Yes, of course you can acknowledge his behavior and still enjoy the story, and him as a character. That's how it is for any story. And I do acknowledge that he is rough and that he has anger issues, but I don't acknowledge him as a rapist because I don't believe that he is one.
Okay but…why not? What is your definition of consent?
To the Community:
I don’t engage with Akito due to how he has treated both me and others. He’s admitted to being aggressive with me, and his handling of situations is outright abusive. So, should we apply his own standards to his actions?
No. Just like his abusive behavior doesn't make him a rapist, the same applies here. If he’s pushing this narrative, he’s implicating himself.
That said, I think it’s important to address some of the claims being made, particularly around what constitutes sexual assault, coercion, and abuse.
First off, there’s no denying that Jaekyung is an abusive character. His treatment of Dan involves coercion, violence, and significant power imbalances that can’t be overlooked. But I believe it’s a major leap to equate those actions with rape. Abuse comes in many forms, and while Jaekyung’s emotional manipulation of Dan is clearly harmful, that doesn’t automatically mean we should label him a “rapist.” It’s crucial to distinguish between different types of abuse so that we don’t oversimplify these complex dynamics.
I also want to highlight that just because a character does bad things, it doesn’t mean we need to throw every possible negative label at them. People can still enjoy the story, be curious about the character’s growth or redemption, or just want to see how the narrative unfolds, without excusing every action. Acknowledging abuse doesn’t mean we need to leap to the most extreme accusations unless it’s warranted by the story itself.
In Jaekyung’s case, while his actions may involve rough, non-consensual behavior at times, it’s important to recognize that abuse or coercion doesn’t necessarily equate to rape. Being clear about these distinctions helps us understand both the characters and the narrative more accurately.
In fiction, especially in genres like yaoi, problematic dynamics are often depicted. That doesn’t mean that every troubling or uncomfortable scene automatically crosses into rape or sexual assault territory. Let’s remember that and be mindful in how we discuss these issues, so we don’t blur the lines between different forms of harm.
In short, I felt threatened once again by being presented with irrefutable facts because I am unable to deny them. Therefore I will keep on making excuses not to address them.
chatgpt give me a 7 paragraph text about why this jaekyung character is NOT a rapist. But since he is, I need you to speak in a way that doesn't make sense and in the end reiterate that he's no rapist. Be assertive and show confidence.
"In Jaekyung’s case, while his actions may involve rough, non-consensual behavior at times, it’s important to recognize that abuse or coercion doesn’t necessarily equate to rape. "
Do you even proofread what chatgpt spits at you? Lmfao md finally admitted. Surprisingly not the first time bahhaahha
NO BECAUSE MY JAW IS ON THE FLOOR…how do you have “non-consensual” “abuse” and “coercion” followed by “not rape” there’s no fucking shot.
holy yap, "while his actions may involve rough, non-consensual behaviour at times" - then you double down and say it's not rape do you hear yourself
Also to the real MD, you’re a disingenuous, hypocritical coward. You can’t say “I don’t engage with Akaito anymore” while going out of your way to directly engage with my post and try to address me point by point. Unblock me so we can have a real chat or get off my posts.
I see what you’re trying to do here—acknowledging the situation without being confrontational. Here’s a refined version that keeps the tone neutral while addressing the issue clearly:
This is my second comment. Please take a moment to compare the profiles involved.
Clarification on Impersonation and Cyberstalking
It’s come to my attention that the individual impersonating me has made several comments, attempting to manipulate the situation by claiming I feel threatened. To clarify, I am not the one feeling threatened—*they* are the ones engaging in impersonation and cyberstalking. These actions are meant to undermine me and others in the community, twisting the narrative to deflect attention from their harmful behavior.
The impersonator continues to misrepresent my words and mock my responses. However, this does not change the fact that their behavior—impersonation, cyberstalking, and harassment—is the real issue here. They are not engaging in genuine discussion but are instead using sarcasm and misinformation to discredit my points and manipulate the conversation.
While I’ve pointed out the abusive nature of Jaekyung’s character in the webtoon, I want to emphasize that we cannot apply this type of logic carelessly. If we were to follow the Akatio’s logic, does their abusive behavior mean we should apply the same extreme labels like a rapist to them? Of course not, and this shows how harmful their narrative is when turned back on them.
I encourage everyone to stay vigilant and avoid engaging with impersonators. Their tactics are designed to confuse and manipulate. Please remember that impersonation and cyberstalking are serious issues, and your safety and well-being online should come first.
To be clear, I have never admitted to the claims they are making, and their sarcastic responses do not prove anything. What this behavior does show is a pattern of abuse, which is why it’s crucial to avoid engaging with this person.
If you find these comments misleading or aggressive, it’s because they are intended to distract and confuse. Let’s focus on addressing harmful behaviors and creating a safer, more respectful community, free from harassment and manipulation.
