Secrets behind the Success of Korean Educational Comics in Japan
Kang Yunhwa
International correspondent
Ilyo Shinmun
Hallyu, or the Korean Wave, is sweeping across Japan, and Korean educational comics are a favorite among elementary school students in Korea’s neighboring country. A prominent example is the it Survival Series dealing with basic scientific knowledge that has sold 130 million copies in Japan since its debut in 2008. Recently, the Don’t Give up, Science! series has also emerged high on the bestseller list. What is the reason behind these titles’ success?
The Survival Series was translated and published by the Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc. in 2008, releasing 8,000 copies of the first edition. At first, its sales were not particularly impressive, but after the series went viral among parents, sales grew to half a million copies in 2011 and a million copies in 2012. The comics have since occupied top spots in almost every bookstore country-wide, and the aggregate net sales have gone over 130 million copies. Additionally, the mega-hit series was adapted into animated movies in 2020 and 2021.
According to the Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc. official in charge of the series, it is extremely difficult for a newcomer’s children’s book to enter the bestseller list. In many Japanese bookstores, the children’s book sections are far from spacious and usually monopolized by large, successful publishers. Therefore, it is “nothing short of a miracle” that Korean educational comics have taken up the best shelves at bookstores.
The series has been recommended for Japan’s morning reading movement and was ranked the second most-read book among titles recommended for elementary school students in 2017. It shares similarities and readership with CoroCoro Comic, the popular Japanese comic magazine published by Shogakukan. The characters featured in both the Korean and Japanese comics may at times seem young and naive, but through their comical antics, manage to overcome whatever comes their way. Unlike most educational comics intended for historical lessons or the biographies of great people, Survival Series, Don’t Give up, Science!, and Corocoro Comic place children at the center, letting young readers explore on their own without any direction from adults.
Japan may be a comic powerhouse, but its mainstream educational comics series tend to focus on history. In contrast, Survival Series plainly outlines common scientific knowledge in a way that caters to children. Their young hearts flutter at the unfolding of the well-knit stories rich in fun elements. As they go through the series repeatedly, children come to remember the explanatory notes by heart. Some may even show off the knowledge gained, happily surprising their parents; in turn, the children feel proud and delve deeper into the series. One of the secrets behind the success of the series is its reflection of current issues—such as artificial intelligence (AI), air pollution, and nuclear power—in its latest versions.
The success of Survival Series is not limited to Japan but has been observed around the world. It didn’t come out of the blue. Visitors to Korean bookstores will find a wide variety of educational comics. Katsuhiro Motoyama, author of 16x Speed Study Method: The High Speed Study Skill, dubbed the “god of studying,” posted an analysis on his blog of why Korean educational comics turn out to be so popular: “In Korea, educational comics dealing with not only science but more varied subjects like Chinese characters and world history are pouring out. Korean educational comics seem to have increased in response to the nation’s high zeal for education.”
In Japan, educational comics have recently begun to take root as books that provide general knowledge to youth and adults alike—a trend witnessed in Korea since the 1980s. This decades-old trend is exemplified by Far-away Nations, Neighboring Nations by Rhie Won-bok, a pioneer and legend in the world of Korean educational comics. This work, in which the author describes his European experiences while studying abroad in Germany, was serialized in the Kids Hankook Ilbo from 1981 to 1986. In 1987, the series was released in book form and met with immediate success. It has sold more than 170 million copies.
Full-color educational comics with explanatory notes like Survival Series claimed a solid place in the market from the latter half of the 1990s. Hong Eun-young’s Greek and Roman Mythology in Comics played a critical role in this regard.
In addition to Survival Series, the original Korean series Why?, also dealing with science, sold like hot cakes at Japanese bookstores, followed by Don’t Give up, Science! (2021), produced by the creators of the popular Korean webtoon Don’t Lose Your Mind!
Japanese media report that readers in Japan choose Korean educational comics without minding their country of origin because they are fun to read—even for adults. They provide abundant information and knowledge and deal with subjects that have recently garnered a lot of attention, such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). They also mention that Korean comics for science studies are booming as they stimulate children’s curiosity, allowing them to learn science in a fun way.
There are markets for children’s comics all around the globe. The fact that Korean educational comics are high-quality works that combine fun and knowledge, suitable even for adults, may be the reason why Korean educational comics are enjoying popularity around the world.
Please note: This article has been authored by a specialist outside the Korea Foundation. The views expressed here may not reflect the KF’s official position.
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