Gosu (manhwa)

Gosu
Volume 1 cover, featuring Gang Yong
고수
RR: Gosu
MR: Kosu
GenreAction, adventure, historical, martial arts
AuthorRyu Ki-woon
IllustratorMoon Jung-hoo
Webtoon
service
Original runSeptember 13, 2015 – February 23, 2023
Volumes16
Prequel(s)
Anime
Studio

Gosu (Korean: 고수), also known as Gosu: The Master, is a South Korean manhwa series written by Ryu Ki-woon and illustrated by Moon Jung-hoo. It was serialized on Naver Webtoon from September 2015 to February 2023, and was collected into 16 print volumes, with the final volume published on February 22, 2024.[1] The series received an official English translation through WEBTOON, where it was published under the title GOSU.[2] Gosu is set in the same fictional universe as Yongbi the Invincible, the earlier martial arts manhwa by Ryu and Moon, and expands upon its setting and mythology.[1]

The series won the Presidential Award in the comics category at the 2016 Korea Content Awards, and was recognized for its popularity among both established martial arts webtoon readers and younger audiences.[3] By April 2023, Gosu had accumulated more than 1.4 billion views worldwide.[4]

An animated adaptation is being developed through Toei Animation, Studio Mir, and Studio N, with the project intended for the global market.[4]

Plot

Gang Yong, a disciple of Dokgo Ryong, Supreme Overlord of the chaotic murim, after receiving his master's powerful martial arts techniques, he enters the martial world to avenge his master's betrayal and fulfill his final request.

However, upon entering the world of martial artists, he discovers that the enemies he intended to defeat have already died. With his goal of revenge lost, he abandons his original plan and begins a quiet life working at a small inn while concealing his true abilities.

His peaceful existence does not last long, as conflicts within the martial world eventually draw him back into action. As he encounters various martial artists and becomes involved in battles between powerful factions, the secrets surrounding his master's past and the hidden conflicts of the martial world gradually come to light.

Set in the same universe as Yongbi the Invincible, the series explores his journey through the martial world as he searches for the truth behind past events while confronting powerful opponents and the consequences of unresolved conflicts.

Media

Webtoon

Giun Ryu and Mun Jeong Hoo launched the comic in Naver in 2015, and ended the series on February 23, 2023. The webtoon is also available in English, Chinese, and Japanese.[5]

Gosu is a sequel to the Yongbi the Invincible manhwa, which was serialized from 1998 to 2002. Yongbi Bulpae Oejeon (Yongbi the Invincible: A Side Story), A side story of Yongbi ran from 2006 to 2013.[6]

In December 2019, the Webtoon return after one year hiatus due to the writer's health problems, the series resumed on the 18th.[7]

Volume list

No. Korean release date Korean ISBN
1September 25, 2022[8]979-1-16-927883-6
2September 25, 2022[9]979-1-16-927884-3
3September 25, 2022[10]979-1-16-927885-0
4September 25, 2022[11]979-1-16-927886-7
5September 25, 2022[12]979-1-16-927887-4
6September 25, 2022[13]979-1-16-927888-1
7December 25, 2022[14]979-1-16-947364-4
8December 25, 2022[15]979-1-16-947365-1
9January 25, 2023[16]979-1-16-947756-7
10April 25, 2023[17]979-1-16-947757-4
11April 25, 2023[18]979-1-14-110320-0
12June 23, 2023[19]979-1-14-111093-2
13July 23, 2023[20]979-1-14-111318-6
14September 25, 2023[21]979-1-14-111319-3
15February 25, 2024[22]979-1-14-111629-3
16February 25, 2024[23]979-1-14-111630-9

Game

Gosu, which is considered a martial arts action masterpiece in Naver Webtoon, is being developed as a mobile game. The mobile game is being based on Unreal Engine and claims to be a turn-based strategic RPG.[24] Martial arts webtoon 'Gosu' reborn as a role-playing game Naver Webtoon announced that it is accepting advance reservations for the mobile game Gosu: Absolute Supreme' based on the webtoon 'Gosu. The game is the second self-published case by Studio LICO, a subsidiary of Naver Webtoon, following Yumi's Cells The Puzzle.[25]

