Personally I think the only way the relationship ship can move forward (especially when it become s more romantic) and remove most of the power imbalance between the two of them is having them seperate before hand (hear me out):
So far Kim Dan has had no control over any aspect of his life (the most control he's had is over his career choice but even then choices in where to work after the incident at his previous clinic were few and far in-between). Yes he chose to look after his grandmother, but if you look at is, it really wasn't a choice. His financial burdens could not allow him to do much in either his youth or adulthood, neither could he afford to live in a place of his choosing - the place chose him.
He didn't choose to work for JK, the boxing gym was the only place that would take him because the doctor that spread rumours about him (which in turn prevented him from getting any jobs at any specialised clinics) couldn't touch the gym, because he has no connections in the gym. So technically this was the only place Dan found that wasn't tainted by his past, and frankly didn't care about it (which was a win for him).
Fast forwarding to Dan's contractual relationship with JK. Pushing past the emotional and physical abusive side of their relationship, Dan got nothing that went to HIM exclusively. When the contract stated that in service of JK's jinx, Dan would complete sexual acts in exchange for money, that money went towards his grandmothers hospital bills (and at the start before he moved in with JK, his meals). Very little in this relationship benefits Dan at all. Yes, he was also offered (forced) to live with JK in order to protect him from loan sharks, but technically this deal tipped in JK's favour since he then had more access to Dan at any time of day (keeping an eye on his assests). Still, Dan being the good human being he was, started providing more for JK because he felt he was more in JK's debt (after JK paid of Dan's loan), making his meals etc. (without pay - I think). But this also led to even less control in Dan's life cause he always had to be "ready" for JK (at home AND at work).
From there we get the picture, moving on to their (future) romantic relationship. I think the only way they can have a romantic relationship that doesn't feel so weighted down by their past (the relationship is going to happen so there's no point fighting it by constantly bringing up the nature of their relationship pre-Dan-Village-Recovery) is to have them initially sperate, and I mean for a while. Not like the half week we got at the end of season 2 I mean a good while. Dan needs to be able to get to know himself outside of all of the burdens he's had to carry his entire life and be able to make decisions without being influenced (controlled) by the hard circumstances he's been put through. And have Dan be able to make the choice of being with JK, wanting to actually go back to JK without being influenced or feeling like he owes something to JK (otherwise it will still feel like the power imbalance is still there, which we would hope would have been eradicated by then).
Wow that was longer than I expected, this is just how I interpret their relationship and also a theory. Might delete this later and post it to reddit lol.
Personally I think the only way the relationship ship can move forward (especially when it become s more romantic) and remove most of the power imbalance between the two of them is having them seperate before hand (hear me out):
So far Kim Dan has had no control over any aspect of his life (the most control he's had is over his career choice but even then choices in where to work after the incident at his previous clinic were few and far in-between). Yes he chose to look after his grandmother, but if you look at is, it really wasn't a choice. His financial burdens could not allow him to do much in either his youth or adulthood, neither could he afford to live in a place of his choosing - the place chose him.
He didn't choose to work for JK, the boxing gym was the only place that would take him because the doctor that spread rumours about him (which in turn prevented him from getting any jobs at any specialised clinics) couldn't touch the gym, because he has no connections in the gym. So technically this was the only place Dan found that wasn't tainted by his past, and frankly didn't care about it (which was a win for him).
Fast forwarding to Dan's contractual relationship with JK. Pushing past the emotional and physical abusive side of their relationship, Dan got nothing that went to HIM exclusively. When the contract stated that in service of JK's jinx, Dan would complete sexual acts in exchange for money, that money went towards his grandmothers hospital bills (and at the start before he moved in with JK, his meals). Very little in this relationship benefits Dan at all. Yes, he was also offered (forced) to live with JK in order to protect him from loan sharks, but technically this deal tipped in JK's favour since he then had more access to Dan at any time of day (keeping an eye on his assests). Still, Dan being the good human being he was, started providing more for JK because he felt he was more in JK's debt (after JK paid of Dan's loan), making his meals etc. (without pay - I think). But this also led to even less control in Dan's life cause he always had to be "ready" for JK (at home AND at work).
From there we get the picture, moving on to their (future) romantic relationship. I think the only way they can have a romantic relationship that doesn't feel so weighted down by their past (the relationship is going to happen so there's no point fighting it by constantly bringing up the nature of their relationship pre-Dan-Village-Recovery) is to have them initially sperate, and I mean for a while. Not like the half week we got at the end of season 2 I mean a good while. Dan needs to be able to get to know himself outside of all of the burdens he's had to carry his entire life and be able to make decisions without being influenced (controlled) by the hard circumstances he's been put through. And have Dan be able to make the choice of being with JK, wanting to actually go back to JK without being influenced or feeling like he owes something to JK (otherwise it will still feel like the power imbalance is still there, which we would hope would have been eradicated by then).
Wow that was longer than I expected, this is just how I interpret their relationship and also a theory. Might delete this later and post it to reddit lol.