Jeon Woo-won, second from left, grandson of former South Korean military ruler Chun Doo-hwan, answers reporters’ questions upon arrival at Incheon International Airport Terminal 2, March 28, 2023. Korea Times photo by Ha Sang-yun
Jeon Woo-won, the 30-year-old grandson of former South Korean President Chun Doo-hwan, said he was “stunned and overwhelmed” after his autobiographical webtoon amassed more than 67.8 million views, drawing widespread attention online for its candid portrayal of his family’s dark past.
The webtoon, titled “Mongletoon,” is serialized on Jeon’s social media account and recounts episodes from his life, including family conflict, school bullying and drug addiction.
“I never imagined so many people would relate to it and show such interest,” Jeon said in an Instagram post on March 23. “I am just surprised and overwhelmed.”
According to statistics he shared, his Instagram content recorded a total of 67,804,452 views over a three-month period from Nov. 17 last year to Feb. 14. The surge in views appears to be driven by the popularity of “Mongletoon,” which has released 51 episodes since December.
“When I look at the numbers, it doesn’t feel real,” he said. “It reminds me that this is something I could never have achieved on my own.”
Webtoon by Jeon Woo-won / Captured from Jeon's social media
Created using artificial intelligence, the webtoon features a character named “Mongle,” a white sheep representing Jeon. His biological mother and older brother are also depicted as white sheep, while his grandfather Chun, former first lady Lee Soon-ja and his father Jeon Jae-yong are portrayed as black sheep.
Through the series, Jeon depicts unfiltered personal experiences, including witnessing his father’s extramarital affairs, alleged domestic violence involving his grandfather, bullying he said he faced due to his family background and his own drug use during his studies in the United States. He also explains what motivated him to publicly speak out about the Chun family.
The first season of “Mongletoon” concluded in January. Online users have flooded his social media with messages of support, with comments such as “You turned unimaginable pain into your own story,” and “Don’t try to carry the weight of the world alone.”
Source: Korea Times News
