1990년대 한국만화규제의 시대론적 의미

Abstract

This study analyzes the impact of regulations and censorship imposed on Korean comics in the late 1990s on the Korean comic industry and explores the historical significance of these measures. Since its inception in 1909, Korean comics have been subject to numerous governmental censorships and regulations, resulting in the deprivation of freedom of expression. However, with the inauguration of the civilian government in 1992 and the tide of globalization, Korean comics experienced a renaissance, breaking free from longstanding restrictions and censorship. As the grip of regulations and censorship loosened, comic artists began to embrace diversity and experimentation. New genres emerged, including political cartoons in newspapers and Korean comic magazines inspired by Japanese counterparts. Consequently, a wide variety of genres flourished, leading to a shift in public perception that previously viewed comics as taboo and inappropriate. Despite this progress, longstanding biases against comics persisted among the general populace. The notion that "comics are uneducational, provocative, and should be regulated" became an obstacle to the industry's growth. This bias was further exacerbated by incidents where prosecutors indicted and accused comic artists, infringing on creative and expressive freedoms and sparking conflicts between the government and artists. The regulations and censorship of Korean comics in the 1990s significantly hindered the industry's progress. This influence paved the way for the digital comics and webtoon industry in the 2000s, where debates on censorship and regulation continue. Thus, studying the regulations and censorship of the 1990s can provide valuable insights for addressing the ongoing censorship and regulation issues in the current webtoon market.