Manhwa

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Manhwa

Korean name
Hangul:	만화
Hanja:	漫畵
Revised Romanization:	Manhwa
McCune-Reischauer:	Manhwa

Manhwa (Hangul: 만화, Hanja: 漫畵) is the general Korean term for comics and cartoons (including animated cartoons). Outside of Korea, the term usually refers specifically to South Korean comics.

The term Manhwa is a cognate with Japanese manga and Chinese manhua. There are many common characteristics shared, however each has been taking different paths in theme, visual and narrative approach in accordance with their own cultural and historical contexts. Manhwa has been influenced by the dramatic modern history of Korea and resulted in diversity of forms and genre^[1], ranging from the more mainstream Manga-like ones^[2] to the editorial comic strips, artistically-oriented works and webcomics serials. Currently, longer stories of webcomics serialized via Internet portal sites (e.g. Media Daum) and personal homepages are the both creative and popular basecamp among the younger generation in Korea.

Manhwa is read in the same direction as English books, horizontally and from left to right, because hangul is normally written and read horizontally, although it can also be written and read like Chinese and Japanese, that is, vertically from right to left. Both are from top to bottom, unlike some popular belief.

Unlike Japan, animations based on Korean comics are still relatively rare (though there have been several major hits in the late 80's and early 90's: titles such as Dooly the Little Dinosaur and Fly! Superboard). However, drama series and movie adaptations of Manhwa occur more frequently in recent years. Full House, 2004, and Goong (manhwa) (Palace, Princess Hours), 2006, are prominent examples as they have been accounted as the best dramas of their years.