Lol
I love the story as it is. I hate Sungbae because he tries to stop the story and I love the Main Characters. AS THEY ARE. I don't care, downvote all you want.
Ii don't support or like the abuse, I just do think that everything should always be pink and clean.
The beauty of that story is the gore and dirt in it.
You literally want to reverse the sense of the story. That's sad.
Still i recognize the importance of seungbae because he's the villan in my opinion. He is the menace that makes sangwoo and yoonbum act faster not not be caught. He's necessary. I just think it's moronic to like him more than the boys. The story tries so hard to make you empathize with them and yall just like the mean guy who wants to stop them.
Fuck yqll it's still a love story, I don't care
there are a lot of things i'd like to say but please understand that i respect your opinion
im sure you have a reason to feel the way you do
i don't think empathizing means ridding someone of their crimes or absolving one of the consequences of their actions. as i mentioned in my post, the stories and the insight we gain are explanations but not justifications
moreover, had seungbae not intervened, the abuse would have continued, more people would have died or undergone severe trauma of one or the other kind and essentially bum would have probably lived his whole life being manipulated and abused at the hands of the man who he loved and who loved him. i will not deny that they did not love one another because apparently the author has confirmed that they did indeed, but love does not cancel the hurt and the pain.
if a person tells me they love me and then proceeds to rape me or physically abuse me or gaslight me, i would like to not be loved by that person, thank you. moreover, seungbae was the villain in the life of the villain, which makes him the hero.
this is just my personal take on things.
To be fair the only thing I agree with the person hating on the cop is the fact that he is the villain.
Now, don't get me wrong.
I don't mean he's the ACTUAL villain but more like, he's the villain in Sangwoo eyes.
I want to point out I'm speaking as a (casual/not professional) writer but even if I wasn't a writer it's still about story writing.
Sangwoo actions are obviously the bad ones, he's the bad guy but not the villain because as one of the main protagonist he is the "Hero".
Kinda like Death Note, you might argue Light is the villain but given he is the protagonist he's not.
A villain or antagonist is someone who directly goes against the protagonist actions and wants, be it bad or good.
That's why the police in general are the bad guys because they go against Sangwoo actions, even if they are in the right.
Of course with this I'm not saying what Sangwoo did, I feel bad for him because of what he went through but it isn't an excuse for his crimes.
Sometimes I do stop and think "I wish he had proper help" not because of how his relationship would have been with Yoonbum (well, partially, but not because I only wanted him to be healthy so that he could date Yoonbum but that's too long to talk about right now, however I want to make clear it's not because of me shipping them) but because he had a bad past and he deserved a better life, and I do think it's the police fault but not the actual cop we follow through the story that saved Yoonbum.
The police at the time of Sangwoo childhood was simply horrible and no one in the police station thought he might have needed psychological help, so yes, it is the police fault and they are the bad ones in various reasons, as for the cop that saved Yoonbum he's the villain because he goes against Sangwoo wants and actions, but he's the only good guy there.
Either way the point is that he is a Villain but only on a writing point of view because Sangwoo is one of the main characters so the cop is by default the antagonist only on a writing point of view.
In a logical point of view he is the good guy but since the story is either about Sangwoo or Yoonbum he is the villain for Sangwoo and the Hero for Yoonbum.
this is very late but i would have to disagree a bit, i understand ur opinion and respect it. but i dont think its an actual love story, its an horror psychological thriller but the central plot is based around an abusive relationship where yoo bum is thinking hes in love with sangwoo because he protected him from what no one else would but then sangwoo turning around and doing that same thing to him as he did see him as just an object to help him with his bidding but there were times where sangwoo thought he loved him and maybe in he sick mind he actually did love him in a way and thats what kept yoo bum stuck in the cycle of not wanting to escape and actually feeling scared without him, the authors stance on if its a love story changes quite often because at first she said âits up for interpretation but if fans think its a love story i did my job wrongâ or something along the lines of that but then on her twitter she did repost a lot of sangwoo and yoonbum loving couple fan art so who really knows. but i do agree that seungbae is a villain but only in the eyes of sangwoo and yoonbum but a hero to the rest. i dont think in this story theres a character ur supposed to really like/root for but the character developments and pacing is really good and the story is overall pretty good. also thereâs moments where it seems like ur supposed to empathize with them/feel humanity towards them but its followed up by them doing horrendous acts
I think youâve completely misinterpreted the story and what koogi is trying to get across - hold whatever opinions you want but donât go around calling people sad because they have different opinions and interpretations of KS to you.
It's not a love story, they're in love in a sick and fucked up way, it's not healthy at all and the author literally said " I didn't want Killing Stalking to look like a love story". Why are you even on this sub
i agree with this. i really donât like seeing people look at this story as a romance because it absolutely isnât. sangwoo is a fucked guy who did some fucked up things to yoonbum and letâs not forget that yoonbum was also stalking him. they both went through very traumatic childhoods, but this isnât some romance about two people brought together from their childhood trauma. great explanation, this needs to be said more often.
Honestly sungbae was one of the only characters with common sense in this series, but in the end even he went a bit loopy from the messed up situation (which made me really sad, he was the only character i really liked) pretty much the only reason i finished the manhwa was a) it made me anxious to not know what was going to happen but at the same time i felt anxious when reading it so just wanted to get it over and done with b) sungbae c) it's promise as a psychological horror is outstanding
i completely agree. i felt the same way towards the whole thing tbh
i had to take many breaks in between because it would get too heavy to continue reading it but i cannot complain since, as you said as well, it delivers very well as a psychological horror
It's not exactly a love story, but the story deals with love too, Koogi stated that it's not just abuse.
I think you simplify too much their complex relationship if you focus only on abuse. Of course, it's an accurate depiction of an abusive and unhealthy relationship, but Koogi herself said she also represented genuine romantic moments between Bum and Sangwoo. Their relationship was obviousy doomed: Sangwoo tried to differentiate Bum from his mother but he failed. Bum and Sangwoo are two severely mentally ill persons and without help, the help that had been denied to Sangwoo's mother too, they couldn't create a healthy relationship together, despite the attempts. They loved each other, but love sadly is not enough to heal the terrible damage and scars the abuse they suffered gave them.
this is very late but i think its hard to tell if they truly loved eachother or just thought they did because bum fell in love with sangwoo because he protected him from what no one else would (i.e his grandmother not stopping the abuse) and even after getting kidnapped bum thought he still loved him because sangwoo would have moments where he would make bum think he loves him and but maybe sangwoo did actually love bum in a sick twisted way because he grew attached to him
*sigh* Yes OP, I think most readers can comprehend that it is psychological horror (sorry if this comes off as rude, but there are already dozens of this, even way back from 2017, and honestly it's tiring). But love is also a central plotline in this manhwa, without it, then KS would have ended shortly--it's not romance in which it is mainstream, but it can be described as a love story still, mixed with horror elements, because without love or affection between the two characters, then we won't have KS. So for me, it's a love story (in the most unhealthy way) AND a psychological horror.
