Fr fr. Taeju is actually way too nice compared to other characters with the same background in other artists' works (for manhwa, since I found another good omegaverse with similar story in manga)
I mean, he saved Euihyun, gave him a place to stay and work, took Euihyoung to school, protected him but at the same time taught him what's actually the better choice for his own safety, and even when he said Euihyun had to use his body for payment, Taeju was busy enough to the point Euihyun was the one looking for him for sex.
The worst thing Taeju did was lying to Euihyun about paying his debt. But not even once Taeju hit Euihyun. Threatened? Yes. But only when Euihyun being stubborn. He even let Euihyun hit him all the time, sooooo yeah can't think Taeju was a red flag. He was a yellow flag turned to green actually.
I enjoyed his character development too, but people are allowed to dislike him and honestly should be encouraged to. Saying he’s not a piece of shit is absurd and completely incorrect, the first chapter he meets Euihyun he rapes him. The main part of his character development I liked was that he ACKNOWLEDGES what a piece of shit he was. He “saved” Euihyun, gave him a home, put Euihyoung in school, etc. all for purely selfish reasons. Yeah he did all those things when he didn’t have any romantic feelings for him but that doesn’t mean he did it for no reason at all. He wanted to be able to control Euihyun so he wouldn’t escape. Even when he starts to see him more than just a debtor, he only viewed him as a plaything and only once he realized his feelings were turning romantic did he start to realize and regret everything he did to Euihyun. But even then he’s admitted he let Euihyun’s father go because he realized he didn’t want to relieve Euihyun of his debt since that was the only thing he had over him. He’s a piece of shit, maybe if people stop defending him this BL wouldn’t get such a bad rep as a rapist apologist.
you can’t be serious? the worst thing he did to him was rape him. how can you excuse all his actions towards Euihyun as him being kind when it was clear manipulation? he bought him a house and put Euiyoung in school so he could have a piece of ass waiting for whenever it was convenient for him. Euihyun was looking for him for sex because that’s all he could do. he was being forced to stay home indefinitely and have sex with him in order to pay off his father’s debt and he got scared Taeju was getting bored of him and if he was bored Euihyun would then be forced to work in a brothel. god i don’t even dislike this BL but people like you really ruin it
Wait sorry I haven't re-read it again so it slipped from my memory.
Yes he indeed raped him. I won't deny that he's so wrong for that. You're right about that and I take back about the worst thing he did to Euihyun is only lying to him. It's okay if you hate him for that.
But my opinion about Taeju isn't that bad still stands. Because he did do something bad to Euihyun, but compared to other characters with similar backrground? Nah, he's not that bad (or maybe I read too much stories with shitty red flag tops). At least not bad enough for me to drop the manhwa and only come back when they finally regretted everything after losing everything.
Also, Taeju's character development came much faster. He realized everything before losing everything (though he lost his child once due to miscarriage). He still got the very last chance from Euihyun himself. I think that's why some readers can forgive him.
Sorry if I came off as rude, I completely agree. I like Taeju a lot more than other red flag tops (like Caesar, Zhenya, Jaekyung, etc. who I hate) bc of his character development. Even though I don’t think I can forgive him for what he did, he’s a very realistic character and I enjoyed how their relationship progressed. I just don’t like when people try to pass him off as some green flag, didn’t do anything wrong, perfect boyfriend top (we should never excuse rape). Both him and Euihyun are much more complex than that which is why I like this BL. It doesn’t gloss over the abuse/manipulation. I’ll also add I don’t think Euihyun is perfect either (I mean he literally drugged Taeju in order to have sex with him at the end of the story) but that’s part of the reason I like them together, they’re both flawed and it’s interesting to see them develop.
Judge me all you want, but I don't think taeju was all bad, not even in the beginning. The whole deptor and collector dynamic is always doomed from the beginning. Hes not supposed to show any sympathy towards his deptor, but he does and it develops into feelings and something romantic and he takes full responsibility for that, leaving him and all. But if he wouldn't have developed any feelings, his manhandling the uke was all in character for a gangster dept collector. I really enjoyed his character development and didn't think he was a piece of shit to begin with. You cannot expect sympathy from a gangster towards all his deptors or rivals. He gave this man a house a job a life when he didn't even have any feelings for him.