Webtoon artist Joo Ho-min drawing controversy into art

Webtoon artist Joo Ho-min has shared his personal struggles and emotional processing in the wake of a highly publicized lawsuit against a special education teacher. The controversy began in July 2023 when Joo sued the teacher for alleged emotional abuse of his son, who has autism spectrum disorder. The incident involved the teacher's remarks made during a school day, which Joo's family deemed abusive.

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When I went to rock bottom, I went through the five stages of denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.

Joo described his experience as a descent into a "dark place," detailing the five stages of grief he underwent: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Initially, he believed a simple explanation would resolve the public outcry. However, the situation escalated, drawing widespread attention from media and online platforms, leading to intense criticism.

"At first, I thought, 'People misunderstand the controversy, so if I explain, it will quickly die down.' But the fire spread uncontrollably," Joo recounted. He expressed feelings of anger, not only at the public's perception but also towards those involved in escalating the situation, including his own family, for not handling it better.

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At first, I thought, 'People misunderstand the controversy, so if I explain, it will quickly die down.' But the fire spread uncontrollably.

Currently, Joo is channeling these experiences into his creative work. He is in the process of drawing a webtoon that encapsulates his journey through the controversy. Despite the ongoing legal proceedings, Joo intends to transform this difficult period into a piece of art, reflecting his desire to process and convey his experiences through his medium.

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I am in the process of drawing this into a comic. The case is still ongoing and not yet finalized, so I intend to sublimate it into a work someday.