Ugh

I never said you had to stay, sis

Yeah, consent for parents to give consent. They still aren’t legal adults until 17/18 or when they can vote

I never said you had to stay, sis

As in, they can legally be a couple if the parents agree? Wasn't your argument legality?

It seems iffy over here in America, but i acknowledge that cultures differ and asian cultures can include arranged marriage to children as low as 15 y. o. What seems iffy here may not even give a 2nd thought there.

Well if you acknowledge cultures so much, you would know Korean laws are literally almost similar to the American democratic-republic. And it actually doesn’t matter what the legal age of consent may be, you are still legally a minor until the legal adult age (17/18/19) or when one can vote. That’s how it goes in any democratic-republic government. And yes, some cultures have arranged marriages of minors, but that doesn’t make it morally and socially okay. Suppressing and exploiting minors and women for the sake of economic interest and patriarchal dominance is completely wrong and disgusting. We as a globalized human society, are way past that wrongful standard. I’m sorry if you so happen to be correlated with such a culture, but it’s almost 2019 and progression is in session

Almost. “Legal consent age” actually means that parents get to give consent to their kids for them to have consent

Wrong? I don't think so. The only reason it's "wrong" is because there is a stigma involving younger-older relationships where the younger one is viewed as a victim. It shouldn't be a problem if the older isn't preying on the younger. That's the point we've all been making. So, i noticed you kind of tiptoed around my last response. So "age of consent" means they can date with permission, yes? This is important since your argument is legality. Maybe sex could be an issue, but they can wait. On paper, anyways.

What's wrong about a stable relationship with a mature partner? Again, i think what matters is feelings. If the person isn't a predator, it's fine.

More specifically because he's 17. I know how i was at 17 and having an older lover wasn't a turnoff to me. I also remember having autonomy and reasoning skills. He's 1 year away from 18...

I understand that and I totally agree, but that isn’t the case with this story. And in those specific cultures that still allow for that sort of arranged marriage to happen, it still is for economic interest and patriarchal dominance. Take a look at recent news concerning Egypt and take a look at socially wrong laws in the Middle East. There’s a reason for the #MeToo movement taking a global spread and an increase awareness to stop youth and minor exploitation.
And yes, dating and sex correspond to what one can consent to.By law minors cannot give consent without their parents giving that consent to them. So basically the law gives consent to the parents to give consent for their child to have consent (if that made any sense at all, I’m sorry, a democratic-republic was made to be complex). But essentially, legally, and psychologically, minors cannot give consent by themselves until 17/18/19/voting age. But biologically, minors are not fully developed to give actual consent until 25.

Here are some things i found: https://www.dictionary.com/browse/age-of-consent

By definition the age of consent allows the individual to consent themselves.

And since you've been discussing legality i thought i'd try and get some irl input: https://www.reddit.com/r/korea/comments/51fb40/what_is_really_the_age_of_consent_here_in_korea/

People who live and have visited can confirm that it is legal to have sex as low as 13. Consensual sex, of course. You're looking at laws, well here's how it actually works out there.

That's the thing though, what's being shown right now is whether or not that is the case. It's about to reveal how he feels about Seunghee, the chapter before this newest one implies he cares for him. To be honest, i know where this is going, but i'm wanting to make a distinction. Him having feelings isn't the same as him preying. HAS he preyed? Yes. But, people are arguing that he's still disgusting even if he has real feelings. I find that saddening.

There is a university student in Seoul studying this very topic in that reddit. Thy lay out the reality really clearly.

I think a definition matters a lot. Because moral is in the first place a subjective view. Standards of moral vary from person to person. So, to get an objective view there has to be professional well-informed people who create a general term.

The definition says - and in that case, moral is generalized too - that a 'pedophile' is "an adult or older adolescent experiences a primary or exclusive sexual attraction to prepubescent children." So just from the point of offical definition, the blonde guy is not suffering from this illness.

So is it legally wrong? Actually, it depents on the country. I think your main point is, that Seunghee isn't an adult, so it's illegal. That would mean, that reaching official majority would make a discussion needless. I don't think a person at the age of 18, 21 or older wouldn't be hurt as well. At some point adulthood is fluid. Some people are helpless and inncocent when they are already 30 and some are self-confident and independet when they are just 16 oder 17 (not younger of course). That's why the law is varying.

And the blonde guy is, like everyone else, a complex character, with many psychological facets. The author wrote him that way and the author wrote him with positive feelings towards other people too. And so I think there are romantic feelings, regardless of his other actions. One thing doesn't exclude the other.

But, the most important thing here is:
It's fiction.

So we can debate and talk about the character in a neutral way, because in the end, it's about a guy created by an author.

I like to debate. In a nice way of course. I like to hear other peoples thoughts and opinions. But I also think it's not that good to say "Y’all are crazy delusional if you think blondie actually has romantic feelings towards Seunghee". We are not crazy, we are just analyzing the hypothetic character traits of a fictional person.

