This blog post examines how societal perceptions of sexual minorities are evolving through the everyday lives of same-sex couples depicted in Korean webtoons.
On June 6, 2012, artist Wanja began the official serialization of “Wanja for Everyone” on Naver Webtoon in Korea. This webtoon features episodes about the author herself and her partner, Yabu, offering readers new perspectives. Initially, it might have seemed like just an everyday story about life with a partner, but a surprising twist unfolds in Chapter 2. They were, in fact, a lesbian couple. This setting was a groundbreaking attempt rarely seen in Korean society at the time.
Wanja’s reason for expressing her identity directly in the webtoon was clear. In the prologue, Wanja tells her lover Yabu, “I want to change the world, even just a little, through this comic,” showing her resolute determination. Indeed, before starting the webtoon, Wanja was reportedly shocked by how many people were unaware of the existence of homosexuals. This starkly illustrates the reality that it remains difficult for sexual minorities to reveal themselves in Korean society. Faced with this daunting situation, Wanja began the work with the goal of “raising awareness about homosexuals through my story.”
The early episodes of the webtoon were mainly composed of everyday scenes. For example, there were episodes dealing with first dates or first kisses. However, the readers’ reactions were not very positive. Many people expressed their aversion in the comment section with phrases like “disgusting” or “repulsive.” Rather than becoming discouraged by these reactions, Wanja resolved to make the message she wanted to convey even clearer. The webtoon wasn’t just about depicting romance; it was a new channel for conveying the voices of minorities still underrepresented in our society. Eventually, as time passed, readers’ perceptions of the webtoon gradually shifted, and positive messages began to replace the negative comments. The webtoon holds significant meaning in emphasizing that homosexuals and sexual minorities should also speak up confidently.
I, too, changed my perspective on homosexuals greatly through this webtoon. When I was young, I met a friend who had a different sexual orientation than me. At the time, I didn’t think of homosexuals as fundamentally bad, but I didn’t even have a clear concept of what homosexuality was. I didn’t know how to treat that friend, so I think I unconsciously felt a sense of rejection. Back then, I thought I treated my friend without prejudice, but now, looking back after reading Wanja’s webtoon, I realize my ignorance and immature attitude might have hurt that friend.
However, during the webtoon’s serialization, various incidents also occurred for the author, Wanja. Because it was a work dealing with homosexuality, each episode that unfolded within the work inevitably became highly sensitive. For example, after Wanja’s grandmother passed away and a related scene appeared, some readers strongly objected, finding the content unpleasant, and Wanja went through the process of revising that scene. Additionally, frequent delays in serialization drew criticism from readers. Because interest and expectations for the work were so high, even these delays escalated into larger controversies.
The biggest controversy arose in Chapter 170, “Letser’s Proposal.” It introduced a ‘secret place and symbol’ for the gay community, a setting that piqued readers’ curiosity. However, some readers used the webtoon to access real-life communities, decipher the symbols, and invade the privacy of LGBTQ+ individuals. This led to criticism of Wanja from the LGBTQ+ community itself, highlighting the social influence of webtoons and the responsibility of creators. The incident eventually escalated to an Agora petition demanding the series be halted. Despite this, Wanja continues the series, hoping it can contribute to changing perceptions of sexual minorities.
Based on my experience, I believe Wanja’s webtoon has brought significant change to Korean society. Of course, the ultimate goal is to move beyond this, creating a society where acceptance and consideration for sexual minorities become natural for everyone. However, it’s noteworthy that reality is gradually broadening understanding and interest in minorities, thanks to brave creators like Wanja leading the way and boldly presenting the stories of sexual minorities. Recently, Daum Webtoon also began serializing a work titled “What Is This?” featuring a gay couple. This author, too, has been greatly influenced by Wanja and has shown a commitment to continuing to tell stories about sexual minorities.
In this way, a shift in perception towards sexual minorities is beginning in Korea. I hope Wanja’s webtoon establishes itself as a kind of pioneer, becoming an opportunity for more people to take an interest in issues concerning sexual minorities and for broader social understanding to develop. Moving forward, I hope Wanja continues walking her path so that more people can confidently accept homosexuals and sexual minorities.
