Osungsoo Oh, Our Newspaper's Cartoonist, Wins Excellence Award at the '2021 Current Affairs Cartoon Awards'

The Cartoonists Association Selects Cartoonist Seo Minho's 'With Corona' as Grand Prize Winner

National Editorial Cartoonists Association 2021 'Editorial Cartoon of the Year' Excellence Award-winning work. "Catching the Mole" by Oh Seong-su, editorial cartoonist of Asia Economy / Photo by National Editorial Cartoonists Association

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] The Judging Committee for the National Current Affairs Cartoon Association's Cartoon of the Year Award (Chairman Ha Jongwon) announced on the 21st that the 2021 "Cartoon of the Year Award" was given to Oh Seongsu, a cartoonist for Asia Economy, for "Catching the Mole" (Oh Seongsu Toon, September 8 issue), among other outstanding works. The grand prize went to Seo Minho, a cartoonist for Kukmin Ilbo, for "With Corona" (Kukmin Cartoon, November 26 issue), and another outstanding work was selected as "Falling Again..." by Park Yongsuk, a cartoonist for JoongAng Ilbo (July 27 issue).

Ha Jongwon, chairman of the Cartoon of the Year Award judging committee and professor of Media Communication at Sunmoon University, said in his judging remarks, "Looking at South Korea in 2021 through current affairs cartoons, the feelings are truly heavy and complicated. When reflecting on each year around this time, the scenes are almost similar, but especially this year, the harshness of life is more visible than usual."

He continued, "The dark shadow of COVID-19 deeply cast over every corner of our daily lives shows no sign of lifting, and the political arena, with the presidential election just ahead, is in utter chaos, unable to predict even a step ahead. Amid this, distrust in the media is further intensified by factionalism and confirmation bias, and the current affairs cartoonists occupying that space must also feel perplexed and powerless."

Chairman Choi Min of the association said, "This year, not only did we hold a call for submissions from artists, but we also accepted recommendations from readers with the belief that good readers create good current affairs cartoons. We thank the many readers who recommended numerous works and gave their unwavering support and encouragement throughout the year."

The association stated that the Cartoon of the Year Award ceremony will be held after the government’s strengthened quarantine measures are eased and the spread of the virus subsides.

The Grand Prize Winner of the 2021 "Editorial Cartoon of the Year" by the National Editorial Cartoon Association. "With Corona" by Seominho, editorial cartoonist of Kukmin Ilbo. Photo by National Editorial Cartoon Association

National Editorial Cartoonists Association 2021 'Editorial Cartoon of the Year' Excellence Award-winning work. "Falling in Again..." by JoongAng Ilbo cartoonist Park Yong-seok / Photo by National Editorial Cartoonists Association

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