‘Welcome to Haechi Seoul’ is the 24th cartoon for The Daily NK by Gregory Pence. A hugely talented freelance cartoonist and Fulbright scholar of Korean nationalism, Pence usually works with the latest news surrounding North Korea to put political, economic and human rights problems there into a varied spectrum of new light.

For readers who don’t know, Haechi is the mascot of the South Korean capital. But in his role as peaceful advocate of Seoul’s interests, Haechi seems a little confused these days. One minute he is putting out fires, and then the next he is showering the arsonists with love and affection! On the other hand, is that so surprising? After all, the arsonists can be a little on the schizophrenic side as well…