By Song Woong-ki

The dawn of Korean comics began in 1909 with a newspaper cartoon strip by artist Lee Do-young for now defunct daily "Dae Han Min Bo."

The illustration showed a Korean man clad in a western suit and top hat with Chinese characters and hangeul flowing out of his mouth in arches.

Lee's subsequent comic strips were similar political satires, lambasting pro-Japanese Korean public officials and promoting the independence movement during the Japanese colonial era.

Yesterday marked 100 years since the birth of Korean comics, and as a celebration of the 100 years since its foundation the National Museum of Contemporary Art begins an exhibition today that will run through Aug. 23.

Supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the exhibition will chronicle the comics' history and evolution.

The show will have some of Korea's most recognized and beloved comic books and characters, which will doubtlessly provoke feelings of nostalgia.

Comic books that reflect their eras like "Kkeobeongi," "Baby Dinosaur Dooly" and Lee Hyun-sae's "The Fearsome Baseball Team" will be on display for those to look back to the old days with reverence.

From works by comic book artists who have experienced Korea's tumultuous history to the works of contemporary artists who are more commerce-savvy, the exhibition will showcase the dramatic changes in theme and subject.

The opening of the exhibition yesterday was attended by artists and comic book authors both old and new.

An honorary award was presented to relatives of the late Lee as the first Korean comic artist.