beta
I've been wanting to read this for a really long time, I even started reading the novel and then got distracted and never finished it. I didn't read the webtoon sooner because only the r15 ver was available in english and I wanted to read the mature version since they cut off a lot of panels from it.
I actually liked the story. It hits a lot when we get into Jiho's most inner dangerous thoughts. Both towards violence and towards self harm. I think it has very mature nuances though so I'm not sure if a younger audience would like it. It's slow and makes you think about your adult life. It kinda reminds me of Form of Sympathy, another great read.
If I have to say one thing I didn't like it's not the age gap per se, but the fact that the story started when Jiho was 17. I don't think it would've made that much of a difference if it started when he was already 18, in all the major plot points didn't matter if he was of age or a minor. Like all the webtoons with this kind of trope I hate when they take in a minor that desperately needs a parental figure and then ends up becoming a romantic relationship... I'm talking about this, Projection, a Tree without roots and others, it's in general a pretty common trope of "found family"... I see that a lot of people are hating on this webtoon because of that reason (which I totally get it and I hate it too) but it's just funny to me how everyone loves Projection though when it's literally the same thing... what's more I found Projection even more uncomfy. Someone in Stranger the pace eased it up a bit how uncomfortable it felt that he was still a minor, though I still think it was totally unnecessary to make them know each other when Jiho was 17. The only time it matter was when he couldn't get a proper job and that Woojung says that its his "fault" for liking someone a lot younger, which both would've worked fine either way even if he was 18.
Second thing I have to say is that I didn't like how Jiho's anger issues have never been properly resolved. It's not normal to be so angry to be thinking of killing someone else and literally almost doing it. As someone who also grew up with parents with anger issues, I think it would've hit harder and it would've been really comforting to read about Jiho surpassing these emotions, even Woojung thought he himself should work out on not throwing glasses for Jiho's sake. I feel like it was quite out of character for Woojung to not help him seek the help he needed.
Third and last thing, I'm kinda sad that the only honorific Jiho uses throughout the entire story until the extras "검사님/prosecutor" got lost in the translation, I think its very dear and cute because it completely separates when he calls out "Woojung" or "Yeon Woojung" and he says his name is pretty.