And I understand your point too. It's your point and you have a great sense of moral. So when you hate the blonde guy, that's one thing. Saying people, who try to look beyond the surface of his character, need help, is not fair after all.

But well, I hope we all will enjoy the story though. I mean that's the primary intention of the story. (⌒∇⌒)

This^ needs made into a topic too.

Totally agree. It's one thing to know and be aware of something like pedophilia, but it's another thing to be able to distinct and differentiate it from other acts. Acts that, depending on the individuals morals, can be equally immoral and controversial.

In this case it's the act of dating someone twice as old as you at the age of 17. Now it's great that we've established that the age of consent is 15 in SK, and the term 'age of consent' itself. So legally it's alright.

The question of morals however is clearly debatable. We're not saying it's the greatest relationship to be in, because clearly his intentions at the beginning we're not pure. Just don't group it with pedophilia (which we all agree is very wrong). Also it's not immoral of us to not disregard the blonde uncles' possible, genuine feelings for Seunghee.

As @youraedthiswrong stated we all know how the story is going, but you can't deny that the possibility of a relationship between someone like them can be very much ok. To differentiate two things, that can be very similar at first glance, isn't always that easy. Great job on this one (｡•ᴗ-)✧

Very valid and very true:D

I for sure enjoy this manhwa. The way it portrays certain aspects in the relationships and the varietes of relarionships itself is very unique. It certainly had me thinking a whole lot more than I usually do, while reading bl lol.

Well said. I applaud to you. This is a proper refute I expected. Thank you.

And yes, I will admit it was rude to call those supportive of blondie “crazy delusional,” but that was in reference to those who are justifying pedophiles or who were justifying criminal acts of targeting minors.

Also, I think it’s important to note that the actual “dictionary” definition of something can be defined very much differently under written law, that is where my legality argument mainly stems from. And I already admitted to my mistake of labeling blondie as a pedophile, but again, pedo or not, it’s a crime to be in an intimate relationship with someone who is a minor. Either way, the law won’t necessarily allow blondie to be with Seunghee until he’s a legal adult or unless he gets consent from his parents to give consent. That is just how the world of laws and government work when you have the social contract in place. And biologically and psychologically speaking, we don’t have full capacity to make consensual decisions until our bodies and brain are fully developed (which is 25) but obviously it doesn’t coincide with legal law, but that is also where the line between and minor and adult stems from. You may claim you have a good sense of maturity, but that’s literally what all teenagers say these days. There’s a reason why the younger you are the more insurance you have to pay. Because we don’t have full capacity to make a clear decision on matters like sex and marriage and drugs and anything else related to adulthood. It’s also why the younger a married couple is, the more likely and higher chances they have of divorcing.

And again, I agree with the whole sentimental and love argument, but I think it’s obvious, if we look at yaoi archetypes and tropes, blondie will not end up with Seunghee. Seunghee doesn’t actually have “romantic” feelings for blondie because he’s confusing it with the feelings of finally having someone to talk to who understands you (especially considering the LGBTQ+ issue in SK). And even if it reveals blondie does have actual romantic feelings towards Seunghee, it does not at all by any means justify his actions from the beginning. Sexually harassing a young stud is absolutely horrendously wrong (don’t forget how he literally jumped Seungtaek despite that he said NO and that it wasn’t Seunghee and he literally just decided to harass him because he’s a young stud). Disguising yourself online to prey on middle schoolers and high school teenagers is disgustingly wrong (don’t forget how he and Seunghee were able to meet in the first place). And manipulating Seunghee was also wrong (when Seungtaek AND Suhyeok tried warning Seunghee about the perversion of this “uncle”). It’s okay to understand one’s actions, but acknowledgement doesn’t mean justice. Comprehending what he did doesn’t mean what he did was okay.

And yes, it may be fiction, but for a lot of people around the world, it isn’t. That’s why many people on any comment section on this site, take things personal and defensive and have heated debates over a fictional character or fictional story. And because it is fictional, there are times authors glamorize and fetishized certain topics that clearly do not need to be for various reasons and discretions. And to me, it definitely seems like the author is trying to make a statement about the complexity of a minor dating someone twice their age. It’s interesting I’ll admit but there is an aspect where they are trying to also state the wrongness of it, especially when they’ve characterized blondie has a pervert who goes after middle schoolers and high schoolers.

That's totally right. I can agree to most of your points. And I think we both agree, that the blonde guys actions are not good and that he really needs to stop.

The point where you say, biologically and psychologically we don’t have full capacity to make consensual decisions until the age of 25 is a highly interesting fact. I'm not sure if this is applicable on everyone, but I think it applies to many people. I will read more about this, it really makes me curious.

And thank you too for a nice way of communication :) Some people in this comment section seem to lose respect (both 'sides'). Like you said, some people take things personal and that's kinda sad.