[2] He was the third child of eight children born to father Heo Jong (허종) and mother Park Ok-jeong (박옥정).

This political conflict strongly influenced Huh's works such as Oh, Han River and Tajja.

Huh's mother ran a kitchenware store which became successful since Yeosu served as a trading base between neighboring islands.

[2][4] Huh had wanted to study Western painting at university but because his father's anchovy fishery business was declining, he gave up his dream.

[2] In 1974, Huh debuted with In Search for Home (Jipeul chajaseo) through a competition seeking new cartoonists hosted by the Sonyeon Hankook Ilbo (Boy's Korean Times).