On July 31, 2026 (local time), at the 38th Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards ceremony held at Comic-Con International in the United States, author Sanho's "Purgatory Cake Shop: Yeongok-dang" won the "Best Asian Graphic Novel—U.S. Edition" category, marking a historic first for Korean comics in winning the "Oscar of the Comics Industry."
This award is being evaluated as a new milestone for K-comics, as it marks the first time a Korean work has received recognition at the Eisner Awards, which boast the highest prestige in the American comics industry. It was a moment when the originality and global competitiveness of Korean comics were proven on the world stage.
"Purgatory Cake Shop: Yeongok-dang" by author Sanho, the protagonist of this remarkable achievement, is a fantasy graphic novel that tells the story of cakes for the deceased that guide people through a 49-day purgatorial field after death to reach the gate of rebirth. Published domestically by Munhakdongne, the work was translated and published by the prominent American comic publisher Dark Horse in 2025 and has received keen interest from local readers. The work's distinctive lyrical and profound worldview is praised for delivering universal emotional resonance to readers worldwide.
Until now, Korean comics have knocked on the door of the Eisner Awards, known as the "Oscar of the Comics Industry," multiple times but had to swallow their disappointment. Outstanding Korean works such as "The Earthen-Colored Story" by author Kim Dong-hwa, "Grass" by author Kim Geum-sook, and "Hell" by authors Yeon Sang-ho and Choi Gyu-seok were nominated but did not win. Within this history, author Sanho's award this time brings added significance by resolving the long-held wishes of the Korean comics industry.