Oh Seong-dae

Oh Seong-dae (Hangul: 오성대, Hanja: 吳城垈; born November 18, 1982) is a South Korean webtoon artist. He is best known for his popular horror thriller anthology webtoon series, Tales of the Unusual, which has gained widespread acclaim both Korean and global readers.

In this Korean name, the family name is Oh.
Oh Seong-dae
오성대
Born (1982-11-18) November 18, 1982
Seoul, South Korea
Nationality South Korea
Area(s)Webtoon artist
Pseudonym(s)Seongdae Oh
Notable works
Oh Seong-dae
Hangul
오성대
Hanja
吳城垈
Revised RomanizationO Seong Dae
McCune–ReischauerO Sŏng Dae

Life and career

Oh Seong-dae was born on November 18, 1982, in Seoul, South Korea. He developed a love of drawing when he was in elementary school. He graduated from Seoul National University of Science and Technology. Seong-dae studied various subjects related to art and design. He began his career as a designer but quit soon after. Later, he took part in a comic competition organized by Naver which gave him a chance to debut in the field of webtoon.[1]

The webtoon platform Naver WEBTOON had three interesting series released between 2009 and 2012. The first one, called Author J, ran from October 2009 to November 2010 and tells the story of a deceased writer whose mind has been transferred to a computer AI. Bonbon au Chocolat, released from April 2011 to August 2012, is a funny love story between two middle school students. Finally, from July to August 2012, The Cliff was released, which follows two men who go on a hiking trip and end up stranded on the edge of a cliff. As they wait for help, tensions rise and their sanity begins to unravel.

On May 8, 2013, Seong-dae created an anthology webtoon called Tales of the Unusual and published it on Naver WEBTOON. Unlike Seong-dae's previous webtoons, Tales of the Unusual is a horror and thriller genre, containing elements of supernatural, psychological suspense, mystery, satire, black comedy, drama, science fiction, and dark-modern fantasy. For its artwork and aesthetic, Seong-dae chose to use monochromatic black and white, grayscale, and darker colors, rather than mild primary colors.

Seong-dae characterized Tales of the Unusual as "strange", "unusual", "thrilling", and "mysterious", frequently with a darker tone than its previous webtoons. It comprises self-contained, standalone short stories that follow characters (or recurring characters from previous webtoons) as they experience strange and unusual events. Each story's plot elements detail various topics such as real-life events, social issues, viral phenomena, urban legends, and paranormal events. They often involve bizarre and supernatural occurrences with an unexpected twist.

Tales of the Unusual drew inspiration from a variety of sources. Among them were the works of acclaimed horror authors Junji Ito, Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, R.L. Stine, Franz Kafka, and Haruki Murakami, as well as horror movies from Korea. Seong-dae was also influenced by TV anthology series such as The Twilight Zone, Goosebumps, The X-Files, and Black Mirror. When it comes to films, Seong-dae drew inspiration from the works of directors Jason Blum, M. Night Shyamalan, Darren Aronofsky, Stanley Kubrick, David Lynch, and Alfred Hitchcock.

In June 2013, an anthology film Horror Stories 2 was released on June 5, 2013. One of the stories is adapted from The Cliff.

From July to August 2014, The Cliff received English and Chinese translations by WEBTOON. "Tales of the Unusual" received an official English translation by WEBTOON on July 1, 2014. The webtoon gained immense popularity among readers in Korea and globally, and it has become the most popular webtoon on the WEBTOON platform.

From November to December 2013, "My Wife's Memories" was released on Naver WEBTOON. The story follows a middle-aged man haunted by ghostly visions of his deceased wife after she passes away in a tragic accident. In August 2014, Sina Weibo user Yaoyaoxiaojing (妖妖小精) translated My Wife's Memories into Chinese and posted it on her Weibo. 550,000 people shared the comic just after two days she had posted it, making it an instant hit among the Chinese community, and bringing Seong-dae much fame.[2][3]

On October 11, 2014, Tales of the Unusual received an official Chinese translation by WEBTOON and Dongman Manhua. On November 18, 2014, Tales of the Unusual also received an official Thai translation by WEBTOON. On April 20, 2015, Tales of the Unusual also received an official Indonesian translation by WEBTOON.

