God the parents are horrible.. they have to make everything about themselves and they both...

Did we read the same thing? Because it’s pretty clear that the parents love their sons which is why they pushed them so much.

The parents was pretty selfish... Its good that they realized itu now

WAIT WHAT this was a really good conversation that I enjoyed a lot.. maybe read it again?

Totally agree, they’re so freaking self-absorbed. Now that old age and loneliness looms on the horizon, they’re scrambling to pick up a parent to child relationship which they sabotaged to begin with. Now that is disgusting.

I personally don't think it's anything "disgusting" a lot of parents have been brought up in a way they are made to think that it is the right way of raising children, also many of these parents don't realise their faults even after old age, except here both the elders are talking how they are at fault of how their kids had turned out, that's actually a good thing, try to look at it this way, they are actually reflecting on their wrong doings and being accountable for it, giving their kids the space they need, it's what most of the millenials can ask for

Guilt-tripping, threatening to withhold love, berating, and lying aren’t excusable actions for parent to get a kid comply with what they want. When I call it disgusting, I am making a reference back to the mother’s characterization of their relationship. Which she can only see as far as it affects herself. The fact that they’re just now coming to terms with how much damage they’ve wrought doesn’t alter my judgment- they are damned lucky to not be cut off entirely.

This. Until the end they didn't think about their children and only thought about how their
kid's relationship would affect them personally. I feel like they both don't really care about their children. They don't care if their children call or not, if they are happy or not etc.. I don't think it was about them giving them space, they didn't have a close relationship to begin with. It's purely them not giving a fuck and coming to terms with their children being in a relationship.

I also hate how they used their children's relationship as a reason to break up... they didn't work out bc they just weren't meant to be. But the parents kept guilt tripping their own children.

If you really think that, then your bar is pretty low lol. "Being pushed" isn't necessarily a good thing, not if it means pushing your ideals and wishes onto your child without considering them one bit. The parents are two miserable human beings that tried their best to split a couple just bc it didn't fit their image of a picture perfect family. If you think that's loving than puuh

I don't have to read it again. Horrible parents who still try to come up with excuses.

You’re being pretty unreasonable. I think anyone would be grossed out that your son and the boy who you considered another son start dating one another. That’s pretty weird whether you like it or not and in real life, it wouldn’t slide with you dating your step sibling. Maybe because I’m Asian, I actually understand where the parents are coming from regarding how they raise their children. It’s called tough love. In the end they recognized how much pressure they put on them in that chapter so I’m still confused why you’re upset. Seems to triggered something in you lol

It didn't trigger anything. I'm just not defending emotional abuse and calling it tough love. Even if they were grossed out at first, how about sitting down with your children and listen for once? Their children obviously never saw each other as siblings, nor did they live together for that long. Just bc he dated Haesoo's mom it doesn't mean he saw Haesoo as his son. If he did, they would still be in contact. He didn't even have a close relationship with his own son so stop acting like he was grossed out bc they were step siblings. The parents are homophobic and cared more about their own lives than those of their children. They were more concerned about their reputation and their marriage, than their children's happiness. Stop advocating for selfish people.

But I guess I triggered smth within you as you seem so aggressive about defending them. Anyway let's agree to disagree.
Have a nice day

Lmao are you okay?

It’s been a while while reading this but I don’t remember the parents ever being homophobic? Shocked, yes, but homophobic, no. I’m also pretty sure the mom was aware that her son was gay for a while. Even the dad didn’t seem to be homophobic and was just upset because he was in love with the mom, making the situation difficult. Also what do you mean the dad didn’t have a close relationship with Joowon? He literally said that Joowon didn’t see him as much as he used to (which was often) to the mom. This really tells me you didn’t read the conversation lmao. And he DID see Haesoo as a son and it was shown several times throughout the story (the mom didn’t like Joowon however). I think anyone would be worried about society ostracizing your family because they were STEP SIBLINGS and constantly telling other people that they are BROTHERS. There has been READERS who’ve also found the relationship weird so it’s not just fictional parents being weirded out. I actually feel a bit bad for the parents actually since they most likely won’t rekindle their relationship and had to separate because of the boys. As Cori commented, “Lmao are you okay?”

Not the op here. The whole issue of being gay has been completely side-stepped throughout the story. I guess author didn’t want to take that on, because at a minimum it wouldn’t make sense for his mom to be ok with her son carrying on in a high-profile relationship with a controversial bisexual Japanese photographer known for soft-porn oeuvre, flings with his subjects, and a leaked sex tape. Somehow we are supposed to think this arrangement would be approved by mainstream society, that’s definitely a leap.
I don’t know where you got the idea Joowon’s dad had a close relationship with his son- it was the exact opposite- he was unavailable physically and emotionally throughout his childhood, referred to at various points through the story and/or out-takes. He didn’t even call Joowon after the bullying scandal broke! Dad doesn’t care about Haesoo, either, which even mom recognized and acknowledged during phone call in chapter 80 something.
Their marriage was a mutually advantageous union for status and compliance with social convention. No where is there a reference to love; fondness is implied on the part of the dad, that’s it. Literally the only reason for them discussing remarrying is to keep their adult sons apart!
Step brothers for a minute in late teens who never saw themselves as brothers- nothing to keep them apart other than parental disapproval and parental mind games, oh and the prospect of a remarriage. God, this aspect of the story has been discussed so much. Anyway, I do think all of this business would be considered of little consequence if it was male-female, but I digress.

This, Thank you. At least someone who paid attention.