This is a review article written after watching the broadcast.
I Live Alone Kian84 made full preparations to meet Junji Ito.
On the 13th episode of the MBC variety show I Live Alone (hereinafter I Live Alone), Kian84 was shown meeting Junji Ito, the "master of horror manga."
That day Kian84 said, "Mr. Gangnam said he would let me meet the person I personally respect, Junji Ito, and it actually happened. So I came to Japan," explaining why he visited Tokyo, Japan.
Junji Ito debuted with Tomie and, as a manga artist who expresses primal fear with a unique style and worldview, he is a master of horror manga who even entered the Eisner Hall of Fame in the comics academy.
Kian84 said, "I used to read a lot of manga when I was young. There are Dragon Ball, Slam Dunk, One Piece, but what I liked about Junji Ito's works is that the way he constructs stories is completely different," revealing his fandom.
Unlike the manga format where tough characters win and grow, Junji Ito's manga are seen and interpreted from a completely different perspective. Kian84 said, "It's not simple horror."
Also, Kian84, who said he was greatly influenced by Junji Ito, revealed that he even paid homage to him in his webtoons Fashion King and Returnee King. He added, "I read them for fun when I was young and continued to read them even after I became a cartoonist."
Kian84 said, "When (Gangnam) said he would make it possible to meet him, I wondered if it would really happen. Personally I'm such a big fan that I watch even solo activities, and I don't do external activities often. So I never thought I could meet this author. It's a completely different world; I thought I couldn't meet him. Even until then I was unsure."
Meanwhile, before meeting Junji Ito, Kian84 concentrated on studying Japanese at his lodging while looking at a list of questions he had prepared in advance. He said he started studying as early as three months ago and surprised viewers by saying, "I practiced as much as the time I run."
He also drew a picture to give to Junji Ito. Kian84 explained, "I grew up reading this author's manga and later drew pictures, so I thought it would be nice to draw and give that picture as a gift," he explained.
After much deliberation, Kian84's portrait of Junji Ito drew admiration in the studio. Having drawn it over two and a half hours, Kian84 said, "I felt Junji Ito was like the universe, so I decorated it with a whirlpool," adding, "To me the author is like the universe and also something that pulls you in like a whirlpool."
Seeing this, Minho said, "That gave me the chills," and Jun Hyun-moo admired, "It's not just skill, but it's different because sincerity is put into it."
Furthermore, on the day of the meeting, Kian84 even made kimchi fried rice for Junji Ito at his lodging. He said, "I progressed in three stages," and completed it looking quite appetizing, using cherry tomatoes, a fried egg and gim to create facial feature toppings.
Kian84 said, "I used the egg to create skin color and made the mouth that goes ho ho ho with gim. I maximized the visual fun," and jokingly called it "kimchi fried rice from hell," drawing laughter.
[Photo] I Live Alone broadcast screen capture
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