[Sungchan Eol's Comic Book] Did I, Who Became a Pigeon Overnight, End Up Living with My Classmate?! 「Seongbuk-gu Pigeon Lee Heon-seo」

※ All copyrights for the images quoted below belong to Naver Webtoon.

The biggest holiday of the year, Seollal (Lunar New Year), is just around the corner. Although spending the holiday with family is more of a choice than a necessity in today's world, it is still common to visit home and spend time with family during a holiday like Seollal. For some, this may bring a sense of holiday warmth, but for others, it may not be entirely enjoyable. Some might think it would be better to escape far away rather than be swayed by nagging and awkward family meals. For those who feel this way, I introduce the webtoon 「Seongbuk-gu Pigeon Lee Heon-seo」.

Written by author Heo Sae-bo, 「Seongbuk-gu Pigeon Lee Heon-seo」 is centered around a typical body swap comedy. The story begins when a common college student, Lee Heon-seo (not 'Hyun' but 'Heon'), decides to live life to the fullest but gets hit by a car, and by chance, his soul enters the body of a pigeon. Yes, usually body swap comedies involve people swapping bodies with other people, creating humorous situations and gradually realizing each other's struggles. That’s the classic of this genre. However, 「Seongbuk-gu Pigeon Lee Heon-seo」 takes a more original approach by having a human soul enter a pigeon’s body, filling the work with unique developments and comedic elements.

In fact, the theme of a human entering an animal's body is not that rare. There’s an animated film titled 〈Hoppers〉 set to release in March, and a movie called 〈A Dog's Purpose〉 that brings tears to dog owners. However, these works typically focus on pets that are familiar to humans, while 「Seongbuk-gu Pigeon Lee Heon-seo」 features a pigeon, which is both familiar and often avoided. Given that it’s a pigeon, it’s not easily protected by humans, and the 'distinctly different physical conditions' that come from being a bird differentiate it from existing body swap comedies. Heon-seo, now a pigeon, ends up living with his classmate Ban Hwi-hyeol, leading to a series of comedies that are only possible because he is a pigeon.

Another characteristic of this webtoon is its clear spatial background. By featuring a specific area in Seoul, South Korea, called 'Seongbuk-gu,' it adds a sense of realism. It doesn’t just present a place name; the observational skills of author Heo Sae-bo shine through as he captures the characteristics of South Korean society and various social classes, with details like groups of elderly people in local parks or along riverside walking paths and outdoor exercise equipment, making it easier for readers to immerse themselves in the surreal story.

Not only in detail but also in the way the story unfolds, Heo Sae-bo's meticulous descriptions are entertaining in themselves. From addressing the ecosystem at the intersection of the wild and human society to Heon-seo's struggles to adapt to human society in a pigeon’s body, many readers comment, 'Isn’t this based on the author's real experiences?' due to the intricate and unique humor. Additionally, the process of solving animal communication issues through various technologies (like TTS and A.I.) that have settled into modern society leads to more diverse developments, providing a convincing and comedic touch. The quirky lines that pop out in the characters' monologues evoke laughter without any resistance. Moreover, the sudden 'art style changes' are also one of the unique charms of this work.

Nevertheless, the greatest joy of 「Seongbuk-gu Pigeon Lee Heon-seo」 lies in its genre-bending fun. While it triggers body swap comedy with the theme of a human becoming a bird, it also touches on the bitter inner thoughts of humans at certain moments. In recent developments, it seriously questions whether a being with a bird's body and a human's intellect can still be considered human. The existential decision to survive, combined with philosophical questions and scientific imagination, inspires courage in readers, regardless of whether Heon-seo can return to being human. Amidst this, the portrayal of two college students who have been 'just acquaintances' living together adds a subtle romance between a human in a pigeon’s body and just a human, creating a peculiar thrill, making it a comic that is a jack of all trades in genres.

With a detailed depiction that counters the long-held human desire to 'become a bird and fly away,' 「Seongbuk-gu Pigeon Lee Heon-seo」 is currently serializing its season 2. Although it’s called season 2, it’s not that long, with only 72 episodes so far. As mentioned earlier, if you want to escape the weight of the holiday by becoming something else, I highly recommend reading it. You might lighten the weight of life with laughter or gain the courage to walk through a reality where you don’t know what to do.