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`Mr. Gobau, the popular Korean comic book character, has turned fifty. The short, stumpy man with glasses perched at the tip of his nose, and only a single strand of hair on his head has made his mark in the Korean psyche. The comic strip `Mr, Gobau`, drawn by Kim Seong-hwan, has portrayed the joys and agony of the Korean people for half a century. It first appeared in a weekly magazine, `Manhwa Sinbo`, in November 1950. It was later published in Dong-a Ilbo from 1955, in Chosun Ilbo from 1980 to 1992, and then in Munhwa Ilbo from October 1992 to september 2000. Born in Geaseong in 1932, Kim Seong-hwan debuted as a comic artist by drawing `Blockhead` for Yonhap News in 1949 while he was attending Gyeongbok High School. The artist is a pioneer in Korea who blazed the trail for comic strips on current affairs by drawing one section for his commentary on contemporary issues and four sections of a comic strip. Although his caustic political criticism and satire got him into trouble with the satire got him into trouble with the government authorities more than once. Mr. Gogau still remains one of the most beloved comic characters of Korea. With more than 14,000 episodes serialized in newspapers, `Mr. Gobau` has reached a new milestone in the history of Korean cartoons and comic strips. The Ministry of Information and Communication is issuing this commemorative stamp to celebrate the 50th anniversaty of the creation of `Mr. Gobau`. The stamp features Mr. Gobau in transition from his first appearance in 1950 to the present. `