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Focus only on your own growth.
GapYear is a time for growth and happiness.
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56th Gap Year Tribe — GapperYang Areum
Gap year period: 2013–2015
A gap year from quitting social work to becoming a webtoon artist
Currently, South Korea,
Each year, 60,000 middle- and high-school students drop out, 346,000 people in their 20s are idle because they have no dreams, and within one year of employment the turnover rate has reached the 40% range,75% of university students are not satisfied with college life, and more than 80% of workers report not feeling happy.Many people tell them to dream, but to address this problem that lacks practical methods and support,we aim to introduce the 'gap year' to South Korea.
'Gap year (Gapyear)'It is a time to either combine or temporarily pause studies and work and, through various activities such as volunteering, travel, internships, education, and startups,set the direction for the future; it is a culture encouraged in the U.S., Europe, Japan, and elsewhere.
*Check out the Gap Year website for a variety of experiences!(Click)
A social worker who quit because I wanted to share the story inside me and express myself
I worked as a social worker. When I entered university, studying social welfare was incredibly enjoyable. There is an oath for social workers, and reading it always made my heart race. I really liked meeting people. So, without taking a leave of absence, I got a job just before graduating from undergrad and started working in social welfare at 23.
One day, while counseling a client, I was listening to the ups and downs of their life. After the session, I found myself crying uncontrollably. Looking back, I think that meeting the raw life hardships of people who were about my parents' age without much personal experience, and trying to resolve the problems within, left me mentally exhausted. Although we learn professional practice skills in undergrad, I think I was someone who empathized very deeply.During my undergraduate years I volunteered whenever I could and thought that trained me, but for a while I blamed myself, thinking that I hadn't insightfully examined the inner side of social work at the time.
And the decisive reason I made up my mind was,When you work a regular job, you inevitably express your individuality less. That was really painful. I wanted to release and express something, to tell the story inside me… I thought, “I can't grow old like this!” I also figured that once I had a family to be responsible for, such challenges would be difficult.
▲ A painting I drew and sold during my gap year
So I decided to seriously try doing something I could express. I remembered that when I occasionally doodled pictures and posted them on social media, people liked them, and I vaguely wondered what it would be like to become someone who draws or creates stories. I thought about it for a very long time.
It shouldn't be something I'm running away from just because it's hard. Could someone like me, without talent, make a living creating stories? I thought that too. After several months of deliberation, I decided to resign. I thought I should prepare something before quitting, but at that time I didn't have the mental space for it. Social work involved a lot of overtime, so I didn't really have time to prepare either (haha).
# I was very worried, so first I decided to see, learn, and experience as much as possible!
I had the savings I diligently accumulated while working (originally saved as wedding money, but it ultimately became seed money for finding my dream!) and my severance pay, and during my gap year I supported myself by doing part-time and odd jobs.My parents taught us that life after graduating college was entirely our responsibility, and I thought that was only right, so I kept looking for ways to cover living expenses. As I mentioned before, I didn't go through a specific preparation process for life after leaving my job. My mindset was: let's see, learn, and experience lots of different things!
So, wanting to put something into my head, I searched for various classes and ended up taking storytelling courses. I also started looking for art academies. I felt I had almost no basics, and my plan of combining pictures and stories felt too vague. I visited places like academies that teach fine art, schools that train children's book authors, and hobby studios to consult, and since my fundamentals were lacking I thought I should attend a studio for a while. These days there are many good short courses, so I also went to events like 'Meet the Designer.'
▲ Workspace
I'm especially a very worrier, so I probably looked quite precarious to those around me (haha). The biggest issues are financial hardship and anxiety about the future. When the steady paycheck stops, it's truly nerve-wracking. There comes a time when you have to give up the things you were used to eating, buying, or enjoying. In fact, that's still the case now. So when I had work, I threw myself into it (haha) and developed the habit of working hard and saving.