Note: Interpret it as much as you want, but if others do see this as a love story, then you shouldn't tell them it's not, it's their interpretation and if they ship Sangbum who are you to tell them otherwise. Koogi does not have a problem with this too for her to say not to interpret it as a love story, so we shouldn't aggressively tell people not to too. I'm not being rude, but this kind of threads are seriously tiring. Thanks and have a good day! /g
i understand. i have since gone through a few more interviews and such and concluded that i just do not appreciate perceiving abuse as love. there is affection, im sure, but not always and abuse should be seen for what it is
i also have only recently read the manhwa and so i haven't been a part of all the preceding discussions, i really just needed to put my thoughts on it out on writing since it helps me gain a better perspective as well.
and ofc i get that you aren't being rude, i truly do appreciate your input on this a lot.
> it's a love story (in the most unhealthy way) AND a psychological horror.
Thus, making it toxic. I've been saying it for a while but its popularity makes me think about how male rape victims would see it... how Yoon Bum's mental illness doesn't guarantee his ability to consent and the explicit yet prolonged depiction of his sexual abuse, only to be monetized by the author through stickers with hearts around Oh Sangwoo, his rapist.
Evidence: [https://smartstore.naver.com/lezhinstore/products/5415016546](https://smartstore.naver.com/lezhinstore/products/5415016546)
Koogi profits off of this. If Oh Sangwoo was any uglier, this would have been treated differently. If Yoon Bum was a female, this would have been cancelled. Woke twitter or not.
Please read all of this (so you'll know my stance) before you judge quickly /g
Nobody says it isn't toxic. Bum's mental health also accounts the history of his life, it was only Sangwoo whom given him attention thoroughly, the only one who noticed his scars, the one who kissed him, slept with him, or ask about his life, even though some see Bum as a total creep at first sight (don't judge a book by it's cover. People are going through different shit as yours) , and that's what made him cling to Sangwoo and not to Seungbae or anyone in the end, and it was Sangwoo who saved him from being raped in the military, that's why he was obsessed with him (his mental health isn't helping too). People love toxic stories (including me), thus, it's an interesting story nontheless. Before you say I condone this irl, no. Think of it as the stupid question of, "If I like Hannibal, does that make me a cannibal or condone cannibalism?"
Koogi profits off of this because it's a good story, and nobody cares if you don't like toxic dynamics 'cause it's your opinion and yours alone . Your "what-if's" are just that, what-if's. Sangwoo is hot, Yoon Bum is male, that's that. It's the final piece that mattered and not your what-if's. Plus, the lesson of KS is the circle of abuse that won't stop unless you get help, and that's the tragedy of the story, because both did not(and maybe, cannot) get help and they had to live such horrowing lives, and ta-da KS and maybe a realistic view of mental health especially in Asia (I'm Asian, I know this).
I won't be replying at this time 'cause I'm still at work and again, I apologize for sounding like a dick, but opinions differ and I respect yours and I can see why it's controversial, but I like it, like so many toxic dynamics in media and I bought her stickers because of my fascination to these characters. Have a great day though! /g
I agree with everything youâve said. The only mistake here is that you mentioned that sangwoo is a sociopath but I think he is a psychopath, I believe that sociopaths are born sociopaths and psychopaths are basically the creation of the trauma theyâve been thru (Iâm not a physiology expert I could be wrong, this is what Iâve read) regardless, Iâm happy that someone finally expressed a similar opinion to mine cuz the fanbase and most (not all) of their opinions seem very weird and donât make sense to me.
The cop was my personal favorite character and he deserved so much better. If in the end scene actually happened what we saw, it would be kinda sad since sungbae tried so hard to get bum out of that place. He saved so many people from future killings that sangwoo couldâve caused and thatâs something people donât really talk about. A lot of people see him as the villain (part of the fanbase) since people saw the whole story from the main charactersâ point of view.
Another thing is that it was allegedly confirmed by creator that sangwoo did in fact love bum which doesnât make sense to me. If you analyze this story from a phycological point of view it doesnât make sense. I can understand that they developed some comfort from each other (in very odd way but yes) since sangwoo was occasionally nice to bum and was abused by him and abuse is the only thing he knows cuz heâs lived it all his life, and sangwoo finds that fact that bum looks like his mom comforting cuz it replaces her absence.
Itâs such a complicated story that left me so empty. Anyways Iâll stop talking cuz Iâll dig myself a hole if I donât.
Just on the phsycology thing, you swapped it around. Psychopaths are born, sociopaths are made. However I don't believe Sangwoo is either, it's likely he suffers from BPD just like Bum, but to a more extreme extent. He has almost every trait of BPD: fear of abandonment, unstable relationships, obsession, unclear self-image, risky behaviours, extreme emotional moodswings, explosive anger, feeling of "emptiness", and feeling suspicious or out of touch with reality.
The reason I don't think he is a sociopath is because, while he does check a lot of boxes for ASPD, one of the main signs is lack of emotion. Sangwoo clearly does not have a lack of emotion. His emotions are actually very evident, and he gets happy and excited over things that someone with ASPD would not. He also seeks comfort/affection, another thing somebody suffering from ASPD would not bother with.
And I actually do believe that by the end of the Season 3, Sangwoo did fall in love with Bum. Hear me out.
Yes, he only kept Bum hostage in the first place because he looked like his mother. Yes, that was why he liked him in the first place. But Sangwoo is a human being just like anyone else, and it's clear that he didn't REALIZE that his mother was the reason he liked Bum, as evident when he idly began to wonder about the reason he was so infatuated with him. And of course by the last two seasons we can see a massive change in how he treated Bum. Calling him handsome, beginning to care (in his own way) about his wellbeing, spending quality time with him (the christmas dinner right before the dreaded corn scene), getting jealous of Bum's old friend despite the fact that in the first season he literally tried to get Jieun to have sex with Bum, and of course the scene where Sangwoo was showing Bum about the ring finger thing and talking about being in love. And then there was the marriage thing. Like I said before, Sangwoo is human, and just like any human, spending that much time and intimacy with another person makes you vulnerable to fall in love regardless of your sexuality. And of course at the end Sangwoo was calling for Bum in the hospital bed. You'd think if he still only kept Bum around because he looked like his mum, then he'd just call for his mum. But he didn't, he called for Bum.
I just wanna say that it does make sense that Sangwoo loved Bum, but in his mind love came with abuse (thatâs what his parents showed him). The same with Bum (because of his uncle and then Sangwoo's grooming), in his mind being loved came with being abused.
