For Hallyuwood, Kang is good as gold

Most of the Web-comic artist's material has been remade into feature length movies

Kang Pool is one of the few successful Web-comic artists in Korea. Most of his work has been made into films, including his Web comic "I Love You", which was recently released as the movie "Late Blossom". By Kwen Hyek-jae

There's good reason that star Web-comic artist Kang Pool is described as a natural-born storyteller. Most of his Web comics attract as many as 2 million views per day and his body of work has long been a source of fresh material for the film industry.

Many of his Web comics have been made into films. Kang inked the comic "Love Story" in 2004 and it was remade as a movie last month; "Fool", was published on his Web site in 2005 and was turned into a movie of the same name in 2008; after publishing "A.P.T" online in 2004, it was recreated into a full-length movie in 2006; and his 2007 piece "29 Years" was adapted for the silver screen in 2009 but not finished.

His most recent romantic Web comic, "I Love You", was remade this year into the movie "Late Blossom", and the film has been nothing short of a box office sensation. After its premier on Feb. 17, "Late Blossom" still ranks fourth nationwide and has attracted 600,000 moviegoers so far.

Another of his Web comics, "Pain", was bought by a production company and made into a feature-length movie with Hallyu star kwon Sang-woo in the lead role. It will be released later this year.

In an interview with the JoongAng Ilbo, Kang said his stories are compelling because "there are no antagonists in my comics because I believe everyone is good-hearted".

Lately, Kang has been busy promoting "Late Blossom" in interviews, at screenings and through Twitter. "Since all four leading actors and actresses are quite old [in their 60s and 70s], there are limits to what they can do to promote this film. I'm young, so I'm doing it instead of them", Kang said with a laugh.

Kang said "I Love You" was inspired by his grandmother, who turns 97-years-old this year. "My grandma made me realize the elderly are the same even when they grow old. They don't change. They feel the same as young people feel", Kang said. "I've watched the film version [of "I Love You"] four times and I was thrilled to watch my two-dimensional comic turn into a film with excellent performances from all these seasoned actors and actresses".

Though they have seen relative success at the box office, this is the first time that one of Kang's Web-comic-based films will turn a profit. The term "Kang Pool jinx" was coined because of that.

Kang said there have been unreachable expectations. "I think people had high expectations of my Web comics' film adaptations. But I guess the films didn't live up to their expectations".

Kang's career started in 2002 when he launched his own personal Web page. He might even go down in history as the first artist to go from drawing feces and vomit to making a living and achieving commercial success by drawing romantic comics.

After his first Web comic "Love Story" brought him fame, Kang devoted himself to feel-good, romantic comics. "I think I was greatly inspired by my father, who used to be a reverend. My family wasn't that rich, but my parents always had my back and trusted me.

"Think about it. Most Korean parents don't want their college graduate son to draw comics. But they were different", he said.

One characteristic of his comics is the lack of any antagonists. In fact, there have only ever been two antagonists in his entire body of work - but even they were transformed into heros.

Kang meticulously lays out every facet of his stories for months before getting to work. After the planning stage, the actual creation process takes up to six months before the final product is uploaded to his Web site. Then after a three month break, the process starts over.

"If one of my characters is killed in a car accident or he or she goes overseas to study, readers know that I'm not doing my best. Since I'm an creator of my [comic] world, I have to give it my all".

By Ki Sun-min