The Use of Dangun Myth and Its Meaning in the Webtoon: Focusing on the Webtoon <Barojabneun Soonaebo> and <Hositamtam>

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to understand the narrative characteristics of the webtoons &lt;Barojabneun Soonaebo&gt; and &lt;Hositamtam&gt;, their impact on the transmission of the Dangun myth and the significance of that impact. The stories of these webtoons are based on the ‘Dangun Myth’ recorded in Samgukyusa, especially the transformation of bear and tiger and the marriage of the bear and Hwanung. The ‘Dangun Myth’ in Samgukyusa is a well-known story to Korean readers, who learn about the Dangun myth at school. The webtoon which is using parody of Dangun myth can maximize the effect of parody. Readers of these webtoon easily understand the complex events using their background knowledge, and they actively express their feelings about the events unfolding in webtoons. In addition, the transcontextualization that occurs in the parody process heightens the entertainment value of the story of the Dangun myth while diluting its mythological power. This can be seen as an example of how the generation ranging from teens to 30-year-olds are enjoying the Dangun myth in a different way than before.