In the end, a large part of what decides any work's value is the audience response; this work has, obviously, accrued acclaim from hundreds (maybe even thousands) of readers. So according to my standards, it can't get a flatout zero or even a one.
That said, I find what passes as romance in this story to be downright repulsive.
I'm tired of saying the same things over and over again to other readers who either couldn't care less, have strong opposing opinions, and/or can't wrap their heads around what I'm saying, so I'll keep this brief. For my sanity and well-being, mainly tbh.
Series like this not only encourage misogynistic gender roles, but they also support harmful romanticizations of abusive dynamics.
I was intrigued by the nuanced socioeconomic dynamics (I could compare and contrast with my own experiences as a Korean American), and the well-planned characters. They came off rather realistic and multidimensional, though flawed enough to be entertaining in a story.
For example, I felt that Jung was used to everything revolving around him (I don't mean this as an insult, just a fact), and always had his guard up, while Seol was naturally guarded. Consequently, she took his dismissals personally while he took everything she did do/say personally. Which made her more wary of him, which made him wary of her, which led to cycle of 'he/she dislikes me, so I'll dislike them'...Except Jung had more an advantage considering his popularity/looks/wealth/etc. This led to Seol's exhaustion, figurative surrender, and social escape.
This relationship was interesting enough. This relationship was complicated and intriguing as a platonic bond with undercurrents of distrust and antipathy. It should NOT have been turned into a romance. I'll never understand how some people see two people hurting each other and see potential for love.
What ultimately had me feeling irritated and even affronted was the "romance" and the depressing reader comments egging the "love line" onward. Despite the destructive and unhealthy nature of the main character's history with the male lead.
To further aggravation, there was a subtle but insidious view espoused by the author and the readers that the male lead's damaging actions were okay. Because he likes her now, you see? I mean, he hasn't apologized or recognized the error of his ways or stopped manipulating her, but he's doing everything out of love now! And his possessiveness is also a sign of love, and a sign of progress. She's healing him! He doesn't need therapy, he's got the Power of Love.
Also, he's rich, and beautiful, and can be so kind when he doesn't see you as a threat to his status!! When he sees you as a potential significant other, all of that mental instability is for your sake. Can't you see his restrictive, disrespectful, calculating behavior is for her safety now? What a catch! She should be grateful! She needs to stay with him, even at the cost of her well-being/growth/happiness/autonomy.
I won't even get started on the main character's less-than-stellar, but understandable, reaction to the male lead's animosity.
This just...should not be a romance. In any way.
And in the end, the relatively Okay Guy is also unstable, and dangerous. Of course.
All the fish in the sea are rotten, so might as well choose the rich and pretty one.
This would have been an incredibly, top-notch story without the distasteful relationships. It's a crying shame.
I've typed more than I meant to already, so I'll cut myself off here, with a quick and succinct: no thanks; please stop with these unhealthy "romances."
(-13)
(+214)