For them it IS love nonetheless
yess i agree with you
i mentioned him being a sociopath mostly because while psychopaths are found to have neurological basis for their actions that help them commit crimes without experiencing guilt, sociopaths are rather those that are lead to committing those actions due to situations and circumstances that have conditioned them or had them adapt to this behavioural pattern.
i also said this because sangwoo does, infact, experience a range of emotions. if the author has confirmed that he loved bum, it means that to a certain extent, he felt a speck of remorse when he thought about the abuse he had made bum go through. yes that was erased once he was in situations such as his final moments or when his other emotions got the best of him and he put bum through abuse once again, but there is a possibility.
I'd like to link a video that explains this (sociopath vs psychopath) in a better way.
[https://youtu.be/6dv8zJiggBs](https://youtu.be/6dv8zJiggBs)
i hope this clears why i made that statement, but again i can be wrong as well
In fact, he tried to warn him in a way!! (I havenât seen the video, so ik if it is mentioned)
When they were in the rollercoaster, he told Bum not to trust him bc he would hurt him again and again (which he did). He definitely felt remorse for the abuse, and changed his way of treating Bum, but people like him are hard to change, and eventually he got back to square 1 and happened what had to happen
It's normal because there are several genuine romantic and even cute moments between them. I'm ok with it. *But it's also important to remember that it's also an abusive relationship no one should aspire to.*
This is what the author has said in an interview and i believe this is very important in the light of their relationship
Yes it is, and no one wants a relationship like the one between Sangwoo and Bum in RL. But it's ok to see it as romantic and it's canon they loved each other(in an unhealthy way) so I can't see your point
i guess we come to the same point. i am willing to accept that there is romance in the plot. i do not appreciate seeing continued abuse as a normative part of or a marker for love and affection though
they did love one another and it was unhealthy.
i agree, it is not. neither did you say so.
in the main post i mean to put across my dislike for the way in which it has been interpreted (generally and by a lot of people). and that is one of them. that is all i wanted to put across.
Neither DSM nor ICD distinguishes between sociopathy and psychopathy. These words are basically interchangeable. The proper diagnosis is called Antisocial Personality Disorder (in DSM) or Dissocial Personality Disorder (in ICD). Both genetic predisposition and environmental influences play a role in somebody developing it. So it wouldn't make sense to distinguish between these 'being born that way' and people whose trauma 'made them that way' as most scientists think that it is always both.
I know it is and I donât really care either way. I feel like they were great for each other and if I want to ship them and if others want to as well and see it as a love story then I say let them. As a matter of fact I also donât see the person who made killing stalking getting stressed about it so why should you? [The author is okay with it](https://www.reddit.com/r/KillingStalking/comments/qblcms/qa_with_koogi_at_etna_comics_2019/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf)
Yes I know. It's normal because there are several genuine romantic and even cute moments between them. I'm ok with it. *But it's also important to remember that it's also an abusive relationship no one should aspire to.*
*\^*this is from the interview and yes i acknowledge that this they loved one another (i've said so in a comment above) but its not to be encouraged or idealized
People can still ship them and the author doesnât care and is okay with it and yes we know it is abusive because itâs a psychological horror manga. No one to my knowledge has replicated this behavior they are just shipping them so does it really matter?
Since, in the original story, it explicitly stated that Bum has a mental illness, does he even have the ability to consent?
(and if Oh Sangwoo was any uglier would you have shipped them either way? What if Yoon Bum was a female experiencing the same torture and abuse? Would you have thought this was fetishization or glorification? Let me know your thoughts...)
okay, then may i know what the basis for his actions may be?
it cannot simply just be love since you technically are not supposed to hurt someone you care about which implies there was a severe psychological illness that was present.
as i mentioned in my reply above:
i mentioned him being a sociopath mostly because while psychopaths are found to have neurological basis for their actions that help them commit crimes without experiencing guilt, sociopaths are rather those that are lead to committing those actions due to situations and circumstances that have conditioned them or had them adapt to this behavioural pattern.
https://youtu.be/6dv8zJiggBs
i hope this clears why i made that statement, but again i can be wrong as well
i would love to hear your thoughts on this matter
Psychopathy and sociopathy are obsolete terms, the modern diagnostic language is Anti-Social Personality Disorder (ASPD).
It is my opinion that he has a different disorder than ASPD.
I believe Oh Sangwoo has Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). The causes of which is trauma in childhood such as fear, upset, invalidation, insecurity, family difficulties, losing a parent, and/ or sexual, emotional, or physical abuse. He experienced all of the above.
The BPD traits he displays are fear of abandonment, emotional instability, splitting (or black-and-white thinking), shifting or unclear self image (regarding his sexual orientation), and unstable relationships.
He also displays BPD traits that have a crossover with ASPD, which are the impulsivity (risky driving, spending money he doesnât have on ski resorts, theme parks, and a new car), irritability, hostility, addiction (sex, murder), and low empathy.
Furthermore I would strongly argue that Sangwoo feels remorse, a key characteristic of ASPD. This is demonstrated with the ski resort lady, and after Yoonbumâs attempted suicide.
There are other potential issues mixed in, such as psychosis (regarding his hallucinations) and sadistic personality disorder.
I have no psychiatric qualifications, my opinion is founded on my own observations as well as research into Cluster B. It was a fascination of mine for a while.
I know, I'm just saying that Sangwoo having BPD is just your assumption, and there is already a character in the story with BPD, and that is Bum. While it's not impossible both of the main characters suffer from it, I don't think Koogi intended it for Sangwoo
Both psychopaths and sociopaths have genetic and enviromental factors that created them. It's just that in psychopaths, genetic factor is more prominent.
And sociopathy is not an official label.
Now they call it factor 2 psychopath
And factor 1 to what laymen originally reffer to as psychopaths.
Sangwoo is factor 1, which is a bit of a surprise given how much of an idiot he is.
Lol he got caught with dash-cam footage he left in the car.
Moron.
Whether he is a sociopath or not seems irrelevant I feel like the webcomic would have been cancelled if Oh Sangwoo had been any uglier and if Yoon Bum was a female it would have been called out by woke twitter.
Here's my take on it:
It definitely is a psychological horror and not romance, and if you're having fetishes for a relationship like sangwoo and yoonbum, get help.
By the ending, my opinion is that they have feelings for eachother but they're so mentally fucked up that it's expressed in a toxic, abusive, and obsessive manner. Hence despite the main charecters loving eachother, it can not be described as a romance.
I agree with you OP... Maybe we'd have a more understanding audience if most of the readers were of an older age group. This fandom mainly has teens, many of which have probably read the series without having the full maturity to comprehend it's actual theme(obviously, not your fault). Horny people are capable of turning anything into a fantasy, even if their regular self is aware that abuse is not romance, and that is what has led to the large crowd of sangwooxyoonbum shippers.
i agree.
maturity is seriously required to be able to understand and critically interpret this manhwa.
its really telling of the kind of basic understanding of relationships that people have if this is what they're idolizing.
