can look forward to regarding a project you are currently preparing or newly immersed in?

A. For the time being, I plan to take some time to rest and reorganize my direction.
   I want to be more active in web activities than before.
   I'm anticipating that I might be able to communicate with readers often, which will be different from greeting you through serializations.

Q. Lastly, if there is anything you'd like to say to the readers who loved <Aria of the Withered Branch>, please feel free to do so.

A. I ended up welcoming a new year after wrapping up the series around the end of last year.
   With your endless interest and support over the past few years, you've breathed into me the energy to continue my creative activities,
   and along with that, I'd like to express my gratitude once again to the readers who have given me such good memories.

   I wish you a very Happy New Year, and I hope you have a healthy year this year, enjoying and fulfilling everything you want to do to your heart's content!

Just as Al welcomed a true spring with the Demigods, I hope radiant flowers bloom in your daily lives too🌸
Thank you for being with us for this long interview🥰