Chapters 37 and 38 of Killing Stalking stand out to me as the most powerful, emotionally complex, and psychologically layered parts of the entire series. These chapters offer a rare and haunting glimpse into what might have been between Sangwoo and Bum if their relationship hadn’t been built on trauma, abuse, and violence. For a brief moment, the chaos slows down, and something resembling normalcy—however artificial—takes its place. The characters go on a date, laugh together, visit a theme park, share soju, take a silly picture, and exchange a small gift. These aren’t just plot points—they’re emotionally charged contrasts to the brutality that defines the rest of the story. What makes this interlude so compelling is the fragile, confusing tenderness between the two. Bum’s joy is genuine and raw; it breaks my heart to see him smiling so innocently, because we know he’s clinging to the illusion of love. But what truly strikes me is how Sangwoo lets it happen—not to make Bum happy, but to study him. He’s not entirely unaffected. There are moments—like when he almost throws away their photo but keeps it after Bum calls his name, when he returns the frog keychain, or hesitates as Bum smiles—that reveal Sangwoo is feeling something. Something that unsettles him. And that’s what fascinates me the most: Sangwoo is scared. He’s scared of the feelings that begin to rise within him. He’s scared of warmth. Of care. Of what emotional vulnerability could mean. And in his twisted mind, vulnerability equals danger. So instead of exploring these feelings, he tries to destroy them—to remind himself that he is in control.
Chapter 38’s infamous bathtub scene is the emotional climax of this illusion. When Sangwoo sits in the tub, laughing and whispering “I win,” it’s not just a declaration of dominance—it’s a self-reassuring mantra. On the surface, Sangwoo believes he’s reclaimed control over Bum, who, despite everything—captivity, abuse, trauma—has become even more attached to him. In Sangwoo’s warped worldview, that’s the ultimate win: to break someone so thoroughly that they love you anyway. The theme park date, the soju, the haunted house, the sex—none of it was genuine for Sangwoo. It was a calculated power game to measure Bum’s dependency. When Bum smiled, laughed, blushed, and asked for closeness, Sangwoo didn’t feel joy—he felt validation. He had succeeded in breaking Bum so deeply that Bum now clung to him willingly. His words, “I win,” echo with multiple meanings. He has won control over Bum again, after watching him show signs of healing and independence. He has beaten the “better” version of Bum—the one who might’ve escaped him emotionally. He has proven that even when he feels nothing, he can still get everything: love, attention, fear, and obedience. In that moment, he believes he has triumphed over his own emptiness.
But beneath that hollow victory lies something unstable and frightened. The brief moments where Sangwoo’s mask slips—during the rollercoaster, while watching Bum light up over the frog keychain, or hesitating before discarding their photo—suggest that he is not immune. He feels something, even if he doesn’t understand it. And that confusion terrifies him. So instead of facing it, he kills it—emotionally, symbolically. Sangwoo’s “I win” isn’t about defeating Bum; it’s about defeating his own feelings before they get too strong. It’s his last defense against vulnerability, because to someone as emotionally wounded as Sangwoo, emotional connection is more dangerous than violence. It is that vulnerability, not the police, that poses the real threat to his identity. This is why his win is so hollow and tragic—because it’s not truly a win. It’s a terrified man trying to bury the last flicker of his humanity before it undoes him.
These chapters are my favorite not because they are romantic—but because they show just how tragically close these characters come to something real, only to destroy it out of fear and survival. It’s the heartbreak of what could have been that stays with me. Bum truly believed they shared something special that night. He laughed, opened up, and genuinely wanted intimacy. But Sangwoo was playing war while Bum was hoping for love. One thought they were healing; the other thought it was checkmate. Sangwoo reduced everything—Bum’s hope, affection, emotional growth—into a twisted power play. His whispered “I win” is more than cruelty. It’s a lullaby from a monster—not shouted in rage, but whispered in satisfaction. It means: “I still have you. I’ve erased the parts of you that tried to escape. You are mine—body, mind, and trauma.” That’s what makes it so horrifying. That’s what makes it unforgettable. And that’s why, despite all the disturbing parts of this series, Chapters 37 and 38 will always be the most emotionally haunting—and my favorite.
oh this is fire... comments like this was what i hoped for in its glory days but everyone was too busy shitting on it or looking at it from a romance/bl perspective instead of psychological horror
shut up bro aint nobody reading all this
nice analysis! i'd be really interested to hear your thoughts on sangwoo's attachment to his mother and how that dynamic influenced his relationship with bum.
Wait I love this reasoning way more than the authors. The author said sangwoo said “I win” because it was the first time he had really one upped seungbae. (In the credits episode) That reasoning left me so confused but your explanation seems to fit more.
Hahaha… I know—I was there when that happened. At that time, I wasn’t fully literate or knowledgeable enough to do this kind of analysis, so I’m really thankful that I can do it now. I’m very happy that you appreciate it—it truly makes me happy.
