Maru is a Puppy

Oh Minji: “I’m a human now! Sweet… Look at my hands. They’re so sick.” As the title suggests, Maru is a Puppy is a chaotic, whimsical story about Woori’s dog Maru’s turning into a five-year-old human child, adapting to human life, and growing up as a child. If artistic license makes every pet owner’s dream come true by turning a pet dog into a human, the life after the miracle is as realistic and ordinary as ever. Maru’s life is filled with experiences we’ve all had as kids, like going on excursions, attending kindergarten, being sent out on our first errand, hanging out with friends at a playground, waiting for the tooth fairy, and redeeming ourselves with a last-minute good deed before Christmas to receive gifts from Santa Claus.

Although her daily life is similar to that of other kids, Maru is somewhat “different” in that she speaks strangely, barks when angry, pouts when sulky, and reacts to sounds and scents that other people can’t hear or smell. Another artistic license in Maru is a Puppy is that these differences are embraced without judgment. Whether she’s talking to a hamster, digging the ground faster than anybody else, or running so swiftly that even her big sister Woori can’t catch up, it’s perfectly understandable because it’s Maru. Sunjeong, the next-door neighbor and kindergarten teacher who scares children with her looks, says that Maru is different, but not because of her behavior or appearance. Instead, she says, “She’s not afraid of me. She’s a brave little girl,” which feels like a message to the real world that Maru is a Puppy wants to send. In the webtoon, the world doesn’t require Maru to be like others and allows different characters to become friends and family by complementing each other even if they don’t fit into the “normal” or “ordinary” standards of society. Just like Woori, who grew up in a household where her older sister is prioritized over her and feels alone within the family, and the puppy-turned-child Maru become a family, Lim Junho, who has constant dark circles under his eyes, becomes family for his cousin Lim Seoyul, who had to mature beyond his years on behalf of his busy parents. Tan, the kitty-turned-child who enjoys heights and fluffy things, is far from being “normal” as defined by society and is also different from Maru, but still becomes friends with her. The webtoon’s opening line is “It’s lonely living alone. No one asks if I’ve eaten yet or wants to make sure I'm taken care of. And no one worries for me when I’m sick.” If so, can people who aren’t family and who are so different from each other turn into family and friends? Maru is a Puppy is the most heartwarming answer to this question.

Pop songs from 2023 you may have missed (Spotify)

Seo Seongdeok (Music Critic): Everything we do at the end of the year is a little different from what we do throughout the year. If you listen to music, you might want to look back on your favorite, most listened-to songs of the year. You might also want to pick up some music you’ve been wanting to listen to or wondering about before it’s too late. Of course, you could just listen to Christmas carols all month long. While creating and updating playlists is what Spotify does all year long, the end of the year is special for them, too. According to Spotify, even if you’ve already explored the albums and songs of the year, there’s still a new musical adventure waiting for you ahead.

Pop songs from 2023 you may have missed is Spotify’s picks for the best pop in 2023 that you have yet to listen to. The playlist may also serve as an opportunity for Spotify’s boasted global collaborative system of playlist editors to reveal its most personal taste and once again appeal for support. The list includes TikTok celebrities like Addison Rae, as well as artists like Reneé Rapp and Sadie Jean, who have already gained substantial attention. But at the same time, you’ll discover young talents like 16-year-old British model and musician flowerovlove, 17-year-old Debbii Dawson from America’s Got Talent, and Bea and her Business who started out by sharing cover videos on TikTok. To me, “Born To Be Alive” has been as equally important as Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” this year. As for K-Pop, “MANIAC” by VIVIZ, “INVITATION” by JUNNY, and “C’mon” by JINI have made the list. While they may not have been in the intense spotlight this year, now is the perfect time to give them a listen before the year is out.