Taejun Pak's New Graphic Novel: Inked Released
Taejun Pak's new graphic novel Inked began publication on August 16, 2026. According to Anime News Network, Pak, who previously created hit works such as Lookism and Viral Hit, has taken on telling a new story in the manhwa world with this project. While no detailed official statement has been made about Inked's plot, the release of the first chapter quickly drew attention.
Taejun Pak, one of the most recognized names in the Korean webtoon industry, gained worldwide fame especially with Lookism, which began on Naver Webtoon in 2014. Lookism, which handles themes such as appearance, bullying, identity, and social expectations in a character-driven language, reached a large readership and was also brought to the global stage with a Netflix anime adaptation in 2022. This success made Pak a creator closely followed not only by readers but also by media platforms.
Another well-known series by Pak, Viral Hit (How to Fight), stands out as an action-packed high school story created with Kim Junghyun. The series, which tells the story of Hobin Yoo, who fights against bullying and tries to become stronger by posting videos online, received great interest during its release and reached a wider audience with an anime adaptation in 2025. The background of these two works makes the question of where Inked will fit in Pak's career even more interesting.
Taejun Pak's return with a new series is seen as part of the rise of Korean-centered manhwa and webtoons in global media. In recent years, many Korean digital comics have stood out with anime and drama adaptations, and Pak's name is considered one of the important representatives of this transformation. Inked making a notable debut directly in the English-speaking market is also an important sign of the internationalization process of the webtoon industry.
For now, Inked can only be evaluated by its first chapter, and it remains a matter of curiosity how Pak's narrative style, built on social criticism and character depth, will take shape. Fans of Lookism and Viral Hit will follow how far the creator can expand into different genres and themes in this new world. Official announcements about the series are expected to become clearer in the coming weeks.
