A multi-title showcase featuring Yumi’s Cells, The Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint, and Dark Moon: The Altar, plus artist and voice actor talks and interactive programs

From October 31 to November 29, the Korean Culture Center in Osaka will present the Comics World exhibition at Mirae Gallery, highlighting the cultural value and expansion of Korean webtoons. The event is part of a five-country series hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and organized by the Culture Center and KOCCA.

Following previous showcases in Egypt, Shanghai, Canada, and Hungary, Osaka’s edition recreates the worlds of Yumi’s Cells, The Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint, and Dark Moon: The Altar. The Yumi’s Cells section features cells posed as characters, while The Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint recreates the underground setting of the series. Dark Moon: The Altar, produced in Japan and slated to air next January, presents the animation’s footage as a backdrop for webtoon scenes and dialogue. A dedicated section also highlights the history and directorial aspects of webtoons themselves.

Audience enthusiasm was evident in linked events: on November 1, a talk by Lee Dong-geon, author of Yumi’s Cells, and on November 2, a talk by the lead voice actors of the anime Dark Moon: The Altar (Todani Kikunosuke and Shimizu Hiroto) were held at the Culture Center’s Nuri Hall. These events exemplify how webtoons extend into other media via media franchises and collaborations with fans, including local drama and pop culture communities.

Throughout the exhibition, the center offers groups tours for youth, docent tours, and a figure-painting program (advance reservations required). Stamp tours are installed around the venue to add to the experience, and a special corner in the reading room enables visitors to enjoy webtoon works with books and multimedia devices. Kim Hye-soo, the Center Director, said the exhibition lets visitors see how Korean webtoons have progressed globally and serves as an opportunity to enjoy flagship works with local fans, aiming to showcase the creative appeal of webtoons and the cultural value of related K-content.