South Korean officials take offence at anti-Yoon cartoon weeks after his UN ‘freedom’ speech
- Authorities threaten sanctions against organisers of cartoon contest for allowing President Yoon Suk-yeol to be lampooned
- Cartoon with Yoon’s face on a Thomas the Tank Engine-like locomotive apparently satirises accusations his wife has wielded undue influence over government
“Yoonsukyeolcha”, created by Park Se-eun from Chonnam Arts High School, came in second overall in the nationwide student cartoon and webtoon contest organised by the Korea Manhwa Contents Agency (KOMANCO).
The name of the work combines Yoon’s name and the word “yeolcha”, meaning train in Korean. It was on display at the Korea Manhwa Museum during the Bucheon International Comics Festival hosted by the agency from Friday to Monday in Bucheon City near Seoul.
The cartoon features a train with a Thomas the Tank Engine-like locomotive fronted by the face of Yoon and cabins carrying prosecutors wielding swords.
As the train roars down the track, panicky people, arms flailing widely, flee in all directions.
In the engine room stands a woman resembling the controversial first lady, Kim Keon-hee, while people wearing prosecutors’ official gowns and wielding swords ride the passenger cars behind.
The cartoon apparently satirises accusations that Yoon’s wife has wielded undue influence over the president and his administration, which enjoys strong support by prosecutors who allegedly like to go after Yoon’s political opponents.