When I was working, if I saw a nice piece of clothing I would buy it without much thought or eat what I wanted, but with limited income you can't do that. I thought things over many times and only spent money on necessities. On the other hand, I didn't hesitate to spend on exhibitions or lectures. I saw those as investments in the future and clearly worthwhile. Sometimes I felt pathetic and wondered why I was doing this, and it was hard, but everything I've endured so far is because of that. Dreams are important, but you need enough income to live.
I think almost everyone lives with anxiety about the future. Sometimes sharing those fears with friends or family and leaning on each other helps.
# I didn't even know how to use Photoshop, but I dreamed of becoming a webtoonist!
So I quit my job, spent about a month in my hometown, then packed up and moved to Seoul. Thankfully, a close friend supported my process of finding a dream, so I lived at their place paying only a share of living expenses. For about a year I enthusiastically did part-time jobs, went to many performances and exhibitions, and took storytelling classes and studio sessions to gain various experiences. I also worked at the campaign office of a politician I supported.They were all good experiences. Learning activities were valuable, but meeting people who lived diverse lives was especially precious.
I worked an opening shift at a bakery, where many young people with very diverse stories were working. I also heard a lot from friends in similar situations. Working at the campaign of a politician I supported during election season was an especially unique experience. Looking back, I realized that my experience working as a social worker is something that can't be exchanged for anything. It's not easy to look into someone's life, after all.
▲ Webtoon to improve public perception of homelessness featured in Big Issue magazine
After about a year passed, I thought I should seriously prepare a webtoon. So I bravely went to Yongsan alone and bought a tablet. I didn't know Photoshop at all—like starting from a blank page—but from then on I taught myself by searching the internet. I posted clumsy comics, and at first I told people around me and made small framed pictures for them, and somehow work started to come my way.
Actually, it wasn't all good. At one point, after seeing works by people who were really skilled, I felt pathetic and so afraid of the future that I secluded myself at my parents' house. I cried every night and was so depressed I couldn't do anything. There were many nights I couldn't sleep until dawn, but one day I heard a motorcycle outside. That sound came at the same early-hour time every day. Perhaps it was someone commuting to work. At that moment I suddenly thought: there are so many people working hard to make a living—what am I doing?
I woke up and went outside into the garden my father tended; the bellflower blossoms were beautifully open and covered in dew. Seeing that, I went back home and slept. I woke up determined to do something, sat down, and started drawing, and strangely work started to come my way. I began producing company newsletters and in-house webtoons and also submitted works to small exhibitions.So I decided to aggressively look for work and returned to Seoul. The first project I did there was creating a webtoon to improve perceptions of homeless people, and my experience studying and working was very helpful. I collaborated with experts from various fields and produced satisfying results. It was even published in Big Issue magazine.
During my gap year, living around and meeting people, I realized I am someone who likes to express and tell stories. I also discovered the main stories I wanted to tell. In a world full of frightening news and sensational stories, I wanted to try telling calm, mild, unsensational stories. Since there are many people who create outstanding artwork and tightly woven narratives, I thought it might be okay for someone like me to tell somewhat clumsy, gentle stories.So I thought it would be nice if people who read them felt comfortable and happy.
When my thoughts reached that point, it suddenly occurred to me that the reason I initially intended to major in social welfare was the same.'Ah, I want to do something to make people happy.' At that time I thought realizing that value was social welfare, and as I grew older I realized I was someone who liked to express things. Going through a gap year, I think I've come to where I am now.
# Times that were both happy and hard, understanding diverse lives within them
▲ Webtoon Exhibition
When I think back to the happiest moment during my gap year, it was shortly after I quit my job when I went to the studio and was really focused on drawing. I had opened the bakery in the morning and was exhausted, but the studio class was in the evening. They usually play calm music, but suddenly the OST from a movie I love started playing. It was summer and I was wearing short sleeves, and at that moment I suddenly got goosebumps.I was doing the drawing work I love, and even my favorite music came on. I thought, wow, I am truly a happy person.
And there are happy moments every week. It’s still amateur-level, but the moment I uploaded my comic “Lumi Inside” to Naver’s Best Challenge was truly joyful.Although I was exhausted from sitting and working for several days straight, after uploading the comic I was so happy I couldn’t sleep. I kept refreshing to read the comments and grinned like an idiot, falling asleep only late at night.
