• Cartoon and Animation Studies
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• s.45
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• pp.147-175
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• 2016

This thesis aims to research ways for the regional balanced development of cartoon creation & production environment being centered in metropolitan area in Korean cartoon industry which has rapidly changed since 2013. As a cartoon can not only be produced with relative lower production cost comparing to those of other cultural contents industries, but also can be produced only if the minimal requirements for cartoon production is prepared, so the cartoon is a field that the decentralization can be accomplished very easily. Currently, most cartoon-relevant companies and cartoon promotion institutions are located in Seoul an Bucheon, etc. However, cartoon artists live nationwide, and even cartoon artists producing their works abroad are reached to a significant number. In some regions like Daejeon, Busan, Suncheon and Gyeongbuk (Gyeongsangbuk-do), there have been appeared full-scale movement to construct regional cartoon creation & production centers since 2015. This thesis aimed to investigate each region's movement to construct cartoon creation & production center with oversea cases, and to check how such movement could be balanced and harmonized with each region's unique features. First of all, this thesis analyzed the status quo of government's policy nurturing the cartoon industry. Korean government's cartoon-promotion policy around the axis of the Cartoon Industry's Mid.Long-Term Development Plan has been developed around the Korea Creative Content Agency and the Korea Manwha(cartoon) Contents Agency in Bucheon, but as the webtoon industry has rapidly grown up, the necessity for building a cartoon promotion institution in each region has been raised since 2015. With the establishment of 4th Cartoon Industry Mid.Long-Term Development Plan to be executed from 2019, it seems that full-scaled support framework for cartoon regional balanced development should be occupied. For the case of foreign countries, cartoon promotion institutions and relevant events have been developed around regions from early times like San-Diego, USA(Comicon), Angouleme, France(National Image Center), Kyoto (Cartoon Museum), Sakaiminato(Misuki Sigeru Road), Japan gave a lot of implications. In the section of conclusion, this study aimed to suggest the importance of and necessity for establishing a cartoon creation & production center in each region appropriately for the region's identity and characteristics with specific plans. Based on that, this thesis aimed to suggest a vision for cartoon & webtoon industry that regional creation & production system can be settled almost only in the cultural contents industry.