Renowned Cartoonist And Creator of ‘Dokgo Tak’ Lee Sang Moo Dies of Heart Attack at 70 Years Old

Lee Sang Moo, a South Korean cartoonist, died of heart attack on Sunday, Jan. 3, at the age of 70. Lee was known for his 1971 popular creation, "Dokgo Tak."

The Korea Times reported Monday that Lee was working in his studio when he succumbed to a heart attack.

The North Gyeongsang native began his career in 1963 under his birth name Park No Cheol. He started working on comic strips in a regional newspaper in Daegu. Three years later, he moved to Seoul and began publishing a serial in a comic under his current pen name Lee Sang Moo. In 1966, he published romantic comic strip "No Mi Ho, Joo Ri Hae."

Lee made a career breakthrough when he released "Dokgo Tak" in 1971. 

According to The Global Post, "Dokgo Tak" told the story of an aspiring baseball pitcher of the same name who would disguise himself to fool his disapproving father so he could play on the field and live his dream of playing baseball.  

The story's main protagonist bears a two-syllable surname and rebelliousness appealed greatly to readers, who at the time had grown weary of the same pretty-faced cheerful characters that dominated comics back then.

The release of "Dokgo Tak" was also made in great timing as it coincided with the launching of the country's renowned professional baseball league in 1982. 

Lee, who worked as a series cartoonist, made Dokgo Tak the main star in many of his works. While Dokgo Tak was first introduced in "Frekles" in 1971, he continued to appear in other series such as "Friendship Mound," "A Boy Who Never Cried," "Nine Red Hats," "Choir of Pigeons" and "Run, Booby."

He was also an avid fan of sports. This later inspired him to publish a series of golf cartoons which instantly became a must-watch for many sports fans in the 1990s.