SAKK

## Life

SAKK(삭), alias of Shin Joong-seok(신중석), is the author of the popular Korean manhwa 'Hellper'.

> His personal instagram page.

Sakk is 186cm tall and was born in Korea in 1983. He studied at the Kongju University(class of 2002) to become the illustrator and comics artist that he is today. His college experience there seems to has had great influence over his character writing, as he expresses that he draws a lot of inspiration from his college friends group. In 2007, he won the grand prize in the **KORAIL,** Creative Comics, Contest, Drama Category.

## Works

His first serialization and public debut was with the comic book **BACKBONE**(백본) in 2009, serialized in **Naver Series.** He then started working on his most popular work yet, **HELLPER S1**(헬퍼) (2011-2015). Then, in 2016, he started working on the Hellper prequel **HELLPER S2: KILLBEROS**(헬퍼 2: 킬베로스). Both seasons were published on the Korean platform **Naver Webtoon.**

**BACKBONE** 2009 | 3 Volumes

* Magic comes only once in a lifetime. An action fantasy story unfolding in 'Backbone', an unknown land in search of a prince kidnapped by an unidentified trio. Pic • Website
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**HELLPER S1** 2011-2015 | 188 Chapters

* Go to https://www.webtoons.com/en/fantasy/hellper/list?title\_no=185&page=19
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**HELLPER S2: KILLBEROS** 2016 | 350 Chapters+

* Go to Hellper Season 2 : Killberos
* Go to https://killberos.com/product/%EB%8B%A8%ED%96%89%EB%B3%B8-%ED%97%AC%ED%8D%BC-%EC%8B%9C%EC%A6%8C2-killberos-1%EA%B6%8C/1226/category/1/display/2/
* Go to https://killberos.com/product/%EB%8B%A8%ED%96%89%EB%B3%B8-%ED%97%AC%ED%8D%BC-%EC%8B%9C%EC%A6%8C2-killberos-1%EA%B6%8C/1226/category/1/display/2/
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## Controversy

On September 15, 2020, the 18+ rated 'Hellper' Season 2 series was forced into hiatus on the Korean Webtoon platform Naver. A student character resembling a famous Korean singer and another beloved by the fans have both met terrible fates. The latter became the breaking point which led to the series' serialization being halted, with the fans putting into question the necessity of the use of such overly violent and mature themes. It's part of a trend where Hellper S1 readers have continuously expressed their discontent with the darker in themes direction that season 2 took to tell the prequel story of gwangnam, and how he grows out of the gangster life before turning Killberos into the guard tribe that it became. Some viewers are also of the belief that the change of artstyle to a more gritty and semi-realistic one is an inherent downgrade from the cleaner line art and cartoony artstyle found in Season 1. The abrupt change in tone and style has led some to speculate the involvement of a ghost writer. Thus, the overall sentiment was that Season 2 should be done and over with without any unnecessary prolonging of its plot. After a negative feedback cycle between certain readers expressing their negative sentiments and the author ridiculing them, they turned to feminist groups and organised a successful boycott against Hellper2 with the claims of sexism. The aftermath of all this is that Hellper2 got review bombed and was put on hold in 2020, then was later allowed to continue publishing its weekly chapters as of April 28, 2021, after rectifying/ toning down the visual intensity of the scene in question. *(You may check the status of the series on this address)*

 ***1.** In response to the speculation about ghostwriting for season 2, I would like to clarify a few points. Firstly, I have several artistic styles from which I can draw from. As season 2 explores a different genre and worldview compared to season 1, I had to adapt and combine drawing styles according to the planned direction. It was a new challenge for me, and I apologize if it created a sense of inconsistency for viewers who followed the series from the beginning. I would like to request that people refrain from making unfounded claims about ghostwriting. It's important to check the facts before making such accusations.*
***2.*** *Regarding concerns about sexual exploitation or commercialization, my intention for season 2 was to portray the true nature of villains and demons in the real world, who are more brutal and vicious than depicted in the comics. The series seeks to make them subject of scrutiny and punishment on behalf of all the weak and wounded, regardless of gender or age. In order to accomplish this, it was necessary to illustrate uncomfortable scenes that showcase the evilness of these masked villains. Unfortunately, some edited scenes have been taken out of context, leading to misunderstandings about the series' intentions. I want to emphasize that the sexualization and commercialization of sex were never part of the story's conception. Due to my limitations and poor direction, I might not have effectively conveyed my sincerity, but I really want you to know that I put my heart into every episode, aiming for justice and the defeat of evil.*
***3.***
*As for the Characterization of Blood Ocean, in Episode 66 of "Hellper" Season 1, there is a moment where Blood Ocean expresses deep affection and a positive spirit towards people before parting ways with Gwangnam. However, in Season 1, Episode 80, Blood Ocean returns with a negative perspective, warning Gwangnam about trusting people too much. This drastic change in attitude raises the question of what caused such a transformation, given that she is known to uphold her principles the most in the world of Hellper. The controversial mental brainwashing scene in Season 2, Episode 247, was an essential choice to justify Blood Ocean's 180-degree shift in mindset. I kept saying sorry inside myself throughout the 5 hours of drawing that scene; it's the scene I drew with the most effort. I apologize if my expression of it seemed clumsy. I wanted to create a powerful impact, which might have made it appear more intense than expected. Some scenes are still being edited, and they serve the purpose I mentioned. It was an opportunity to understand your feelings, and I appreciate that.*
*Regarding the intention to torture the elderly, it is something I never dared to imagine, so I'll just answer no. However, in the end, one can be easily deceived, as is the case with the grandmother. But I assure you that the unconditional love Blood Ocean entrusted Gwangnam with will eventually return and have a positive influence.*
*Lastly, I would like to address the level of expression in my work. As an adult-oriented series, I had more freedom to express myself compared to when creating content for a wider audience demographic. Though, the Naver Webtoon team reminded me to be mindful of the level of expression, it appears comics have stricter standards in this regard compared to other media. I sincerely apologize to the readers who have supported and loved my work, as well as to the few enthusiasts who seek more diverse comics from various writers.*
*For the past nine years, I have been grateful for being able to draw, live, and enjoy life gracefully thanks to the readers who interpreted and appreciated my comics, sometimes even more than they deserved. The reason I refrained from reading comments was not to cut off communication, but rather because I was concerned that the influence of comments might hinder me from presenting the original comics I had planned for my readers.*
*For now, I will take a break from my work to regroup and reorganize. Thank you for your understanding.*
*Life is V,*
*in conclusion.*