The Korea Manhwa Contents Agency (KOMACON) announced on September 21 that the 29th Bucheon International Comics Festival (BICOF) was held from September 18 to 20 around the Korea Manhwa Museum, welcoming over 100,000 visitors over three days.
Under the theme “Comics and Webtoons Are All Around Us,” this year’s festival connected with the Gyeonggi International Cosplay Festival (GICOF), the Gyeonggi International Webtoon Fair, and the International Comic Artist Conference (ICC). The festival operated a wide variety of programs, ranging from exhibitions, artist talks, and signing sessions to cosplay events, industrial business opportunities, and exchanges between domestic and international comic creators.
On the final day, a special dialogue commemorating the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and France took place. French artist Evin Landrou and author Kim Keum-suk spoke with readers about their works, creative processes, and their experiences with comics and graphic novels while working in both countries. Instatoon artist Gungri shared experiences of presenting works and communicating with readers via social media, while author J-ROBIN of “The Legend of Kitchen Soldier” held an autograph session.
GICOF featured events such as the GICOF Photo Show, a cosplay state examination competition, and an amateur cosplay contest. Around 10,000 cosplayers visited the venue, with child and adult participants taking the stage for amateur/K-webtoon cosplay contests and a Kids Runway Show.
Celebrating its 10th anniversary, GICOF hosted national representative cosplayers across 15 teams from 14 countries. At the championship held on September 19, the Philippine team won the Grand Prize. Around 500 visitors joined 9 creators across the artist talks and signing sessions.
The Gyeonggi International Webtoon Fair moved its location from KINTEX in Ilsan to Bucheon, taking place at the Webtoon Convergence Center from September 17 to 18. With domestic and international buyers, production companies, and creators in attendance, B2B business consultations and networking programs were conducted.
Marking its 30th anniversary, the ICC held a commemorative ceremony, standing committee meeting, and roundtable discussions to deliberate future exchange and cooperation. A special exhibition titled “Connection,” introducing works from eight member countries, was also featured. GICOF cosplayers and comic industry figures on the ICC standing committee engaged in active exchanges in Bucheon centered around comics and subculture.
Throughout the festival, exhibitions were hosted featuring award-winning works from the 2026 Bucheon Comics Award and the National Student Comics Contest, as well as displays highlighting the 10th anniversary of GICOF, the 30th anniversary of the ICC, and the 140th anniversary of Korea-France diplomatic relations. Outdoor comic cafes and interactive experience programs also welcomed attendees.
KOMACON President Baek Jong-hoon expressed his gratitude for the participation of visitors, creators, and officials, stating that building on the strong interest demonstrated at this year’s festival, they will thoroughly prepare for next year’s 30th Bucheon International Comics Festival.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated with the help of AI. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
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