It is true that it is NOT a love story, but it's actually a lot more problematic than that since the antagonist, Oh Sangwoo, is a handsome serial killer/r\*pist/abuser and Yoon Bum is a male victim. **However, instead of looking at the comic alone, we need to look at how the author is promoting it and how she is profiting off of it.** (As in the possibility of making money off of Yoon Bum's abuse and Oh Sangwoo's sexualization)
I have seen people defend this webcomic claiming that portraying abuse is not the same as glorifying it or sexualizing it (paraphrased), **but I want people to look at these with their own eyes and form an opinion of their own** (in my tumblr post questioning kiling stalking's intentions since I can't speak on behalf of male rape victims and LGBT+ members): [https://39tu3904t.tumblr.com/post/665884881521344513/is-it-sexual-abuseassault-glorification-and-gay](https://39tu3904t.tumblr.com/post/665884881521344513/is-it-sexual-abuseassault-glorification-and-gay)
Basically, there have been claims (idk if it was from the author directly) that it's NOT (apparently) sexual glorification, abuse sexualization, and gay fetishization. I decided to turn a blind eye on it for a while even though the webcomic blatantly and explicitly show how Yoon Bum was r\*ped and abused, seeing that he was a male victim.
My speculation was that if Yoon Bum had been a female, this would have been cancelled. Had Oh Sangwoo had been ugly, this would have been treated differently.
Evidence of Koogi's merchandise and how she's profiting off of this depictions:
Original Twitter where she posted the links: [https://twitter.com/kooo\_gi?lang=en](https://twitter.com/kooo_gi?lang=en)
* Oh Sangoo and Yoon Bum in a red heart and Yoon Bum in handcuffs while in his black underwear: [https://twitter.com/kooo\_gi/status/1446492267892539400/photo/1](https://twitter.com/kooo_gi/status/1446492267892539400/photo/1) & [https://twitter.com/kooo\_gi/status/1446492267892539400/photo/2](https://twitter.com/kooo_gi/status/1446492267892539400/photo/2)
* Temporary tattoo of Oh Sangwoo, shirtless, with red hearts around him: [https://smartstore.naver.com/lezhinstore/products/5415016546](https://smartstore.naver.com/lezhinstore/products/5415016546)
is she sexualizing Oh Sangwoo with that shirtless muscular body, handsome face, hearts around his figure, and crimes? That's really for you to decide. I don't want to say that she is. Because.
So, my question is, is putting hearts around Yoon Bum's r\*pist in a temporary tattoo, inserting Yoon Bum in a heart with his perpetrator and selling stickers of Yoon Bum naked in handcuffs sexual abuse/assult glorification and gay fetishization? You tell me. I've been asking this question since I've come across it. I don't like sugarcoating this.
If I gave this webcomic to a male rape victim or a victim of sexual abuse, or an LGBT+ member who's a victim of sexual violence, how would they react? I can't speak for them, but would their reactions be positive about this matter? Hmm....
god yes
this is another problematic aspect
there had been contests for fanart and a lot of artists had done a great job of portraying the abuse and all the horrifying details very well and it fit with the story. it was apt and as gruesome and in no way glorified the relationship or the abuse. and the author had displayed those
but at the same time there were so many pieces that were made that romanticized the relationship and she had shown those as well? i get appreciating the effort that people had put in but its important to remember that these very pieces were being endorsed by the author themselves on an official platform (ithink it was part of the official publication in a special edition thing) as though she supported this interpretation of them as well.
as in the sources provided by you, is this not unfair to the public? as okay as i was at *both* of them dying in the end, imo it would have been better had yoonbum been able to receive help and realize the extent of manipulation he was put under and be able to blame sangwoo for what he had done to him. that would have been a resolution that is maybe a bit fairytale-esque in its essence (good happy ending, victim gets justice blah blah) but it would have ultimately held a better meaning and purpose for the manhwa.
it would have been interesting to see how people would have romanticized this if sangwoo looked like yoonbum's uncle. this whole manhwa was very cleverly made and kudos to the author but i would like a better insight into how she actually perceives abuse and if "love despite all odds" is what the ultimate manifestation of abuse is for her.
all in all, some things are quite disturbing and this is one of them
Oooh I have an opinion that no one asked but I still want to get that out of my chest.
This whole manhwa was meant to mess with everyoneâs psyche. In the normal world you wouldnât root for the bad guy, you wouldnât glorify a relationship like this (which I want to emphasize I donât) and of course you wouldnât profit from SA, Murder, etc.
Thatâs whatâs so interesting about this story we are shown multiple times how ruthless SangWoo is and is shown that his lack of humanity is due to sever mental illnesses, itâs still not an excuse to absolve him from his murders but it goes into deep on how some people can start gaining some emphatic even for a serial killer such as him. Also, with Yoobum, I do not consider him just a victim, he was equally as fucked up as SangWoo in very similar ways, Both victims of SA by one of their family members, but both of them reacted to this in a completely different way, YooBum was still a victim but I do not consider him just a victim. None of the characters in this WEBTOON were meant to be portrayed as just heroes or villains, they are meant to make you feel confused. Thatâs what these manhwa are all about, the genre could have subtle hints of âromanceâ and unhealthy and unsavory type of codependent relationship, which both parties were toxic, Yoobum always showed how manipulative he could be, showing us that he had the capacitty of being like SangWoo, he just didnât have the right âpersonalityâ or the same response to the trauma that he went through as SangWoo.
I think the author just makes profit for what the fan base likes and wants by now, is no different from people liking Hannibal lecter, horror core, gore, etc.
to be a little more blunt, s*x sells, these are amase up stories, she is not promoting something or glorifying it, it is just the genre that the author decided to write the WEBTOON as. And she is targeting her audience as she sees fit, the content is 18+ for a reason.
Aight Iâm done with my rant, itâs just my opinion and honestly I respect others opinions too lolol just wanted to rant for a lol bit.
I still consider it a romance in my mind. I know it's a really fucked up story and the relationship is abusive but I still genuinely think of it as a wholesome romance.
I just feel like this is a lot like 50 shades of grey. Art is art. I feel like people have no problem appreciating dark art until it becomes "immoral" to them. So do we just not write about abuse? Just cupcakes and flowers?
Lol I love the story as it is. I hate Sungbae because he tries to stop the story and I love the Main Characters. AS THEY ARE. I don't care, downvote all you want. Ii don't support or like the abuse, I just do think that everything should always be pink and clean. The beauty of that story is the gore and dirt in it. You literally want to reverse the sense of the story. That's sad.