From February 10 to 15, 2015, Seong-dae attended the Taipei International Comics and Animation Festival along with fellow webtoon artist massstar. Both of them hosted autograph sessions for their fans in the booth of WEBTOON.[1][4][5]

Between February and April 2015, a webcomic named Beauty Water was published on Naver WEBTOON. The story follows a young woman who uses a cosmetic liquid product to achieve her desired looks, akin to plastic surgery. However, as she becomes increasingly addicted to the product, she discovers disturbing side effects that begin to affect her. In June 2015, Sina Weibo user Hanmansimida (韩漫思密达) translated Beauty Water into Chinese and posted it on her Weibo. As the story touched on contemporary social issues, it was quickly viewed by over 1,000,000 people, making it an instant hit among the Chinese community and raising Seong-dae's profile in China once more.[6][7][8] After knowing this, Seong-dae thanked the Chinese readers on Facebook in Chinese.[9]

From October 1 to 5, 2015, Seong-dae attended and gave autographs to his fans with fellow webtoon artists Jo Seok, Son Jae-ho, and Lee Kwang-soo at the China International Comic Festival EXPO. On October 19, 2015, WEBTOON released a promotional animated trailer for Tales of the Unusual, produced by an animation studio, Delpic Design Studio.

On December 18, 2015, Seong-dae won a "Webtoonist of the Year" for his webtoon, Tales of the Unusual on WEBTOON's Webtoonist Day. From June 9 to 10, 2016, Seong-dae also attended and gave autographs to his fans in the booth of WEBTOON at Beijing Comic-Con along with fellow webtoon artist Jo Seok.

In 2000, the original Japanese television series Yo nimo Kimyō na Monogatari was released.

In 2018, a print version of Tales of the Unusual was released on June 15, 2018 by Sodam Books. On February 21, 2019, an animated short series based on Tales of the Unusual was released on the Naver WEBTOON YouTube Channel. Each 20 episodes is adapted from 13 short stories, including The Dream-sharing Stone, The Hole, The Chatroom, The Teleporter, A Mysterious Package, The Pet Wig, Jayce's Pen, The Ghost Polaroids, Hair, 14K, Scene Box, Insomnia, and The Mole Stitcher.

On September 18, 2019, Seong-dae announced that "Tales of the Unusual" would be taking a break after the first season ended. After an 8-month hiatus, the series resumed for a second season on May 20, 2020. On October 25, 2020, an English version of "Tales of the Unusual" also resumed after an 11-month break. The series concluded on June 1, 2022, after running for 9 years.

In 2020, a South Korean animation studio, Studio Animal, produced an animated film adaptation of Beauty Water. After debuting at several international film festivals, it was released on September 9, 2020, in Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, and New Zealand. Despite the story's popularity among Chinese readers, due to souring Korean relations after the former deployed the THAAD missile defense system, no Chinese investors would support the film and it was not released in China.[10]

On November 3, 2020, Seong-dae won "Today's Our Manhwa Award" for his webtoon, Tales of the Unusual by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Works

Series and One-shots
  • Author J (소설가J, October 2009–November 2010, 48 episodes)
  • Bonbon au Chocolat (봉봉오쇼콜라, April 2011–August 2012, 69 episodes)
  • The Cliff (절벽귀, July–August 2012, 9 episodes)
  • Bunker Man (벙커맨, September 2012)
  • Tales of the Unusual (기기괴괴, May 2013–June 2022, 94 stories)
  • The Ghost in the Celling (공포의 만화책, June 2013)
  • S.O.S (S.O.S, July 2015)
  • Shadow Makeover (그림자 성형, August 2019)

