Kim Jung Gi, a comic book artist from South Korea, and Guinness world record holder died of a ‘sudden’ heart attack at age 47.
He was best known for recreating complex scenes from memory and holds the Guinness World Record for “longest drawing by an individual”.
The book artist was in Paris to hold an exhibition of his works and was meant to fly to New York later, but he started complaining of Chest pains. He died after he was taken to a nearby hospital for surgery.
A statement, from Monday, shared on his verified social media accounts on Wednesday read:
“It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that we inform you of the sudden passing of Kim Jung Gi. After finishing his last Schedule in Europe, Jung Gi went to the airport to fly to New York where he experienced chest pains and was taken to the nearby hospital for surgery, but sadly passed away.” October 3, 2022.
Hyun Jin Kim collaborated on the same statement. He said:
“After having done so much for us, you can now put down your brushes. Thank you Jung Gi.”
Born in 1975 in South Korea, Kim Jung Gi adopted a childhood interest in the arts and was enrolled at a fine arts school when he was only one.
The artist started his career drawing in South Korean comics publication Young Jump before creating his own manhwa, which is a style of South Korean comic.
The Daniel Maghen Gallery, which is currently showing an exhibition of Kim’s work in Paris, wrote in a post on Instagram:
“His sudden disappearance contrasts with the immense happiness he brought us. We are speechless.”
“All our thoughts are turned to his family, his wife and his two children, his friends, his collaborators Kim Hyun Jin, Boin Lee, Jean-Christophe Caurette … and his fans, for whom his disappearance will leave a great void.”
