That's cool--some will ship it and others will not. It's just that everyone has a unique way of seeing things, and different definitions of romance (especially in fiction).
I don't think they are a hearts and flowers type of "romantic"--but they do have something intense. I don't personally ship them, but the way their psychological issues intertwine and their growing codependency is shippy in a way. I am not saying it's healthy for them (even in fiction) but that there is something there, and it is not platonic or even just comrades who like killing. It's romantic in the sense of powerful feelings and being focused on each other.
To use a different metaphor, if demons are as spiritual as angels but with a backward moral code, these two are forming a spiritual bond and understanding of the other. It's not just as friends, and it's not exactly as lovers--it is something twisted and beyond that. So, some people see that intensity as exciting in fiction.
It's not love the way putting someone else's interests ahead of your own is, nor is it caring in the sense of helping the other person get better (though Sangwoo may think Bum is now better. But there is a connection, and it is strong.
Sure. :) I think some readers are younger (and I don't mean that as a insult) and come at it from an almost naive perspective (e.g if the two were to move away, they could just live a normal life and stop killing). They just don't have the life experience or horror genre savvy to see why that would not work. Give them time.
They say books are like mirrors. I know sometimes I re-read books and see new things in them. The words on the page are the same, but I have changed. It's just how our minds work.
Wow so many replies why am I not surprised. I really love this story and was following it even before the hype, I'm just sick of people deciding that because it is fiction they do not deserve punishment. 'Fiction' does not forgive everything. Using that kind of idea racism, sexism and cultural appropriation is also fine if everyone claims that it's 'only fiction'. That being said I really do love killing stalking and their relationship is very interesting.
I want sangwoo to get caught and I want him to serve a life sentence in prison as soon as possible, before he can damage yoon bum even more. Yoon bum also deserves punishment but he was pushed into it by sangwoo. I'm disappointed at the number of people saying that this is hot and romanticising the murders.