Oooh, I’d love to share that with you! If I have time again, I’ll definitely reply. The fact that you guys took the time to read my analysis really makes me happy—thank you so much! I hope you all have a great day. I’ll definitely share my thoughts on Sangwoo and his mom when I get the chance! ヾ(❀╹◡╹)ﾉ~ I’m just super busy with school right now, sorry!
Aww thank you! I felt the same way—that ‘I win’ moment always felt deeper than just outsmarting Seungbae. It’s like there was a personal, emotional meaning behind it that the surface explanation didn’t fully capture. I’m really glad my take resonated with you! Sangwoo’s psyche is so layered, and it’s fascinating how different people can interpret it in such unique ways.(⌒▽⌒)
someone cooked here…
You when deep character analysis and discussion:
i read that for a whole two minutes and this person COOKED and ATE leaving NO CRUMBS.
this is why i like re-reading so i can catch shit i didn't catch the first time and have a deep anylas on it. I've always wondered what "i win" meant and i feel like this makes so much since, he is scared of his own feelings and tries to manipulate everyones feelings around him and i feel like that does stem from his trauma. He desperately wants to control his emotions thinking he doesn't need anyone and that everyone is just a pawn in his game like Bum.
He thinks he's won by hiding his feelings and making Bum depended on him bc Bum is pretty depended on him and it literally shows in the final chapter because he does k*ll himself to be with him which is pretty fking sad honestly.
This personality will be one of my favorite psychological books bc of how much hidden meaning is behind it and how well it's written.
Jerry looks like Bum and Sangwoo’s secret love child and yes I’m not happy about it whatsoever ╥﹏╥
He gots bum’s facial features and sangwoo’s body and height it’s pissing me off （/TДT)/
I keep telling them He looks like Sangwoo while the mc looked exactly like Bum with his jacket on lmaooo
I know it might sound corny and cheesy, but Killing Stalking was one of the reasons that fueled my passion to become a psychologist—specifically, a forensic psychologist. It made me realize the lack of understanding, support, and awareness that exists around severe mental illnesses. People often downplay trauma, reducing its impact to someone being “weak,” emotionally immature, or unable to function properly in life. But they forget that these are not the only outcomes. Humans are capable of so much more—especially when shaped by the very things that have hurt them.
They are capable of killing, and even worse. Murder can sometimes be a desperate act of control. A person who has lived in extreme shackles all their life might see it as their only escape.
When I think about how someone can enter the military and only be tested for drugs or physical health—while mental health requirements are completely overlooked—it frustrates me. That’s something I hope to help change here in our country. If therapy were more accessible to everyone, situations like this could have been prevented.
I see both of the characters in Killing Stalking as evidence of how the system failed them. And the fact that this story could very well be someone’s real-life experience right now tears me apart—with guilt, sadness, and a deep sense of powerlessness.
I hope you'll stay just as passionate, this was very interesting to read! :3
Thank you so much—your words genuinely mean a lot to me. I was honestly a bit nervous about sharing something so personal and intense, so it means the world that you found it interesting. Killing Stalking really opened my eyes to just how overlooked trauma and mental illness can be, and it’s heartbreaking knowing that so many people suffer in silence without proper support. I promise I’ll stay passionate—this is something I deeply care about, and hearing that it resonates with others just strengthens that drive even more. Thank you again for taking the time to read and reply. You made my day! (づ￣ ³￣)づ
Thank you so much—your words genuinely mean a lot to me. I was honestly a bit nervous about sharing something so personal and intense, so it means the world that you found it interesting. Killing Stalking really opened my eyes to just how overlooked trauma and mental illness can be, and it’s heartbreaking knowing that so many people suffer in silence without proper support. I promise I’ll stay passionate—this is something I deeply care about, and hearing that it resonates with others just strengthens that drive even more. Thank you again for taking the time to read and reply. You made my day! (づ￣ ³￣)づ
I'm happy I was of any help! Sometimes I also think about all the difficulties people have in their lives because they don't realize they may have different mental conditions than other people, and thus need specific support or habits they need to developt to overcome/ease then.
It comes to mind especially when I interact with older generations, where there was even less awareness, and so you see lots of people (even my own parents) just raw dogging these situations, and developing side effects and coping behaviors as a consequence. I really hope mental health awareness keeps growing, and people realize it's as important as physical health. We would all live life to the fullest and avoid many many problems.
I wish you the best, good luck out there (●^◡^●)ﾉ
that's honestly very amazing of you and very sweet, i hope you have a very good future becoming a psychologist and help many people!
i cant relate because i forgot everything from 2020 but I hope you succeed in your path and become an amazing psychologist!!
I keep coming back to old manga’s cuz new ones are just all about sex sex sex with big dics…. I want a manga that has the same vibe as this funny but still romantic and cute
That doctor is lyyyyiiiing I feel like he knows more information than he let out to be
I love how I’m not the only one who has trust issues in this comment section (︶︿︶)
I didn’t know the plot was this interesting?! ╥﹏╥