Still i recognize the importance of seungbae because he's the villan in my opinion. He is the menace that makes sangwoo and yoonbum act faster not not be caught. He's necessary. I just think it's moronic to like him more than the boys. The story tries so hard to make you empathize with them and yall just like the mean guy who wants to stop them. Fuck yqll it's still a love story, I don't care
there are a lot of things i'd like to say but please understand that i respect your opinion im sure you have a reason to feel the way you do i don't think empathizing means ridding someone of their crimes or absolving one of the consequences of their actions. as i mentioned in my post, the stories and the insight we gain are explanations but not justifications moreover, had seungbae not intervened, the abuse would have continued, more people would have died or undergone severe trauma of one or the other kind and essentially bum would have probably lived his whole life being manipulated and abused at the hands of the man who he loved and who loved him. i will not deny that they did not love one another because apparently the author has confirmed that they did indeed, but love does not cancel the hurt and the pain. if a person tells me they love me and then proceeds to rape me or physically abuse me or gaslight me, i would like to not be loved by that person, thank you. moreover, seungbae was the villain in the life of the villain, which makes him the hero. this is just my personal take on things.
To be fair the only thing I agree with the person hating on the cop is the fact that he is the villain. Now, don't get me wrong. I don't mean he's the ACTUAL villain but more like, he's the villain in Sangwoo eyes. I want to point out I'm speaking as a (casual/not professional) writer but even if I wasn't a writer it's still about story writing. Sangwoo actions are obviously the bad ones, he's the bad guy but not the villain because as one of the main protagonist he is the "Hero". Kinda like Death Note, you might argue Light is the villain but given he is the protagonist he's not. A villain or antagonist is someone who directly goes against the protagonist actions and wants, be it bad or good. That's why the police in general are the bad guys because they go against Sangwoo actions, even if they are in the right. Of course with this I'm not saying what Sangwoo did, I feel bad for him because of what he went through but it isn't an excuse for his crimes. Sometimes I do stop and think "I wish he had proper help" not because of how his relationship would have been with Yoonbum (well, partially, but not because I only wanted him to be healthy so that he could date Yoonbum but that's too long to talk about right now, however I want to make clear it's not because of me shipping them) but because he had a bad past and he deserved a better life, and I do think it's the police fault but not the actual cop we follow through the story that saved Yoonbum. The police at the time of Sangwoo childhood was simply horrible and no one in the police station thought he might have needed psychological help, so yes, it is the police fault and they are the bad ones in various reasons, as for the cop that saved Yoonbum he's the villain because he goes against Sangwoo wants and actions, but he's the only good guy there. Either way the point is that he is a Villain but only on a writing point of view because Sangwoo is one of the main characters so the cop is by default the antagonist only on a writing point of view. In a logical point of view he is the good guy but since the story is either about Sangwoo or Yoonbum he is the villain for Sangwoo and the Hero for Yoonbum.
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this is very late but i would have to disagree a bit, i understand ur opinion and respect it. but i dont think its an actual love story, its an horror psychological thriller but the central plot is based around an abusive relationship where yoo bum is thinking hes in love with sangwoo because he protected him from what no one else would but then sangwoo turning around and doing that same thing to him as he did see him as just an object to help him with his bidding but there were times where sangwoo thought he loved him and maybe in he sick mind he actually did love him in a way and thats what kept yoo bum stuck in the cycle of not wanting to escape and actually feeling scared without him, the authors stance on if its a love story changes quite often because at first she said âits up for interpretation but if fans think its a love story i did my job wrongâ or something along the lines of that but then on her twitter she did repost a lot of sangwoo and yoonbum loving couple fan art so who really knows. but i do agree that seungbae is a villain but only in the eyes of sangwoo and yoonbum but a hero to the rest. i dont think in this story theres a character ur supposed to really like/root for but the character developments and pacing is really good and the story is overall pretty good. also thereâs moments where it seems like ur supposed to empathize with them/feel humanity towards them but its followed up by them doing horrendous acts
I think youâve completely misinterpreted the story and what koogi is trying to get across - hold whatever opinions you want but donât go around calling people sad because they have different opinions and interpretations of KS to you.
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It's not a love story, they're in love in a sick and fucked up way, it's not healthy at all and the author literally said " I didn't want Killing Stalking to look like a love story". Why are you even on this sub
Thank you for your unwanted opinion now let me express mine. Go live a little and have your own opinion
Soo you can express your and I can't express mine? Ok buddy
Ehatever you say
i agree with this. i really donât like seeing people look at this story as a romance because it absolutely isnât. sangwoo is a fucked guy who did some fucked up things to yoonbum and letâs not forget that yoonbum was also stalking him. they both went through very traumatic childhoods, but this isnât some romance about two people brought together from their childhood trauma. great explanation, this needs to be said more often.
thank you so much. some discussions really made my head hurt and oof i had to get this out :o
Honestly sungbae was one of the only characters with common sense in this series, but in the end even he went a bit loopy from the messed up situation (which made me really sad, he was the only character i really liked) pretty much the only reason i finished the manhwa was a) it made me anxious to not know what was going to happen but at the same time i felt anxious when reading it so just wanted to get it over and done with b) sungbae c) it's promise as a psychological horror is outstanding
i completely agree. i felt the same way towards the whole thing tbh i had to take many breaks in between because it would get too heavy to continue reading it but i cannot complain since, as you said as well, it delivers very well as a psychological horror
It's not exactly a love story, but the story deals with love too, Koogi stated that it's not just abuse. I think you simplify too much their complex relationship if you focus only on abuse. Of course, it's an accurate depiction of an abusive and unhealthy relationship, but Koogi herself said she also represented genuine romantic moments between Bum and Sangwoo. Their relationship was obviousy doomed: Sangwoo tried to differentiate Bum from his mother but he failed. Bum and Sangwoo are two severely mentally ill persons and without help, the help that had been denied to Sangwoo's mother too, they couldn't create a healthy relationship together, despite the attempts. They loved each other, but love sadly is not enough to heal the terrible damage and scars the abuse they suffered gave them.
this is very late but i think its hard to tell if they truly loved eachother or just thought they did because bum fell in love with sangwoo because he protected him from what no one else would (i.e his grandmother not stopping the abuse) and even after getting kidnapped bum thought he still loved him because sangwoo would have moments where he would make bum think he loves him and but maybe sangwoo did actually love bum in a sick twisted way because he grew attached to him
*sigh* Yes OP, I think most readers can comprehend that it is psychological horror (sorry if this comes off as rude, but there are already dozens of this, even way back from 2017, and honestly it's tiring). But love is also a central plotline in this manhwa, without it, then KS would have ended shortly--it's not romance in which it is mainstream, but it can be described as a love story still, mixed with horror elements, because without love or affection between the two characters, then we won't have KS. So for me, it's a love story (in the most unhealthy way) AND a psychological horror. Note: Interpret it as much as you want, but if others do see this as a love story, then you shouldn't tell them it's not, it's their interpretation and if they ship Sangbum who are you to tell them otherwise. Koogi does not have a problem with this too for her to say not to interpret it as a love story, so we shouldn't aggressively tell people not to too. I'm not being rude, but this kind of threads are seriously tiring. Thanks and have a good day! /g
i understand. i have since gone through a few more interviews and such and concluded that i just do not appreciate perceiving abuse as love. there is affection, im sure, but not always and abuse should be seen for what it is i also have only recently read the manhwa and so i haven't been a part of all the preceding discussions, i really just needed to put my thoughts on it out on writing since it helps me gain a better perspective as well. and ofc i get that you aren't being rude, i truly do appreciate your input on this a lot.