On March 29, 2023, Naver Webtoon had officially released the mobile role-playing game (RPG) Gosu: Absolute Supreme.[26]

Anime

On April 17, 2023, Studio N and Toei Animation announced an agreement to co-produce an animated adaptation of Gosu for the Korean, Japanese, and international markets.[4] On September 24, 2024, Studio Mir joined the project, with Studio N, Toei Animation, and Studio Mir signing a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop a series adaptation aimed at the global market.[27]

In a 2024 presentation, Toei Animation listed GOSU among its local-production projects and stated that the series was being co-produced with Studio N and Studio Mir.[28]

Reception

Gosu received major recognition in South Korea during its serialization. In 2016, it won the Presidential Award in the comics category at the Korea Content Awards, an award jointly presented by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency.[29] The Ministry described the webtoon as a work that attracted both men in their 30s and 40s, traditionally regarded as the core audience for martial arts fiction, and younger readers in their teens and 20s.[30]

The series was also noted for its sustained popularity on Naver Webtoon. When the webtoon concluded in April 2021 after six years of serialization, Electronic Times reported that it had remained near the top of Naver Webtoon's weekly rankings throughout its run. The same report credited its popularity to its expansive world-building, detailed artwork, and tightly constructed storytelling, and noted that it appealed beyond its expected male martial-arts readership to readers in their teens and twenties.[31]

The webtoon also developed a substantial readership outside South Korea. By 2023, Naver Webtoon reported that Gosu had accumulated more than 1.3 billion views, and in 2024 Korean media reported that its cumulative global views had reached 1.4 billion.[32][33]

The series popularity was particularly visible when serialization resumed in 2019 following an extended hiatus caused by writer Ryu Ki-woon's health problems. Electronic Times reported that the return generated significant attention among readers, with online communities and social media filling with comments celebrating the continuation of the series.[31]

Its connection to the creators' earlier series Yongbi the Invincible was another major aspect of its reception. The two works share a fictional universe, and the revelation of this connection became an important source of reader interest.[34]

Readers and reviewers of the collected edition have particularly praised Moon Jung-hoo's artwork, action choreography, backgrounds, and detailed characterization. Reviews on the Korean book retailer YES24 repeatedly highlighted the combination of highly detailed artwork, dynamic fight scenes, humor, and the continuing connections to Yongbi the Invincible.[35][36] At the same time, some readers have criticized the later portions of the story as repetitive and considered the connection to the Yongbi the Invincible mythology more compelling than portions of the later plot.[37]

The webtoon's sustained popularity subsequently contributed to its expansion into other media. In 2023, Naver Webtoon and Toei Animation announced an agreement to develop a series anime adaptation for the Korean, Japanese, and international markets, with Studio Mir also joining the project.[38] By September 2024, Korean media described the property as having accumulated 1.4 billion global views while reporting that the animation project was being developed for the international market.[39]

