Like all Manhwa in that genre ,there is many logically mistakes like lacking of cops or ... this one is overly dramatic and nerves wrecking too , stressing me out and I doubt I ever read it again BUT what I like about this work is how author really try so hard to make it poetic and love how important things like rape , suicide , ... never treated lightly here and author seems seriously hurt by those things deep down because you can see she care for it and you feel her sadness.
I would give it a higher ranking if it's not for rushed ending , 2 more chapter and it's going be far better but the metaphor there in the end, how Dai lost in this world and no one truly know him even ppl who loves him , so he need someone find him and truly know him for who he is was beautiful and actually deep without being hideous but I still wished to see he found Dai before ending but anyway it was a good reading but too stressful for me but I still enjoy it.

... Last updated on January 16th, 2022, 3:10pm

First of all I'm not a fan. This is a typical Korean melodrama in which the most trivial matter of life can lead to such an elaborate phase of anguish, loss and rage, etc., you name it.

But the author is certainly good with words. It is amazing that the story could last 15 books with barely any plot in it, and I'm not being sacastic. There is just this burst of emotion, this strange desparation for freedom that reminds you so much of your adolescence. Before dwelling into details let's remember that this is a big thing in the Asean context because back in those days, your high school years were probbaly the most desparate period of your life, when you started to care about love and life while your parents and teachers would still treat you as a kid and thought your only job is to get high marks in exams (which by the way, were very, very tough). The parents and teachers in this story are a manifestion of that viewpoint, though quite exaggerated. This is also the story's weakness, you don't need to villainize anyone in order to feel desperate. But well, we are reading a Korean drama.

Let's look at the characters then. Actually both of them seem quite fresh and real, which is, ironically enough, why they are so hated. Dai is never a good man, he is a deliquent from the start till the end. You would like to think that Jaehee's love could change him, but love can just conquer that much, in the end Dai is still a social outcast like he is supposed to be. But maybe Jaehee is drawn to him exactly because of that. Haven't you ever fallen for a 'bad boy'' who smokes, skips class but is extremely good looking? Perhaps because he is so different from your world that he is so cool. One extra thing that keeps this relationship believable is that Jaehee has a very soft personality, to the point he seems to have no personality at all. He is so tolerant and forgiving, or perhaps so struck by his first love. Anyway, the story eventually, is Jaehee's coming of age tale. He will grow up to be a fine man I believe, but this is the story of his fragile years before he found his way to it.

Finally, I would like to mention the author's afterwords. It is the best thing about this manhwa, even though it does not relate to the story at all. It captures the story's nostagia so well that I feel that the author might have started from this poem and expanded on it. And that's what Let Dai is about, a song of regret about the years that are useless in your life, but you would trade anything to come back.

... Last updated on August 31st, 2016, 1:57pm

i dont know man, im just sick of melodramatic manga that have no parents or no police. who knows, probably in real world people do really hate the police but even so you dont need to be this out of control.

probably i would like this better if im younger. its not that i hate melodrama, but i love them in small doses like in one shots because its just too exhausting. great art though a bit too static as if its tracing from photo.

I'm not really into Korean manhwa since the plots are usually ordinary and dramatic. Let Dai has poor excuses and it feels like the author tried to be deep with the characters' emotions, but in my opinion she fail. However, if you compare this with Totally Captivated, Let Dai is much, much better, in both art and content. I still give it an 8, because the ending has caught me.

... Last updated on March 11th, 2016, 4:28am

This manhwa contained a lot of 'deep thoughts' which I think was perfect for the subject matters it was dealing with (youth, loss of innocence, violence, growing up, love, etc...). Sometimes these got a little too heavy and I skipped some of the text, but when (most of the time) I did read them I found the ideas the words contained very beautiful and thought-provoking (which also worked with the amazing art).

I think maybe because this manhwa is about growing up, especially with the deep ideas, it will appeal to teenagers/young adults more than 'grown-up's' but I think its well worth a read for someone looking for a good read with a memorable relationship.

On another note there is a lot of violence, which originally appealed for me because I liked the slightly sado-masochistic relationship that was prevalent between Jaehee and Dai for the first half of the series. However for those who dislike that sort of thing, there was very little/none of that in the second half, and once you get past the first couple of chapters the deep love between the two is very clear. Their complex, deep relationship was what kept me hooked on this.

In regards to the rest of the violence throught the volumes there was a lot. Although the violence was never romanticised, sometimes it was taken relatively lightly (the end however disputes this somewhat).

Despite preferring yaoi to shounen-ai, I absolutely loved it and found it very beautiful. What was most notable for me was that although Dai was clearly the stronger there was never (and I mean it) any sense that this couple was not equal. I loved their relationship, their closeness, their complexity, and though there was no sex I had no complaints (this is coming from a hardcore yaoi fan!)

The art, which I originally found mediocre, grew on me. I particularly loved the way the mangaka drew Dai, as well as some of the deeper scenes.

The ending I disliked. Maybe because the site I was reading it at mixed the pages up, but it seemed too rushed and slightly inconclusive. But maybe disliked is too strong a word, because despite that, I think it reflected faithfully and stayed true to the flavour of the series.

Loved, loved, loved.

... Last updated on July 1st, 2013, 6:15am

I should have listened to the review about the age thing.
Im really too old and mature for this stuff. The characters' behaviors horrified me, just not bc the manga is good enough. It just reminds me so badly of all the bully stories and how the victims and their families suffer. That makes me hate Jaehea too since he witnessed all this inhuman acts and was a victim himself but still follows this psycho like a crazy M. Dai also almost murdered him and he was overflown with happiness to see him again? Heck. Everything is solved by violence. And of course, ALL of the families are bad, so its not the kids fault. Psh. Please. I felt like my morals just flew away out of the window from reading this.
I cried, yes, when? When they are happy, those were my tears of hatred for them. I tortured myself finishing the whole series just to see them suffer.