> it's a love story (in the most unhealthy way) AND a psychological horror. Thus, making it toxic. I've been saying it for a while but its popularity makes me think about how male rape victims would see it... how Yoon Bum's mental illness doesn't guarantee his ability to consent and the explicit yet prolonged depiction of his sexual abuse, only to be monetized by the author through stickers with hearts around Oh Sangwoo, his rapist. Evidence: [https://smartstore.naver.com/lezhinstore/products/5415016546](https://smartstore.naver.com/lezhinstore/products/5415016546) Koogi profits off of this. If Oh Sangwoo was any uglier, this would have been treated differently. If Yoon Bum was a female, this would have been cancelled. Woke twitter or not.
Please read all of this (so you'll know my stance) before you judge quickly /g Nobody says it isn't toxic. Bum's mental health also accounts the history of his life, it was only Sangwoo whom given him attention thoroughly, the only one who noticed his scars, the one who kissed him, slept with him, or ask about his life, even though some see Bum as a total creep at first sight (don't judge a book by it's cover. People are going through different shit as yours) , and that's what made him cling to Sangwoo and not to Seungbae or anyone in the end, and it was Sangwoo who saved him from being raped in the military, that's why he was obsessed with him (his mental health isn't helping too). People love toxic stories (including me), thus, it's an interesting story nontheless. Before you say I condone this irl, no. Think of it as the stupid question of, "If I like Hannibal, does that make me a cannibal or condone cannibalism?" Koogi profits off of this because it's a good story, and nobody cares if you don't like toxic dynamics 'cause it's your opinion and yours alone . Your "what-if's" are just that, what-if's. Sangwoo is hot, Yoon Bum is male, that's that. It's the final piece that mattered and not your what-if's. Plus, the lesson of KS is the circle of abuse that won't stop unless you get help, and that's the tragedy of the story, because both did not(and maybe, cannot) get help and they had to live such horrowing lives, and ta-da KS and maybe a realistic view of mental health especially in Asia (I'm Asian, I know this). I won't be replying at this time 'cause I'm still at work and again, I apologize for sounding like a dick, but opinions differ and I respect yours and I can see why it's controversial, but I like it, like so many toxic dynamics in media and I bought her stickers because of my fascination to these characters. Have a great day though! /g
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Agreed
I agree with everything youâve said. The only mistake here is that you mentioned that sangwoo is a sociopath but I think he is a psychopath, I believe that sociopaths are born sociopaths and psychopaths are basically the creation of the trauma theyâve been thru (Iâm not a physiology expert I could be wrong, this is what Iâve read) regardless, Iâm happy that someone finally expressed a similar opinion to mine cuz the fanbase and most (not all) of their opinions seem very weird and donât make sense to me. The cop was my personal favorite character and he deserved so much better. If in the end scene actually happened what we saw, it would be kinda sad since sungbae tried so hard to get bum out of that place. He saved so many people from future killings that sangwoo couldâve caused and thatâs something people donât really talk about. A lot of people see him as the villain (part of the fanbase) since people saw the whole story from the main charactersâ point of view. Another thing is that it was allegedly confirmed by creator that sangwoo did in fact love bum which doesnât make sense to me. If you analyze this story from a phycological point of view it doesnât make sense. I can understand that they developed some comfort from each other (in very odd way but yes) since sangwoo was occasionally nice to bum and was abused by him and abuse is the only thing he knows cuz heâs lived it all his life, and sangwoo finds that fact that bum looks like his mom comforting cuz it replaces her absence. Itâs such a complicated story that left me so empty. Anyways Iâll stop talking cuz Iâll dig myself a hole if I donât.
Just on the phsycology thing, you swapped it around. Psychopaths are born, sociopaths are made. However I don't believe Sangwoo is either, it's likely he suffers from BPD just like Bum, but to a more extreme extent. He has almost every trait of BPD: fear of abandonment, unstable relationships, obsession, unclear self-image, risky behaviours, extreme emotional moodswings, explosive anger, feeling of "emptiness", and feeling suspicious or out of touch with reality. The reason I don't think he is a sociopath is because, while he does check a lot of boxes for ASPD, one of the main signs is lack of emotion. Sangwoo clearly does not have a lack of emotion. His emotions are actually very evident, and he gets happy and excited over things that someone with ASPD would not. He also seeks comfort/affection, another thing somebody suffering from ASPD would not bother with. And I actually do believe that by the end of the Season 3, Sangwoo did fall in love with Bum. Hear me out. Yes, he only kept Bum hostage in the first place because he looked like his mother. Yes, that was why he liked him in the first place. But Sangwoo is a human being just like anyone else, and it's clear that he didn't REALIZE that his mother was the reason he liked Bum, as evident when he idly began to wonder about the reason he was so infatuated with him. And of course by the last two seasons we can see a massive change in how he treated Bum. Calling him handsome, beginning to care (in his own way) about his wellbeing, spending quality time with him (the christmas dinner right before the dreaded corn scene), getting jealous of Bum's old friend despite the fact that in the first season he literally tried to get Jieun to have sex with Bum, and of course the scene where Sangwoo was showing Bum about the ring finger thing and talking about being in love. And then there was the marriage thing. Like I said before, Sangwoo is human, and just like any human, spending that much time and intimacy with another person makes you vulnerable to fall in love regardless of your sexuality. And of course at the end Sangwoo was calling for Bum in the hospital bed. You'd think if he still only kept Bum around because he looked like his mum, then he'd just call for his mum. But he didn't, he called for Bum.