Tales of the Unusual

Season 1 (May 8, 2013–September 18, 2019)
  • The Gallery of the Damned (저주받은 갤러리, May 15–July 17, 2013, 10 episodes)
  • An African Incident (아프리카에서 생긴 일, July 24–August 28, 2013, 6 episodes)
  • To Kill a Magician (마술사 죽이기, September 4–October 9, 2013, 6 episodes)
  • The Reset Elevator (리셋 엘리베이터, October 23–November 13, 2013, 4 episodes)
  • My Wife's Memories (아내의 기억, November 20–December 25, 2013, 6 episodes)
  • Camping (캠핑, January 8–15, 2014, 2 episodes)
  • A Mysterious Package (상자 키우기, January 22–February 12, 2014, 4 episodes)
  • The Mysterious Potter (곰보할배 도자기, February 19–March 12, 2014, 4 episodes)
  • Winning Numbers (당첨번호, March 26–April 30, 2014, 6 episodes)
  • Ghost Hunting (귀신잡기, May 21–June 16, 2014, 5 episodes)
  • The Painting (여인화, October 15–22, 2014, 2 episodes)
  • Evolving Reincarnation (진화환생법, October 29–December 17, 2014, 8 episodes)
  • The Chat Room (채팅만남, December 31, 2014)
  • Murderous Rage (살의, January 7–21, 2015, 3 episodes)
  • Lex Talionis (Lex Talionis, January 28, 2015)
  • Beauty Water (성형수, February 4–April 22, 2015, 11 episodes)
  • Growth Water (괴모수, May 6, 2015)
  • The Man and the Dog (남자와 개, May 13–July 1, 2015, 8 episodes)
  • The Dream-sharing Stone (꿈공유석, July 8–29 2015, 4 episodes)
  • Regeneration Seed (재생종자, August 12–26 2015, 3 episodes)
  • The Ghost App (심령어플, September 2, 2015)
  • The Ghost Polaroids (고스트 폴라로이드, September 9–16, 2015, 2 episodes)
  • Jayce's Pen (제이스의 펜, September 23–October 21, 2015, 4 episodes)
  • Insomnia (불면증, October 29, 2015)
  • The Break-In (도난, November 4–11, 2015, 2 episodes)
  • Lucidity Controller (루시드컨, November 25–December 23, 2015, 5 episodes)
  • Earth Warrior Taletron (지구용사 기괴트론, December 30, 2015–January 20, 2016, 4 episodes)
  • Bone Dice (본 다이스, January 27–February 17, 2016, 4 episodes)
  • Kiveiru's Library (키베이루의 서재, May 14–June 22, 2016, 8 episodes)
  • Real Implant (Real Implant, June 29, 2016)
  • Revenge (복수, July 6, 2016)
  • Drawings (그림, July 14–20, 2016, 2 episodes)
  • Lurker (Lurker, August 3–24, 2016, 4 episodes)
  • The Pet Wig (애완가발, August 31–September 7, 2016, 3 episodes)
  • The Future Spirit (미래사령, September 21–November 23, 2016, 10 episodes)
  • The Teleporter (순간이동기, November 30–December 21, 2016, 4 episodes)
  • Demonic Bloodweed (마혈초, December 28, 2016–January 11, 2017, 3 episodes)
  • Mini-Me (미니미, January 18–25, 2017, 2 episodes)
  • Ghost Home Care (고스트 홈케어, February 1–8, 2017, 2 episodes)
  • The Package (택배, February 15–22, 2017, 2 episodes)
  • Eternal Life Pills (영생환, March 1–May 10, 2017, 11 episodes)
  • A Special Meal (특식, May 17–24, 2017, 2 episodes)
  • Soul Trapping (봉혼, May 31–June 21, 2017, 4 episodes)
  • The Hole (Hole, June 28–July 5, 2017, 2 episodes)
  • Ghost Design (고스트 인테리어, July 12–19, 2017 2 episodes)
  • Gold Motel (골드모텔, July 26–August 16, 2017, 4 episodes)
  • 14K (14K, August 30–October 4, 2017, 6 episodes)
  • The Bug (벌레, October 11–18, 2017, 2 episodes)
  • The Mole Stitcher (점잇귀, October 25–December 6, 2017, 7 episodes)
  • Scene Box (Scene Box, December 13, 2017–January 3, 2018, 4 episodes)
  • Hair (머리카락, January 10–24, 2018, 3 episodes)
  • More Days (More Days, January 31–February 14, 2018, 3 episodes)
  • The Carbonated Virus (탄산바이러스, February 21–28, 2018, 2 episodes)
  • Confinement (감금, March 7–21, 2018, 3 episodes)
  • The Tournament (대회, June 6–13, 2018, 2 episodes)
  • The Unusual Hospital (기괴병원, June 20–27, 2018, 2 episodes)
  • Growth Mountains (성장산, July 4–18, 2018, 3 episodes)
  • The Human Door (인간현관, July 25–September 5, 2018, 7 episodes)
  • Friends (친구, September 12–19, 2018, 2 episodes)
  • Watermelon (수박, October 3–10, 2018, 2 episodes)
  • Brain Contamination (뇌오염, October 17–November 7, 2018, 4 episodes)
  • Change (Change, November 14–21, 2018, 2 episodes)
  • A Boy and a Murderer (소년과 살인마, November 28, 2018–January 9, 2019, 7 episodes)
  • Acc Plants (Acc Plants, January 23–February 27, 2019, 6 episodes)
  • The Stationery Store (문방구, March 6–13, 2019, 2 episodes)
  • Magnet (Magnet, March 20–April 24, 2019, 5 episodes)
  • Makeover (성형귀, May 1–22, 2019, 4 episodes)
  • Cafe (카페, June 5–12, 2019, 2 episodes)
  • Head (Head, June 19–July 17, 2019, 5 episodes)
  • VR (VR, July 24–31, 2019, 2 episodes)
  • Karaoke and an Odeng Truck (노래방과 오뎅트럭, August 7–14, 2019, 2 episodes)
  • Thief (도둑, August 21–September 11, 2019, 4 episodes)