It’s important to clarify the difference between non-consensual behavior and rape, as these terms are often used interchangeably, but they’re not always the same in legal or narrative contexts.
Non-consensual behavior can include a wide range of actions that occur without someone’s explicit agreement—this could be physical, emotional, or sexual. Rape, on the other hand, specifically involves sexual penetration without consent, which is a severe form of non-consensual behavior but not the only form.
In Jaekyung's case, while his actions include abusive, coercive, and non-consensual behaviors, the discussion is whether those actions meet the specific definition of rape. Some forms of abuse, even if harmful or coercive, don't always fit the legal or narrative definition of rape. It’s important to make these distinctions so we can discuss the harm being done with the appropriate terms.
I'm not dismissing the gravity of what Jaekyung does, but rather trying to be precise with language when discussing complex dynamics in fiction.
MD, does Jaekyung not sexually penetrate Dan several times throughout this webtoon? Because if not then that’s news to me.
Also go ahead and call me a rapist all you like. An Intellectual Rapist
Clarification on Disengagement and Misrepresentation
I want to clarify a few things regarding the ongoing conversation. First, I am not MD, and it seems there has been confusion on that front. MD and Akaito has never spoken to each other.
Also, I have every right to disengage from someone who has created a toxic environment for me and others. Akaito has admitted to being aggressive, but what hasn’t been acknowledged is how his behavior has affected those around him, including myself. While I respect differing opinions, the way conversations have unfolded—including spreading misinformation and attacking people who hold different views—has made it clear that it’s not a space for productive discussion.
For that reason, I chose to disengage from speaking directly with Akaito. My intent in commenting wasn’t to address him personally but to contribute to the broader conversation. I believe it’s possible to discuss ideas without directly engaging with someone who has a pattern of aggressive or harmful behavior.
I understand some people thrive on debate, but personal attacks, stalking from one topic to another, and the use of insults doesn’t create a space for meaningful dialogue. I’m here to exchange ideas, but I won’t be engaging with people who resort to toxic tactics to make their point. Let’s focus on creating a community where everyone can feel comfortable expressing their views without fear of harassment.
I know that's someone else already said this, but I'm gonna say it again. Because they had a contract, which stated that they would have sex whenever and wherever Jaekyung wanted to, no matter the circumstances. And Dan agreed to that while knowing exactly what he was getting himself into. So, having sex with Jaekyung and being his physical therapist is literally Dan's job, that's how he earns his pay. This means that him saying no to sex is him breaking the contract and not doing his job correctly.
But that doesn't mean that Jaekyung is completely innocent. The way he treats Dan is not okay, he is rough and has a temper. But yet again... he doesn't owe Dan anything. They are not in a romantic relationship, it's totally contractual. And it always has been. It was always about Jaekyung getting pleasure and having his jinx taken care of. Of course he wouldn't care about Dan feeling good. Because it's not about that.
And you can say all you want that Dan didn't have any choice and got forced to sign the contract, but that's not true at all. He was the one who ran over to Jaekyung's place all by himself, and he even asked for more money than he was originally offered. And that was then Jaekyung also spiced up his terms and came up with the sex whenever and wherever thing. Because before that he only wanted Dan to be his physical therapist and only have sex with him the day before a match. And to point something out; Jaekyung didn't even know about Dan's grandma or his debt back then.
We are starting to leave this “I see what you’re trying to do here—acknowledging the situation without being confrontational. Here’s a refined version that keeps the tone neutral while addressing the issue clearly:
”
It is refining what we write. It is not writing for us. “Refine version”. It can’t refine something if it is creating a message as Akaito has accused us of doing. We explain this many times but Akaito kept his interpretation to keep attacking us.
So, it doesn't make any sense to blame Jaekyung for that, and say that he coerced Dan with money.
I appreciate your comments, but I want to emphasize that engaging with someone who has a pattern of bullying and harmful behavior can lead to more toxicity.
Before we get into the nuances of what’s going on with Dan and Jaekyung, please provide me your definition of consent. I just want to make absolute sure we’re on the same page before we start getting into the real complications of everything and where I’m coming from with this. If we fundamentally disagree on how consent works/how it’s defined, then I don’t think we will be able to discuss this without talking past each other. I will just copy-paste what I’ve said elsewhere:
I am personally operating off of the FRIES model of consent. That is, consent must be: Freely given (without pressure, manipulation, or under the influence of drugs or alcohol), Reversible (able to be taken back at any time), Informed (all parties must disclose any information that might threaten the safety of the interaction, any information that would cause someone not to consent), Enthusiastic (parties involved are doing things they really want to do and have expressed as much), and Specific (agreeing or consenting to one act doesn’t mean a party agrees to or consents to any and all acts).