... Last updated on May 21st, 2013, 2:22am

It was hard to understand the first chapter and what was happening, but then I realized that this was Korean and you read it left-right.

The romance was weird. A lot of angst and emo poetry but I never really felt it. Also, no sex ever, which is odd. Except for the assumed rape, theres no mention of anything sexual between the two main love interests or even from any couple in the story. A lot of sadomaschism and abuse. Everyone gets beat up, and they're pretty much asking for it. Dai is extremely cruel and violent, even towards the one he loves, which i find repulsive but facinating to watch. I find all the characters annoying save Goohee, Eunhyung, Crangela, and few others. Especially the main love triangle, they're soul-wrenchingly obsessed over each other and I can't understand why. Like I know they're all supposedly gorgeous but I'm not feeling it.

Despite all the flaws mentioned, it was still incredibly entertaining. I could not stop reading. There was one part where I could not stop crying. Not going to say what it was but you will know. Probably the most heart-wrenching chapter I've ever read.

And the ending was abrupt but I didn't think it was so terrible that it took away from the series.

I disagree with a review below that says you have to be at a certain age to appreciate it. It all depends on your taste. For one, I am a sucker for that dark, angsty, violent love AS LONG as it fits the personalities of the characters -- and this one does. It also helps if you've been in a relationship like this...okay, not like to the extent of the characters, but having intense feelings for the other person in the relationship to the point at which it could be classified as obsessive.

Let Dai tugged at my heart strings...I admit, the 1st volume didn't pull me in but I kept reading and I do not regret it.

Pros:
1. Character development -- and no, not just of the couple.
2. AMAZING, CONSISTENT & UNIQUE supporting characters -- i LOVED Naru Hagi to death! Each character had a distinct personality and different issues that helped moved the story along so it wasn't some random filler type extra.
3. Great art -- I also appreciate how the characters were not all "beautiful" looking.
4. Themes -- consistent and executed nicely. linked all the characters together.
5. Not your "feel good" story -- there ARE sad parts in the story which help the characters grow. In this sense, it's realistic. There are too many BLs these days that take serious issues WAY too lightly (rape, love, neglect, abuse, etc). This one does not...you can see how major events influence them to their cores...but a good balance of tragedy, comedy, etc. Tragedy happens when you least expect it......which is what makes it such (sorry, but Zetsuai/Bronze was just overdone...)

Cons:
1. Too much pretty words-- Okay, not words but sections of "deep thought" as other reviewers have mentioned. The kid is a teenager...who thinks like a poet ALL the time but doesn't speak like one.
2. The last volume felt a bit rushed.

Overall:
The strength of Let Dai is its consistency in literally EVERYTHING. Yes, the ending is open-ended and annoyed me at first, but after reading it over I am able to draw my own conclusion of the series; which is what the author wanted us to do. I'm still giving it a 10/10 despite the cons. Anyway, I highly recommend this.You will laugh, cry....but it's all good :')

... Last updated on December 2nd, 2012, 8:29pm

I read Let Dai for the first time back in April 2010 or so, when I was near the end of my freshman year of high school. Now, I am a senior and I have re-read the entire series again. When I finished Let Dai the first time, it was one of those feelings where so much happened in the story with so many high strung emotions that I felt like not reading it again for a really long time. Now having read it once more, I still feel the same way. A story like this can only be taken in once in a while.

In an analysis of the series as whole: there are a lot of ups and downs. The characters...I suppose they are realistic, or at least, realistic enough for me. There are happy moments and tragic moments. As the series falls down from the climax to the conclusion, there is a feeling of slight melancholy and anticipation. In the ending, however, I feel that there is some hope above all the rest. Despite the tumultuous events, the reader can still expand upon the light at the end of the story.

Jaehee and Dai's relationship...you can't really describe it. It has so many levels. For me, it seemed complex at times. Dai's nature made him violent because that was how he only knew how to express his anger/jealously whenever his relationship was jeopardized. However, the longer he spent with Jaehee, the softer he became, but he still retained his rough nature, true to his character.

Overall, I give this an 8.5. This manwha is incredible, just close to being what I would call a perfect manhwa, but with some minor flaws, just some things I feel are holding me back, but those are minor.

Overall, I recommend this to anyone wanting to read a LONG, complex, boys love, teen story full of every emotion you could think of. Times of happiness, unity, sadness, laughter, anger, violence, tragedy, misunderstandings, high school life, relationships of family, friends, lovers, etc., darkness, light, and just life in general for the characters....

yup

I first read Let Dai when I was a teenager and was really impressed at that time. I gave it a 10 back then. It's a angsty and a little poetic yet still quite typical manhwa series with unique characters, character growth and what I most liked: females who actually matter from the plot's point of view. And the bittersweet relationship between Dai and Jaejoong was something that really drew me in.

Yet now, 5 years later (and older) it didn't leave the same impresson. Now it was too angsty and Jaejoong's sudden interest for Dai had no ground. I still loved the bittersweetness of their love and still think it's a great story, worth your time. But I realized I'm just not mentally/emotionally "at the same level" with this manhwa right now. So a little drop to 8 as it's clearly not a series you can pick up and enjoy anytime you want, but still try it and make your own opinions

... Last updated on November 9th, 2012, 11:39am