There were many hard times. Financial issues are unavoidable. One day I took a younger acquaintance to a small local spaghetti place and we ate well, but when I tried to pay with my card the payment was canceled because there was no balance. The owner, who had been smiling kindly, suddenly froze and said there was no money. I thought then: dreaming alone won’t feed you. I need to earn money too (haha). At home I’m the eldest daughter, and the hardest part is feeling like I can’t properly fulfill my role. Friends my age give nice gifts to their parents and travel with them, but I can’t do that yet. My parents worry a lot, but they still consistently read my comics and give me feedback.
Professionally, there are so many amazing creators these days that I got discouraged every time I looked. I wondered if my talent was too mediocre. After digging myself into a hole for several days, I finally found comfort in knowing there are people who like my comics, and that there should be people who tell stories like mine. I told myself that if I work hard and get better than yesterday, more people will find my stories.Some days I’m full of hope, and other days I dig myself into a hole.
For me, the biggest change from my gap year was meeting and coming to understand many different ways of life.People meet others everywhere, of course, but I experienced office work, did part-time jobs, worked on an election campaign, and shared a studio where I interacted with artists...
Most of my childhood friends started working right after graduating, got married, and have happily built families. Friends I met during or after my gap year work in various fields—some are freelancers or have opened businesses. I love knowing all those people. Being able to see and understand different ways of living is a blessing. The funny thing is those friends envy each other’s lives (haha).
# Get close to the 'me' who has been and will be my longest friend, and listen to that voice
▲ The day I signed my first contract as a webtoon artist
Through these times, I am now working as a webtoon artist and a career instructor. I serialize a light "organic healing toon" called "Lumi Inside" on Naver Best Challenge Comics, and I also create in-house, campaign, promotional, and introductory webtoons for companies, organizations, and social welfare institutions. Thanks to my experience working in an office, I have an advantage when communicating with corporate representatives.Working as a freelancer, I have to handle many things on my own like accounting and contracts, and my administrative experience from my time as a social worker also helps with this.
Because I have a lot to say about careers, I also give talks about professions to middle and high school students. I talk about life as a social worker and life as a webtoon artist. I am also trying to find and develop the intersection between social welfare and webtoons, the two things I love.
▲ A business card I designed myself
When I was learning Photoshop by diving in headfirst, I thought about that. In middle and high school, people use Photoshop to retouch photos and create pretty images, right? I wondered why I hadn't been interested in those things and felt oddly annoyed at my younger self. I don't think I had any clear hobbies back then, and I thought it would have been helpful if I had learned those things by watching others over their shoulders.Anyway, I believe there are no meaningless experiences. Even things you might now think "what is this?"—if you actively experience them, I think a day will come when they help you. And if there's something you want to do, shout it from the rooftops! Unexpected connections often provide help.
Also, I want to say that a dream doesn't have to be something grand or that departs from an ordinary life. A dream doesn't necessarily have to be about a career.Diligently going to work and building a family is also a wonderful dream. I hope people who work faithfully and steadily prepare their future won't be dismissed as lethargic or dreamless. The opposite situation is the same.
Even if reality is harsh, I hope we don't view people who bravely challenge themselves for their values as unrealistic or irresponsible.In the end, the choice is up to the person, and people's temperaments are so different. Their surrounding environments are different too. Dreams change over a long life, so it would be nice to respect each other's dreams. I think everyone chooses the best option available to them at that moment. It would be good to get to know the 'me' who has been and will be my longest friend and listen to that voice to make a good choice.
'The Gapper of 100 Gap-Year People' is not a mentor you see on TV or in books.They are stories of people who took a step slightly earlier and showed slightly more courage than I did.We hope the stories of 100 people who were in similar situations and faced similar concerns will offer a small measure of help when important decisions come your way.
We always welcome recommendations and submissions for the 100 Gap-Year people.
Please leave a comment or a note, or email our marketing manager Da-young Choi (choi@koreagapyear.com)!