Season 2 (May 20, 2020–June 1, 2022)
  • New Beauty Water (뉴성형수, May 20–August 5, 2020, 12 episodes)
  • Game (GAME, August 12–September 2, 2020, 4 episodes)
  • Black Fog (검은 안개, September 9–23, 2020, 3 episodes)
  • The Gym of the Damned (저주받은 체육관, September 30–October 21, 2020, 4 episodes)
  • Grim Reaper (저승사자, October 28–November 18, 2020, 4 episodes)
  • Living Doll (생인형, November 24–December 16, 2020, 4 episodes)
  • Brain (뇌, December 23–30, 2020, 2 episodes)
  • A Webtoonist's Dream (웹툰작가의 꿈, January 6–20, 2021, 3 episodes)
  • Hypnosis (최면, January 27–February 17, 2021, 4 episodes)
  • Queen of Anesthesia (마취여왕, February 24–March 24, 2021, 5 episodes)
  • Fever (열, April 7–14, 2021, 2 episodes)
  • The Demon Man (마귀인간, April 21–May 12, 2021, 4 episodes)
  • Expiring City (소멸의 도시, May 19–July 21, 2021, 9 episodes)
  • Devil's Eyes (악마의 눈, July 28–August 19, 2021, 4 episodes)
  • Oil Bug Diet (기름충 다이어트, September 1–15, 2021, 3 episodes)
  • In a Rut (틀, September 22–October 6, 2021, 3 episodes)
  • Switch (스위치, October 13–27, 2021, 3 episodes)
  • Paper Prison (종이 감옥, November 3, 2021–December 22, 2021, 8 episodes)
  • Dating a Ghost (귀신과 연애를, January 5–19, 2022, 3 episodes)
  • Random Injection (랜덤 주사, January 26–February 2, 2022, 2 episodes)
  • Shell (껍데기, February 9–March 9, 2022, 5 episodes)
  • Winter Tree (겨울나무, March 16–May 25, 2022, 11 episodes)

Adaptations

References
  1. "【TiCA15】WEBTOON《觸不可及》及《奇奇怪怪》漫畫家獨家專訪" [[TiCA15] Exclusive Interview of the WEBTOON Artists: Writers of unTouchable and Tales of the Unusual] (in Chinese). Gamer. February 11, 2015. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
  2. 洋蔥滿點！故事「妻子的記憶」感動55萬網友：我哭好慘 [Full of Onions! Story My Wife's Memories Touches 550,000 People's Heart: I cried so badly] (in Chinese). ETtoday. August 29, 2014. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
  3. 超催淚靈異故事 《妻子的記憶》用哭50萬人 [Tear-jerking Supernatural Story My Wife's Memories: 500,000 People Shed Tears] (in Chinese). Apple Daily. August 27, 2014. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
  4. "「WEBTOON 每日漫畫」宣布參加 2015 動漫節" [WEBTOON Announce Participating 2015 Comics and Animation Festival] (in Chinese). Hong Kong Silicon. February 3, 2015. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
  5. "雙韓作家來台會粉絲, WEBTOON 首度進台北國際軍動漫節" [Dual Korean Writer Come to Taiwan to meet their fans, the First Time WEBTOON Joining Taipei International Comics and Animation Festival] (in Chinese). Hong Kong Silicon. February 11, 2015. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
  6. 重口味漫画最适合深夜转发？ (in Chinese). 文汇报. July 8, 2015. Archived from the original on July 9, 2015. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
  7. 你看过奇奇怪怪漫画《整容液》但一定不了解吴城垈 (in Chinese). 北青网. July 8, 2015. Archived from the original on July 10, 2015. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
  8. 朋友圈疯传恐怖漫画《整容液》 韩国漫画家讽刺整容业 (in Chinese). 观察者网. July 3, 2015. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
  9. "오성대 added 2 new photos" (in Chinese). 吳城垈. July 3, 2015. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
  10. "[INTERVIEW] Creators behind 'Beauty Water' satirize absurdity of lookism". The Korea Times. September 10, 2020. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
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