• Reading age: 11 to 13

A collection of short cartoons from Stefano Jun chronicling his experiences growing up a Korean immigrant in Western Canada. Having moved to Canada as an 8 year old with no knowledge of English, Stefano encounters culture shock, family love, friendship, and ultimately finding a place for himself in the vast country he has called home for 20 years now.

These slice of life stories are a keenly observed insight into the experience of growing up in an unfamiliar place. Full of emotion, humour and surprise, Modern Asian Family: Straight Outta Busan is a delight to read.

Stefano is a civil engineer and cartoonist based in Calgary, Alberta. He has been drawing comics for local newspapers and online platforms related to his life as a Korean immigrant, having moved to Canada at the age of 8.

One fateful day, Stefano grew tired of his friends constantly asking him to draw them, so he began by recording their embarrassing moments as funny comics. Soon enough, these comics became popular - much to the annoyance of his now former friends - and Stefano realized he had a talent for creating relatable stories, including about his own experiences. Stefano's Korean heritage and Canadian life provides a unique insight into the search for self-identity and acceptance.

Stefano will someday realize that the real money is in his engineering career instead of artistic passion, but that day is not today. Needless to say, his Asian parents are yet to be proud of his life decisions.

Stefano Jun's profile page