Ex-Korea Times cartoonist dies at 77

Published on 2011/10/17 | Source

By Lee Hyo-won

Lee Seo-ji, a renowned painter and former cartoonist for The Korea Times, passed away Saturday. He was 77.

Lee had been suffering from diabetes and prostate cancer for five years. Earlier this year he made headlines for exhibiting his latest works featuring butterflies despite his illness.

He was at the Seoul Medical Center mortuary before his body was transferred to a cremation center Monday.

Born in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, in 1934, the artist studied economics at Cheongju University. He began working at The Korea Times' sister company the Hankook Ilbo as a contributing editor and painted during his free time.

He eventually became reputed as a folk art painter, and drew editorial cartoons as a staff member of The Korea Times for nearly 20 years during the 1970s and '80s.

In 2004 he established the Seonbawi Museum of Art in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province. The museum, dedicated to folk art paintings, features Lee's signature works ― bold ink paintings that depict colorful landscapes and scenes of everyday Korean traditions.

He is survived by his wife and three children. Visit www.seonbawi.com (Korean and English) for more information about Lee's museum.