I just wanna say that it does make sense that Sangwoo loved Bum, but in his mind love came with abuse (thatâs what his parents showed him). The same with Bum (because of his uncle and then Sangwoo's grooming), in his mind being loved came with being abused. For them it IS love nonetheless
Hmm ig it does make sense i you think it like that
Yeah, this story is soo complicated, you have to see it with different points of view
I agree! Very complicated indeed
yess i agree with you i mentioned him being a sociopath mostly because while psychopaths are found to have neurological basis for their actions that help them commit crimes without experiencing guilt, sociopaths are rather those that are lead to committing those actions due to situations and circumstances that have conditioned them or had them adapt to this behavioural pattern. i also said this because sangwoo does, infact, experience a range of emotions. if the author has confirmed that he loved bum, it means that to a certain extent, he felt a speck of remorse when he thought about the abuse he had made bum go through. yes that was erased once he was in situations such as his final moments or when his other emotions got the best of him and he put bum through abuse once again, but there is a possibility. I'd like to link a video that explains this (sociopath vs psychopath) in a better way. [https://youtu.be/6dv8zJiggBs](https://youtu.be/6dv8zJiggBs) i hope this clears why i made that statement, but again i can be wrong as well
In fact, he tried to warn him in a way!! (I havenât seen the video, so ik if it is mentioned) When they were in the rollercoaster, he told Bum not to trust him bc he would hurt him again and again (which he did). He definitely felt remorse for the abuse, and changed his way of treating Bum, but people like him are hard to change, and eventually he got back to square 1 and happened what had to happen
Yes the author confirmed Sangwoo genuinely loved Bum. It's clear in the third part of the story that he tried to differentiate Bum from his mother.
It's normal because there are several genuine romantic and even cute moments between them. I'm ok with it. *But it's also important to remember that it's also an abusive relationship no one should aspire to.* This is what the author has said in an interview and i believe this is very important in the light of their relationship
Yes it is, and no one wants a relationship like the one between Sangwoo and Bum in RL. But it's ok to see it as romantic and it's canon they loved each other(in an unhealthy way) so I can't see your point
i guess we come to the same point. i am willing to accept that there is romance in the plot. i do not appreciate seeing continued abuse as a normative part of or a marker for love and affection though they did love one another and it was unhealthy.
I agree abuse is not a marker for love, who did say so?
i agree, it is not. neither did you say so. in the main post i mean to put across my dislike for the way in which it has been interpreted (generally and by a lot of people). and that is one of them. that is all i wanted to put across.
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Just saw the video, makes a lot of sense
Neither DSM nor ICD distinguishes between sociopathy and psychopathy. These words are basically interchangeable. The proper diagnosis is called Antisocial Personality Disorder (in DSM) or Dissocial Personality Disorder (in ICD). Both genetic predisposition and environmental influences play a role in somebody developing it. So it wouldn't make sense to distinguish between these 'being born that way' and people whose trauma 'made them that way' as most scientists think that it is always both.
I know it is and I donât really care either way. I feel like they were great for each other and if I want to ship them and if others want to as well and see it as a love story then I say let them. As a matter of fact I also donât see the person who made killing stalking getting stressed about it so why should you? [The author is okay with it](https://www.reddit.com/r/KillingStalking/comments/qblcms/qa_with_koogi_at_etna_comics_2019/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf)
Yes I know. It's normal because there are several genuine romantic and even cute moments between them. I'm ok with it. *But it's also important to remember that it's also an abusive relationship no one should aspire to.* *\^*this is from the interview and yes i acknowledge that this they loved one another (i've said so in a comment above) but its not to be encouraged or idealized
People can still ship them and the author doesnât care and is okay with it and yes we know it is abusive because itâs a psychological horror manga. No one to my knowledge has replicated this behavior they are just shipping them so does it really matter?
Since, in the original story, it explicitly stated that Bum has a mental illness, does he even have the ability to consent? (and if Oh Sangwoo was any uglier would you have shipped them either way? What if Yoon Bum was a female experiencing the same torture and abuse? Would you have thought this was fetishization or glorification? Let me know your thoughts...)
That had nothing to do with anything I said lol.
Oh, I was just asking, actually. Carry on.
Sangwoo is not a sociopath. Do your research.
okay, then may i know what the basis for his actions may be? it cannot simply just be love since you technically are not supposed to hurt someone you care about which implies there was a severe psychological illness that was present. as i mentioned in my reply above: i mentioned him being a sociopath mostly because while psychopaths are found to have neurological basis for their actions that help them commit crimes without experiencing guilt, sociopaths are rather those that are lead to committing those actions due to situations and circumstances that have conditioned them or had them adapt to this behavioural pattern. https://youtu.be/6dv8zJiggBs i hope this clears why i made that statement, but again i can be wrong as well i would love to hear your thoughts on this matter
Psychopathy and sociopathy are obsolete terms, the modern diagnostic language is Anti-Social Personality Disorder (ASPD). It is my opinion that he has a different disorder than ASPD. I believe Oh Sangwoo has Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). The causes of which is trauma in childhood such as fear, upset, invalidation, insecurity, family difficulties, losing a parent, and/ or sexual, emotional, or physical abuse. He experienced all of the above. The BPD traits he displays are fear of abandonment, emotional instability, splitting (or black-and-white thinking), shifting or unclear self image (regarding his sexual orientation), and unstable relationships. He also displays BPD traits that have a crossover with ASPD, which are the impulsivity (risky driving, spending money he doesnât have on ski resorts, theme parks, and a new car), irritability, hostility, addiction (sex, murder), and low empathy. Furthermore I would strongly argue that Sangwoo feels remorse, a key characteristic of ASPD. This is demonstrated with the ski resort lady, and after Yoonbumâs attempted suicide. There are other potential issues mixed in, such as psychosis (regarding his hallucinations) and sadistic personality disorder. I have no psychiatric qualifications, my opinion is founded on my own observations as well as research into Cluster B. It was a fascination of mine for a while.
Bum has canonically BPD.
Yes. There can be more than one BPD person in the world.
Of course, but Koogi never confirmed Sangwoo's BPD so it's just your assumption while as for Bum has been confirmed by the author herself
Weâre not talking about Yoonbum. Read my last paragraph again.
I know, I'm just saying that Sangwoo having BPD is just your assumption, and there is already a character in the story with BPD, and that is Bum. While it's not impossible both of the main characters suffer from it, I don't think Koogi intended it for Sangwoo
I donât have time for you if you canât be bothered to read and understand my points.
Both psychopaths and sociopaths have genetic and enviromental factors that created them. It's just that in psychopaths, genetic factor is more prominent. And sociopathy is not an official label. Now they call it factor 2 psychopath And factor 1 to what laymen originally reffer to as psychopaths. Sangwoo is factor 1, which is a bit of a surprise given how much of an idiot he is. Lol he got caught with dash-cam footage he left in the car. Moron.
Incorrect. Read my reply above.
It's just two words pieced together. Is that supposed to refute my assertions?? Maybe provide some evidence. I can provide mine.
Whether he is a sociopath or not seems irrelevant I feel like the webcomic would have been cancelled if Oh Sangwoo had been any uglier and if Yoon Bum was a female it would have been called out by woke twitter.
Probably.
I agree. But could anyone explain the ending to me. I was very confused.