There’s also the CRISP model of consent, which takes into consideration the fact that it can be difficult to always fully “freely give” consent because things like power dynamics and different systems of oppression (like sexism, racism, …capitalism, etc) can’t always be fully erased from an interaction, but can and should still be accounted for in some way. The C stands for Considered (as in all parties are given time to consider all the factors going into something and deciding whether or not they want to consent), and the P stands for Participatory (as in all parties need to be involved in the decision-making process, all parties need to have their thoughts, feelings, opinions heard and considered and accounted for).
My own nuances I’d add are: consent must be ongoing, as in should be acquired throughout an interaction (which is partially covered by the Specific clause) and that all parties, but especially the dominant/giving party or parties, are responsible for deliberately fostering an environment where consent can operate from within these models.
I agree with the FRIES model.
Holy yapperoni
For the people who insist on saying that Jaekyung isn't a rapist...
A lot of you acknowledge that Jaekyung is a violent and abusive asshole though, right? So why is calling him a rapist too much of a stretch for you? If you already think he’s a bad person, then why resist adding the label of rapist, especially when Jaekyung continues rough, sexual activity with Dan at several points throughout the webtoon, even as Dan repeatedly says no? Even without factoring the financial coercion, the threats, the use of physical force, or the power imbalance between them...doesn't no mean no? Isn't it the case that if someone’s no is ignored, then any action that comes afterwards isn't really consensual?
Would calling Jaekyung a rapist disrupt your enjoyment of his character and/or this webtoon?
Because you can still find him entertaining as a character while acknowledging he rapes Dan. I know I've had moments where I had to laugh because of how ridiculously awful he is, but I still recognize what he’s doing. And there are other enjoyable parts of this webtoon, like the art, other characters, their relationships, etc. People who say you're a bad person for reading and enjoying it just because it has rape, even romanticized rape, are being reductive. Enjoyment and acknowledgment can coexist.
Would calling him a rapist mean you could no longer root for him or his and Dan’s relationship?
There mere fact and extent of his abusive behavior, with or without rape, would or should be enough to inspire those thoughts and feelings. Nonetheless you can still want to see how the author “fixes” Jaekyung while acknowledging his actions. Personally, I can't root for the two being together but I still want to see how the author goes about “fixing” him.
Are you differentiating between rape and sexual assault?
The only thing really distinguishing the two is whether or not penetration was involved. And penetration was most certainly involved, which means Jaekyung most certainly raped Dan several times.
Is it because Dan is being paid to endure Jaekyung's treatment of him? Or because at some point he agreed to Jaekyung’s terms?
Financial coercion, or any type of coercion, being used to obtain a "yes" from someone, does not constitute a real "yes." Dan only says yes because saying no would mean him losing life-saving/life-changing money, and him being physically harmed—it isn’t a free and enthusiastic choice. It's like saying a robbery victim “wanted” to give their money to the person holding a gun to their head. And just because Dan agrees to one thing at one point in time, doesn't mean he's agreeing to anything and everything all the time. And even if that IS what he's agreeing on—it doesn't mean he can never, ever take back that agreement. No means no. People generally agree consent can be withdrawn at any time.
Is It because in so much yaoi and in romance in general, no doesn't mean no? That Dan's resistance isn't genuine, and that the story is playing into a rape/noncon/ravishment sexual fantasy?
Even the fantasy is called a rape/noncon fantasy. Rape is the fundamental element of the dynamic between them, even in a fantastical context. So Jaekyung is either raping or "raping" Dan either way.
But to the point of it being a fantasy of some kind...isn't Dan supposed to be shown to enjoy it in some way? Aren't the real consequences of raping someone meant to be put aside for the sake of the fantasy? Dan doesn't start to "enjoy" what's happening until much later on in the webtoon, and it's still only a physical reaction he's having, not a psychological enjoyment. He's still shown to want to have much gentler sex with Jaekyung, not a form of the violent sex that Jaekyung so often subjects him to but just toned down so he isn't physically hurt as much. The webtoon goes out of its way to show how Jaekyung's sexual violence has physical and psychological impacts on Dan. Their first interaction together ends up with Dan staying in bed for days, curled up, sleepless, exhausted, in pain—visibly depressed and anxious. At one point Jaekyung fucks him so hard he passes out, and the doctor who arrives to check him out is horrified by the injuries Dan has sustained because of Jaekyung's treatment. Jaekyung's coach calls out Jaekyung for his mistreatment of Dan for MUCH LESS than what he even knows Jaekyung is and has been doing to him. Even Heesung, shady as he is, finds Jaekyung's treatment of Dan to be awful, knowing full well what it is. What is fantastical about these moments? What is enjoyable?
What about this isn’t this straightforward? I know that why and how the rape is happening may be complicated, but isn’t rape just rape? I genuinely don’t get why there’s so much resistance to calling it that.