Born on February 7, 1975, in Goyang, a suburb of Seoul, Kim Jung Gi emerged as a renowned South Korean illustrator, cartoonist, and manhwa artist. An illustration from Dr. Slump, a manga by Akira Toriyama, sparked his drawing inspiration. Throughout his school years, he often doodled in his notes. At 19, he embarked on a fine arts education journey at Dong-Eui University in Busan. His stint in the Republic of Korea Army equipped him with a strong visual memory of various weapons, vehicles, and army situations. He later incorporated these into his illustrations.
Kim Jung Gi’s visual style stood out for its mastery of perspective and his ability to draw from memory. He gained recognition for creating large, highly detailed illustrations without any visual aid or preparatory sketches. His understanding of perspective and his nonchalant conjuring of characters and scenes left audiences in awe. He had a knack for transforming blank canvases into self-contained universes brimming with detail and complexity. His primary work in ink added to the wonder of his artistry. The complexity of forms and scenes he crafted left audiences puzzled and amazed, a testament to his lifelong dedication to drawing.
