{
  "id": 19585217,
  "title": "Beloved 1970s comic 'Chorus of Pigeons' named modern cultural treasure",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/12/beloved-1970s-comic-chorus-of-pigeons-named-modern-cultural-treasure",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-12T02:12:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/lifestyle/koreanheritage/20261112/beloved-1970s-comic-chorus-of-pigeons-named-modern-cultural-treasure"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The original scripts and drawings of the 1970s family comic \"Chorus of Pigeons,\" created by the late artist Lee Sang-moo, have been deemed preliminary cultural treasures by the Korea Manhwa Contents Agency. This designation includes 601 hand-drawn manuscript pages and scripts, which are stored at the agency. The designation, finalized by the Korea Heritage Service earlier this week, falls under a state category that protects artifacts from the past 50 years deemed essential to preserve. Serialized in the children's magazine Sonyeon Joongang from April 1978 to June 1979, the comic captured readers' hearts with its depiction of a struggling family finding hope in adversity. Despite being dismissed as lowbrow entertainment during its time, \"Chorus of Pigeons\" received notable recognition. It earned an excellence award from a national ethics committee in 1980 and was recommended by the Ministry of Culture and Public Information the following year.",
  "summary": "The original manuscripts of “Chorus of Pigeons,” a beloved 1970s family comic by the late cartoonist Lee Sang-moo, have been designated as preliminary cultural heritage, the Korea Manhwa Contents Agency said Thursday. Finalized by the Korea Heritage Service earlier this week, the designation encompasses 601 hand-drawn manuscript pages and scripts for a television adaptation, all housed at the…",
  "key_points": [
    "\"Chorus of Pigeons\" scripts and drawings designated as preliminary cultural treasures",
    "601 hand-drawn manuscript pages and scripts preserved at Korea Manhwa Contents Agency",
    "Comic serialized in Sonyeon Joongang from April 1978 to June 1979"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Elevating this once-dismissed comic to cultural treasure status validates the historical significance of mid-century manhwa and ensures the preservation of Lee Sang-moo's hand-drawn manuscripts for future generations.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}