Comic Con Seoul 2017

It's hip to be square these days. 'International Cartoon and Animation Festival' captivated the ever growing fans of anime and comic books in the capital last week. The festivities don't end there. A renowned international comic book convention, also globally known as 'Comic Con', has finally arrived here for the first time. Won Jung-hwan pinpoint what to keep an eye out for at the event. It's the highlight of the year for comic book lovers, 'Comic Con' is an event where they can meet creators, experts, and celebrities, as well as dress up and have a bit of fun. And this year, for the first time in its history, 'Comic Con' has reached Korea. 'Comic Con' is best known for 'cosplay', the elaborate costumes worn by fans. Attendees dress up as their favorite characters and compete for prizes awarded for the best creations. I have decided to pick some of my favorites from among many attendees. "I heard this would be Comic Con's first time in my country, so I've been preparing since last year." "I am planning to participate in Sunday's competition because I really enjoy these characters. I will try my best to get first place." Indeed, on Sunday, 'Korea Championships of Cosplay' is held at the main stage. The winner will be sent to represent Korea at the 'Crown Championships of Cosplay', which will take place in Chicago in April 2018. Besides the costume play, there will be also planned celebrity meetings and greeting events held at the convention. Hollywood stars Mads Mikkelsen and Steven Yeun will meet the fans in Seoul. Mikkelsen played a villain in the Marvel Movie, 'Doctor Strange' and Korean-American actor Steven Yeun appears in the well-known TV series 'Walking Dead'. Comic-con is about more than just comics. There are movies, dramas, toys, webtoons, and of course games. There have been some new launch showcases from the games industry. Among the many presentations, I have got the chance to speak with the developer of the mobile game 'Thine' , and ask him what he thinks about this mega-event. "Comic Con fit our identity as a company. And since it's the first time, we have decided to become the event's main sponsor. This is a great way to stay abreast of pop culture, and to help people enjoy and experience more to do with comics." "Seoul Comic-con will be held for 3 days from Friday here at COEX mall in Southern Seoul. Of course, there are lots of interesting events planned for fans this weekend, but the highlight is expected to be the costume competition on Sunday, Won Jung-hwan, Arirang News."