Responses
Ikr, I think the author must have read reviews that we are expecting mi-ok to be somehow closeted, therefore they must have felt like they need to make it unexpected or make us surprised. But that just come really off with the reasoning and her actions.
yeah, I did kind of think it would be too simple and obvious to make her a lesbian with internalized homophobia but that would be so much better than this
Okay, I'm sorry, I have to say my piece. I love, love, love, love, love this manhwa, it means so much to me, but dude that Mi-ok thing was not it.
I actually love how Mi-ok was first introduced. Sure she was baited as Mr. Kwon's ex, but it was only for a cliffhanger and the misunderstanding was cleared up right away. She immediately got along with Ho which I thought was adorable.
I tried to give her the benefit of the doubt during those chapters when she was acting all phobic and I was so curious to hear her side of the story. It was just a subplot, but her reason for leaving Seoul and returning home was so intriguing to me and I wanted to know so bad.
And then the reveal happened. Most of the comments have already said this, but her reason for leaving and then being against Mr. Kwon and Sung Ho is so weak like there is no reason for you to be hateful over something like that. I don't know if my opinion will differ from others here, but I don't think it is a Mi-ok problem. I think it is a bad writing problem. Of course, no hate to the author, this story is amazing, but the payoff just isn't as good as what they hyped it up to be. They hinted it and dragged it on across multiple chapters making it seem like once we see her side of the story, we can understand her. That is why a lot of people were speculating that she is a girl-kisser and projecting her internalized homophobia onto them. To me, hurt from a mother neglecting you does not translate well into homophobia because it isn't normal. She never said anything to Sung Ho or Mr. Kwon about parenting, being worried they won't be good dads, etc. so it's like she just connected two random things to be homophobic.
I don't know, I'm probably not writing this as well as I wish I could, but I just don't think her explanation came across the way the author wanted it to. Even in this new chapter, Mr. Kwon and Sung Ho consider her side of the story and try to empathize with her. If this was real, no one would even hear her out because her explanation is just so ridiculous.
I guess I'm just writing all this because I'm a little disappointed with the direction they decided to take Mi-ok's character. I thought her opening up about what happened in Seoul would bring her and Mr. Kwon closer together and develop some side character stories, but this reveal went in the complete opposite direction. If you guys have similar thoughts, though, feel free to discuss. I would love to hear other opinions.