What...What the cheeky! What...What the cheeky!
My name is Jin.
People call me a cheeky.
I, I'm a cheeky.
So my second name is 'Cheeky'.
In Lion City ruled by Lion.
It used to be a correct and beautiful small city.
But after Lion Corporation came in, reckless development and environmental destruction turned the city into ruins.
To restore the old beauty of the city, our hero 'Jin' steps up-!"
The protagonist is pointed at by people around, being called a cheeky.
What...What the cheeky! What...What the cheeky!
There's a reason why the protagonist faces criticism.
"It's because they constantly ask questions, speak honestly, aren't afraid of others' gazes, ponder over what they truly desire, and dream of change."
Many people fear being different from others.
That fear often leads to attacks against those who are different.
What...What the cheeky! What...What the cheeky!
At the root of that defensive attack on that day, there's probably their own fear, or the reluctance to reveal their flaws. No matter what anyone says, our hero 'Jin' constantly speaks, acts, and stands up for what they believe is right, bravely facing their fears and not being afraid of judgment.
Through the exhilarating adventure of 'Cheeky' and her remarkable journey, this story delves into the courage that changes you, me, and everyone else – the courage to continually speak and act for what we believe in, regardless of what others say.
Mijin Kim
I spent two years constantly examining myself to draw a Jin who is completely different yet somewhat similar to me. During that time of work, there were big and small decisions to make, and often I would think, "What would Jin do?"
Asking myself such questions has helped me make bold and sometimes reckless choices. It seems like Jin's influence was instrumental in that regard.
I hope that readers of "Cheeky" can also feel Jin's positive energy coming through.
Mijin Jung
While creating the story, I often felt envious of 'Jin'. I envied how she acted boldly without doubting her beliefs, constantly asking questions, speaking honestly, and not being afraid of others' opinions. So, even if it was just during the time spent with 'Jin', I tried my best to continuously question, speak honestly, not fear the judgment of others, ponder over what I truly desire, and dream of change. I hope that readers of this book can also become heroes of their own lives, just like 'Jin', and strive to change themselves.
Author. Mijin Jung
I have written screenplays for movies and animations. Currently, I am writing text for picture books. I always have a desire to live like 'Cheeky', but in reality, I find myself often preoccupied with the opinions of those around me. Perhaps the 'Jin' within 'Cheeky' is the ideal version of myself that I dream of – always striving to be unabashedly me.
Illustrator. Mijin Kim
I depict thoughts, imagination, and dreams as people with long noses and long ears, embodying lies and secrets. I enjoy infusing wit into black and static things when drawing.