We can usually see people who use the word 'Otaku' in daily life. Otaku is a Japanese term used to refer to people with obsessive interests in one thing or who have professional knowledge in a special field. However, contrary to the original meaning, Otaku is usually used in Korea to demean people who love Japanese animation or cartoons.
On October 22nd and 23rd, Chungbuk Times(CBT) reporters visited 'The 105th Comic World' which was held in the 'Seoul Yang-jae AT Center' to join the Otaku culture. 'Comic World' is an amateur comic festival which S.E Techno Incorporation holds. 'The 105th Comic World' consists of selling products concerned with animation, illustration contests and wearing costumes.
As soon as we got off the bus, we saw many people who lined up to buy Comic World admission tickets and people who were wearing costumes near the AT Center. Although that was early in a holiday morning, many people were gathering.
People who participated in Comic World pointed out wearing costumes as the most interesting part. To wear a costume, people have to fill in a registration form. After that, people can change their clothes in a fitting room.
CBT reporters interviewed animation lovers who were wearing costumes. Park In-hye(Gwangmeong, 18) wore the costume of a character in 'Panty Hose’, the name of a comic. She has participated at Comic World every month to wear a costume since she found out about Comic World. She said, "Comic World festival is boring. However, the process of preparing a costume and showing my special face to people is interesting. Because people's reactions to my costume make me feel joy, I have participated in this festival every month." When we asked her about general negative attitudes about Otaku, she said,  "I have an aversion to the word Otaku. However, this is what I want to do, I don't care what other people think."
Choi Hyeon-joong(Suwon, 22) wore a game character's costume. The game character which he mimicked was from Dungeon&Fighter, which is a popular game among teenagers. He also takes part in Comic World every year. He said, "I'm very sorry that there is no stage festival in the 105th Comic World."
People can purchase tickets to buy comic-related merchandise which are inside the event hall. Tickets are 4,000 won a piece. The inside of the Yangjae AT center was as crowded with devotees of animation as the outside where the people were wearing costumes. As soon as we entered the hall, we met Lee Ju-yeong(Yongin-si, 16) who was happy about buying comic-related products.
She has been interested in animation since she was an elementary student and found out about Comic World by being a member of a comic club. She has almost attended every Comic World every month. Her favorite character is Zoro in ‘One Piece.’ She said, “I think we are in a period of transition of accepting the  animation-culture of Japan as an independent culture. Many Koreans view Japanese animation as negative. For this reason, it is too bad that events such as Comic World aren't frequently held. If we accept animation as an independent culture, we can enjoy more colorful, interesting animation-related events.
The shops selling animation products were opened inside the event hall. Merchandisers were selling animation-related products that they made by themselves such as buttons, comic books and character-mobile phone rings. People of all ages who like animation from amateur club members to professional cartoonists sell animation-related products made by themselves in each booth. They manufacture products by imitating cartoon characters and creating unique characters. 153 sales booths were installed at the 105th Comic World.
We met Park Gyu-jeong(35), who works in a cartoon academy as a teacher, among a lot of sellers. He is an amateur cartoonist who draws caricatures, and his dream is going into webtoons. The reasons he has participated in Comic World are for  publicizing caricatures, researching youths preferences and checking children’s reactions to his new characters. He said, “Preparing animation-related products needs a lot of time. However, I feel satisfied seeing customers who love and wear my products. That’s why I come here." He gave some suggestions for Comic World, "Because the gap between booths is so narrow, the customers are crushed into each other, and sellers feel inconvenient when they move in and out. I want the space between booths to be larger than now at the next Comic World."
Comic World is a meeting place between sellers who are interested in drawing cartoons and producing their own characters and consumers who want to buy peculiar comic products and enjoy their culture. Compared to Japan where animation is seen as an independent culture, Koreans consider it a low taste. Therefore, we can't frequently see festivals like Comic World in Korea, and we can't experience various animation cultures.
'Otaku' fans just have a special taste for their hobby just as we prefer specific clothes and foods to others. I hope that animation will be accepted as an independent culture and that we can see and enjoy various animation festivals in Korea.