References

  1. 1 2 "고수 15~16 박스 세트". Korea Book Information Center (in Korean). February 22, 2024. Retrieved August 20, 2026.
  2. ↑ "GOSU". WEBTOON. Retrieved August 20, 2026.
  3. ↑ "2016 대한민국 콘텐츠 대상 만화대상 대통령상 수상". Korea Manhwa Contents Agency (in Korean). December 6, 2016. Retrieved August 20, 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 "Studio N signs MOU with Toei Animation To Co-produce Animation of WEBTOON's GOSU" (Press release). Naver Corporation. April 17, 2023. Retrieved August 20, 2026.
  5. ↑ 高手：韓国発ウェブトゥーン 日韓共同でアニメ化 東映アニメーション×Studio N. Mantan Web. April 17, 2023. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  6. ↑ 東映アニメーションとStudio N、全世界累計14億回Viewの超人気ヒット作『高手』のアニメ化に向けた業務協約を締結! (Press release) (in Japanese). April 17, 2023. Retrieved August 20, 2026 – via PR Times.
  7. ↑ [한국 웹툰열전] ④다시 돌아온 천하제일 무협 웹툰 '고수'. it.chosun.com. December 22, 2019. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  8. ↑ 고수 1 [Gosu 1]. Naver Book Database (in Korean). Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  9. ↑ 고수 2 [Gosu 2]. Naver Book Database (in Korean). Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  10. ↑ 고수 3 [Gosu 3]. Naver Book Database (in Korean). Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  11. ↑ 고수 4 [Gosu 4]. Naver Book Database (in Korean). Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  12. ↑ 고수 5 [Gosu 5]. Naver Book Database (in Korean). Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  13. ↑ 고수 6 [Gosu 6]. Naver Book Database (in Korean). Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  14. ↑ 고수 7일러스트 카드 1종 [Gosu 7]. Naver Book Database (in Korean). Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  15. ↑ 고수 8일러스트 카드 1종 [Gosu 8]. Naver Book Database (in Korean). Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  16. ↑ 고수 9 [Gosu 9]. Naver Book Database (in Korean). Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  17. ↑ 고수 10 [Gosu 10]. Naver Book Database (in Korean). Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  18. ↑ 고수 11 [Gosu 11]. Naver Book Database (in Korean). Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  19. ↑ 고수 12 [Gosu 12]. Naver Book Database (in Korean). Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  20. ↑ 고수 13 [Gosu 13]. Naver Book Database (in Korean). Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  21. ↑ 고수 14 [Gosu 14]. Naver Book Database (in Korean). Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  22. ↑ 고수 15 [Gosu 15]. Naver Book Database (in Korean). Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  23. ↑ 고수 16(완결) [Gosu 16 (Completed)]. Naver Book Database (in Korean). Retrieved January 19, 2026.
  24. ↑ 네이버웹툰 '고수', 모바일게임으로 나온다. m.moneys.co.kr. July 13, 2019. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  25. ↑ 무협 웹툰 '고수', 롤플레잉게임으로 재탄생. Yonhap News Agency. January 13, 2023. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  26. ↑ 네이버웹툰, 자체 퍼블리싱 게임 '고수: 절대지존' 출시. Newsis. March 29, 2023. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  27. ↑ "스튜디오N, 토에이 애니메이션·스튜디오 미르와 '고수' 애니메이션 제작 MOU 체결". Naver Corporation (Press release) (in Korean). September 24, 2024. Retrieved August 20, 2026.
  28. ↑ "Financial Results" (PDF). Toei Animation. Retrieved August 20, 2026.
  29. ↑ "문정후/류기운 작가의 〈고수〉 '2016 대한민국 콘텐츠대상' 만화대상 대통령상 수상". Korea Manhwa Contents Agency (in Korean). December 6, 2016. Retrieved August 20, 2026.
  30. ↑ "당신은 4차 산업혁명의 주역, '2016 대한민국 콘텐츠대상' 개최". Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (in Korean). December 7, 2016. Retrieved August 20, 2026.
  31. 1 2 "네이버웹툰, 정통 무협 웹툰 '고수' 28일 완결". Electronic Times (in Korean). April 28, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2026.
  32. ↑ "네이버웹툰 모바일 게임 '고수: 절대지존' 정식출시". Naver Corporation (in Korean). March 29, 2023. Retrieved August 20, 2026.
  33. ↑ Song, Kyung-yoon (September 24, 2024). "누적 조회수 14억회 웹툰 '고수', 시리즈 애니로 만든다". Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Retrieved August 20, 2026.
  34. ↑ "고수 12~16 박스세트". YES24 (in Korean). February 22, 2024. Retrieved August 20, 2026.
  35. ↑ "[회원리뷰] 고수 1". YES24 (in Korean). Retrieved August 20, 2026.
  36. ↑ "[회원리뷰] 고수 16". YES24 (in Korean). Retrieved August 20, 2026.
  37. ↑ "[회원리뷰] 고수 15". YES24 (in Korean). Retrieved August 20, 2026.
  38. ↑ Song, Kyung-yoon (April 17, 2023). "네이버웹툰 스튜디오N, 日최대 애니사 토에이와 '고수' 공동제작". Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Retrieved August 20, 2026.
  39. ↑ Song, Kyung-yoon (September 24, 2024). "누적 조회수 14억회 웹툰 '고수', 시리즈 애니로 만든다". Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Retrieved August 20, 2026.
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.