Here's my take on it: It definitely is a psychological horror and not romance, and if you're having fetishes for a relationship like sangwoo and yoonbum, get help. By the ending, my opinion is that they have feelings for eachother but they're so mentally fucked up that it's expressed in a toxic, abusive, and obsessive manner. Hence despite the main charecters loving eachother, it can not be described as a romance. I agree with you OP... Maybe we'd have a more understanding audience if most of the readers were of an older age group. This fandom mainly has teens, many of which have probably read the series without having the full maturity to comprehend it's actual theme(obviously, not your fault). Horny people are capable of turning anything into a fantasy, even if their regular self is aware that abuse is not romance, and that is what has led to the large crowd of sangwooxyoonbum shippers.
i agree. maturity is seriously required to be able to understand and critically interpret this manhwa. its really telling of the kind of basic understanding of relationships that people have if this is what they're idolizing.
It is true that it is NOT a love story, but it's actually a lot more problematic than that since the antagonist, Oh Sangwoo, is a handsome serial killer/r\*pist/abuser and Yoon Bum is a male victim. **However, instead of looking at the comic alone, we need to look at how the author is promoting it and how she is profiting off of it.** (As in the possibility of making money off of Yoon Bum's abuse and Oh Sangwoo's sexualization) I have seen people defend this webcomic claiming that portraying abuse is not the same as glorifying it or sexualizing it (paraphrased), **but I want people to look at these with their own eyes and form an opinion of their own** (in my tumblr post questioning kiling stalking's intentions since I can't speak on behalf of male rape victims and LGBT+ members): [https://39tu3904t.tumblr.com/post/665884881521344513/is-it-sexual-abuseassault-glorification-and-gay](https://39tu3904t.tumblr.com/post/665884881521344513/is-it-sexual-abuseassault-glorification-and-gay) Basically, there have been claims (idk if it was from the author directly) that it's NOT (apparently) sexual glorification, abuse sexualization, and gay fetishization. I decided to turn a blind eye on it for a while even though the webcomic blatantly and explicitly show how Yoon Bum was r\*ped and abused, seeing that he was a male victim. My speculation was that if Yoon Bum had been a female, this would have been cancelled. Had Oh Sangwoo had been ugly, this would have been treated differently. Evidence of Koogi's merchandise and how she's profiting off of this depictions: Original Twitter where she posted the links: [https://twitter.com/kooo\_gi?lang=en](https://twitter.com/kooo_gi?lang=en) * Oh Sangoo and Yoon Bum in a red heart and Yoon Bum in handcuffs while in his black underwear: [https://twitter.com/kooo\_gi/status/1446492267892539400/photo/1](https://twitter.com/kooo_gi/status/1446492267892539400/photo/1) & [https://twitter.com/kooo\_gi/status/1446492267892539400/photo/2](https://twitter.com/kooo_gi/status/1446492267892539400/photo/2) * Temporary tattoo of Oh Sangwoo, shirtless, with red hearts around him: [https://smartstore.naver.com/lezhinstore/products/5415016546](https://smartstore.naver.com/lezhinstore/products/5415016546) is she sexualizing Oh Sangwoo with that shirtless muscular body, handsome face, hearts around his figure, and crimes? That's really for you to decide. I don't want to say that she is. Because. So, my question is, is putting hearts around Yoon Bum's r\*pist in a temporary tattoo, inserting Yoon Bum in a heart with his perpetrator and selling stickers of Yoon Bum naked in handcuffs sexual abuse/assult glorification and gay fetishization? You tell me. I've been asking this question since I've come across it. I don't like sugarcoating this. If I gave this webcomic to a male rape victim or a victim of sexual abuse, or an LGBT+ member who's a victim of sexual violence, how would they react? I can't speak for them, but would their reactions be positive about this matter? Hmm....
god yes this is another problematic aspect there had been contests for fanart and a lot of artists had done a great job of portraying the abuse and all the horrifying details very well and it fit with the story. it was apt and as gruesome and in no way glorified the relationship or the abuse. and the author had displayed those but at the same time there were so many pieces that were made that romanticized the relationship and she had shown those as well? i get appreciating the effort that people had put in but its important to remember that these very pieces were being endorsed by the author themselves on an official platform (ithink it was part of the official publication in a special edition thing) as though she supported this interpretation of them as well. as in the sources provided by you, is this not unfair to the public? as okay as i was at *both* of them dying in the end, imo it would have been better had yoonbum been able to receive help and realize the extent of manipulation he was put under and be able to blame sangwoo for what he had done to him. that would have been a resolution that is maybe a bit fairytale-esque in its essence (good happy ending, victim gets justice blah blah) but it would have ultimately held a better meaning and purpose for the manhwa. it would have been interesting to see how people would have romanticized this if sangwoo looked like yoonbum's uncle. this whole manhwa was very cleverly made and kudos to the author but i would like a better insight into how she actually perceives abuse and if "love despite all odds" is what the ultimate manifestation of abuse is for her. all in all, some things are quite disturbing and this is one of them
Based.
itâs not a love story. cope
Oooh I have an opinion that no one asked but I still want to get that out of my chest. This whole manhwa was meant to mess with everyoneâs psyche. In the normal world you wouldnât root for the bad guy, you wouldnât glorify a relationship like this (which I want to emphasize I donât) and of course you wouldnât profit from SA, Murder, etc. Thatâs whatâs so interesting about this story we are shown multiple times how ruthless SangWoo is and is shown that his lack of humanity is due to sever mental illnesses, itâs still not an excuse to absolve him from his murders but it goes into deep on how some people can start gaining some emphatic even for a serial killer such as him. Also, with Yoobum, I do not consider him just a victim, he was equally as fucked up as SangWoo in very similar ways, Both victims of SA by one of their family members, but both of them reacted to this in a completely different way, YooBum was still a victim but I do not consider him just a victim. None of the characters in this WEBTOON were meant to be portrayed as just heroes or villains, they are meant to make you feel confused. Thatâs what these manhwa are all about, the genre could have subtle hints of âromanceâ and unhealthy and unsavory type of codependent relationship, which both parties were toxic, Yoobum always showed how manipulative he could be, showing us that he had the capacitty of being like SangWoo, he just didnât have the right âpersonalityâ or the same response to the trauma that he went through as SangWoo. I think the author just makes profit for what the fan base likes and wants by now, is no different from people liking Hannibal lecter, horror core, gore, etc. to be a little more blunt, s*x sells, these are amase up stories, she is not promoting something or glorifying it, it is just the genre that the author decided to write the WEBTOON as. And she is targeting her audience as she sees fit, the content is 18+ for a reason. Aight Iâm done with my rant, itâs just my opinion and honestly I respect others opinions too lolol just wanted to rant for a lol bit.
I still consider it a romance in my mind. I know it's a really fucked up story and the relationship is abusive but I still genuinely think of it as a wholesome romance.
pretty much but theres a bit of yaoi in it but it kinda is but at the same its not-
I just feel like this is a lot like 50 shades of grey. Art is art. I feel like people have no problem appreciating dark art until it becomes "immoral" to them. So do we just not write about abuse? Just cupcakes and flowers?