□ A Yard Dog's Great Escape Plan for Freedom and Romance! Hong Min-jeong, the beloved author of Detective Cat Kkamnyang, returns with a wonderful new series, Romantic Dog Bongbong. Drawing on her deep love and concern for abandoned dogs, the author spent years developing this story, and after much effort, the character Bongbong was born. Bongbong is a dog born with a striking lightning-bolt marking on his face. Though he has strong legs built for running as fast as lightning, he can't take a single step beyond the cramped junkyard he lives in — tied to a leash barely a meter long. All day, every day, Bongbong's only activity is watching the world go by from just outside the gate. His dream is simple: to break free from the junkyard and run until he's breathless! While Bongbong vaguely dreams of freedom and adventure, unexpected help arrives, and he launches an ambitious plan to escape the yard. The road beyond the fence is full of danger, but Bongbong faces every challenge bravely, boldly, and in true Bongbong fashion. His honest, pure longing for freedom deeply moves readers, who can't help but cheer him on as he tries to break his leash and burst out of his one-meter world. □ Quirky × Playful × Cheerful! Charming Animal Friends Roaming the City! Book 1 of Romantic Dog Bongbong introduces a colorful cast of animal characters. From yard dog Bongbong to stray cats Bolt and Nut, and sewer rat Tophni, these are all creatures familiar to us from everyday city life. Ironically, each of the four defies expectations with their own unpredictable charm. Bolt, a fiery cat who acts before he thinks, and Nut, a cool and collected cat with mismatched eyes, both make bold first impressions — shamelessly stealing Bongbong's food as if it were their own, and even scolding him when the bowl turns up empty. Bongbong, innocent and naive but always spirited and brave, takes it all in stride. Tophni the sewer rat, living in the market, is no less remarkable — rather than fearing cats, he has the guts to call out their rude behavior. Living in the city without relying on humans, each of these animals gets by in their own way. Life on the streets without human help is dangerous, yet none of them ever lose their cheerful spirit. Through these delightfully quirky and headstrong yet lovable characters, the author reminds us that other lives besides our own share this world 'together' with us. By closely observing the lives of a yard dog, stray cats, and a sewer rat, the story invites readers to reflect on how we might coexist with other creatures in the city. □ From 'Alone' to 'Together': Our Story Even before meeting Bolt and Nut, Bongbong tried countless times to break free of his leash — pulling with all his might, gnawing at it with his teeth — but nothing worked. The thick leash was simply too strong to break alone. Everything changes, though, once stray cats Bolt and Nut appear, and sewer rat Tophni joins in as well. Though Bongbong, Bolt, and Nut were wary of each other at first, they soon come to understand each other's struggles and lend a hand. Even Tophni, who seemed like the last creature who'd ever help a couple of cats, adds his strength to help Bongbong escape. As their friendship and solidarity grow stronger, the leash grows thinner and weaker. Romantic Dog Bongbong tells the story of Bongbong, Bolt, Nut, and Tophni — each living separately in the city — coming together to overcome a shared crisis. There's a thrilling sense of triumph in the scene where they finally break the leash Bongbong could never have broken alone, and together defeat the dog catcher. Once alone amid the cold heap of junk, Bongbong now finds loyal friends standing by his side. From 'alone' to 'together,' Bongbong and his friends step out into the wide world — and that's exactly why we can't wait to see where their journey leads next.