Issue 33: 2020. 12. 24. – “Happy Holidays!”

Dear all,

Greetings from PACOM, and happy holidays to all! We have just over one week left in this year. When we think of what all of us went through this year not just in terms of work but also in our everyday life due to COVID, it seems equally as crazy that this year is now nearly over. New concepts like "social distancing" became household terminology, while "Zooming" took on a more global definition.

With Hanukkah already past and Christmas just around the corner, the end of the year holidays are in full swing......or they would be in normal circumstances. Even in the streets of Korea, there is less music, jolliness and caroling as government restrictions on social gatherings have grown tighter over the course of December. Many companies located in Seoul and the surrounding area are utilizing the work-from-home system (side note: I have always thought that the term for this was "telecommuting", but maybe I've just read too much Dilbert).

PACOM has not been designated as such a company and thus, we have regular hours, regular commuting and regular work. As it is something that we took for granted before COVID-19, perhaps the fact that PACOM managed to stay COVID-free and operational throughout this mad year is something to be truly thankful for.

Operations, Part 2



Our new Heidelberg press is up and running! It took a couple of weeks to install and prep, but the new press will be a huge boost to PACOM's production capacity moving forward. We are looking forward to utilizing it to produce many products for years to come!

Spotlight: The Art of the Mass Effect Universe and the Art of the Last of Us

Through the updates that I have sent out over the past year, you will have an idea that I like sports, movies and comedy. Perhaps just as much as those other categories, I am an avid gamer. I have played video games for nearly my whole life (perhaps to an unhealthy degree, if you were to ask my mother--I beg to differ), and one thing that has always fascinated me about video games is its potential and limitations as a storytelling medium. Games, by their definition, require active participation in the medium; this is the key differentiator between video games and more traditional media such as TV, film and literature in my opinion, and one that presents both potential and limitations as a storytelling medium. While I won't go into a long diatribe about the specific nuances of that debate here, the gist of it is that I have personally favored games that pay attention to storytelling and developing its own world, where one can lose oneself in it. Those of you who are actually interested in this topic, let me know via reply and I'd be happy to share my opinions on the medium.

Back to the matter at hand, one of PACOM's newest clients is Dark Horse Comics. While perhaps most famously known for their iconic character Hellboy, Dark Horse has a long history of creating and developing stories in conjunction with original IP, essentially creating what is now popularly known as "the extended universe". In addition, Dark Horse provides collections that dive deeper into a popular series, essentially showing the process of creation behind the scenes regarding how a character comes into being from pure imagination.

In this particular case, I would like to highlight two products that are involved with video game franchises famed for their storytelling.



I'm a fan of the Mass Effect games and how even in the face of galactic apocalypse, what gets you through the trials and tribulations are the people......er, beings you meet and befriend. While I have never played the Last of Us, I do know its story and it is a testament to how human imagination, ingenuity and compassion can drive you to survive a zombie apocalypse. The books do great in delving into the characters and settings, and they came out remarkably from our presses. We look forward to continued work with Dark Horse moving forward!



Masks

Lastly, the masks I've talked about in the previous updates are now KF94-approved by the Korean FDA! Those of you who have reached out, we're grateful for your business and will respond shortly regarding prices. Those who need masks but haven't contacted me, just let me know and we'll gladly send over samples!

Happy holidays everyone, even if things may not be quite as they were in previous years. Stay safe!

Best regards,
Yu Bum Kim