Joowon is a narcissist. Nobody's doing okey in this manhwa tbh, haesoo is stuck in a toxic...

Hey someone got it right. But I don't like Taku. I don't root for any of them really. And I just hope they all develop their individual issues with or without ending up with someone. Everyone has issues. I completely agree on Joowon and Haesoo. And Taku has an issue too. Can't quite put my finger on it but yeah, he's not really into Haesoo, isn't he?

Yeah I don't feel like he really is into him, at least I know for sure he wasn't at first.
He does strike me as a narcissist too but idk for sure.
He uses people and throws them away without a care for their feelings, he does everything to get all the excitement and stuff he wants from you and then throws you away.
He kinda is after the 'fun' a situation gives him rather than the person, to me it sounds like he just likes the drama that comes with Haesoo+ the fame attached to him, add to that the fact that Haesoo is simply not giving him the attention he usually gets so that maybe has done a number on his ego...

Someone explained to me what Taku's professor was telling him. Taku tends to be attracted to what he thinks the person is but gets disappointed and throws them away when reality does not match his expectations. So now I'm quite worried for Haesoo that he'll be thrown away once the chase is over and reality (them having an official relationship) kicks in. The question though is will Haesoo ever fall, truly fall, for Taku? Because until that happens, the chase continues. Spoiler....I've read in the comments that Haesoo will choose Taku, but I don't believe that it's because he has fallen for Taku. ╮(￣▽￣)╭
So that will continue Taku's entertainment, I guess.

Did someone explain you too why Joowon told Haesoo not to fall for him?

So why Joowon is narcissistic? Because he said to Haesoo he can't live without him and he will always come back? To me it was a show of real insecurity. It looks more like Joowon was projecting his own state on Haesoo. Because he knew he can't live without Haesoo.

So why Joowon is narcissistic?

Not this again. I've been told many times. That doesn't matter anymore since their parents have been divorced for years already, yet Joowon wants to continue their relationship. But what kind exactly? There's a ring but is he planning to actually come up to their parents and admit their relationship, no matter what happens? Or does he plan to keep the relationship to themselves and continue to keep the "stepbrother" thing in front of their parents, his dad in particular? I don't think going public would weigh as much as coming out to their parents. Also, spoiler...dad apparently already knew but to me, Joowon's intentions and actions matter more.

And what does not falling for Taku have anything to do with Joowon telling Haesoo not to fall in love with him? Please explain because I couldn't quite relate your reply to my comment. Obviously, Haesoo loves Joowon and I honestly think he won't fall for Taku. But just saying, someone said in the comments that Haesoo would be going with Taku and I highly doubt that he went with him because of love. But who knows until that chapter is translated.

I stopped in the middle of reading your comment, sorry. I'm avoiding spoilers, I am the type of reader who waits for the english translations and don't look through the raws.

Didn't look at the raws, too. Just stumbled on the comments. The spoilers I got didn't exactly spoil me since what I look forward to is how the characters handle their issues, how they formulate their ideas and end up with their decisions. But I understand if you didn't want to know anything on the future chapters.

I agree that pretty much the summary of Joowon's behavior is insecurity but he really is coming off as selfish, self-centered. Everything is fine as long as things are in his favor or that he is happy. I mean, for example, Haesoo being uncomfortable about their relationship, esp in front of their parents, his dad, doesn't matter as long they continue what they are doing. Then he goes ballistic when Haesoo tries to break the status quo. Can't explain it in a better way to support the argument but Joowon's actions read "me, me, me" with "I'm doing everything for Haesoo" as a facade.

Oh! Never thought as that before ... I ever read that entertainer, like an actor, always has higher narcissism in them hmmmm.

His actions and thought process are actually the easiest to understand. Joowon has always been a family person. He cares the most about Haesoo, his dad and even his stepmother. In one of the flashbacks, Haesoo was crying, obviously being torn and hurt by how their affair stood between their parents' relationship. Joowon looked extremely distressed by Haesoo's pain, then he told Haesoo "don't fall for me". My understanding is that he knew Haesoo would pick him (Haesoo was trying to say that before Joowon cut in), and he could foresee that it would only end in his precious family being torn apart and no one could be happy. They were merely high school students back then, helpless, and Haesoo was being quite naive and reckless. Joowon did the only thing he believed to be the best for everyone, which is to keep their relationship from getting any deeper and to continue seeing each other in secret.
The only time I have seen Joowon being desperate is when he was trying to make Haesoo stay with him at the hotel a few chapters back. For the first time, he considered throwing everything away just so they could be together. It sadly didn't work and Haesoo rejected him completely, but I believe when he told Taku that he will remain by his side forever as a brother, he really meant it. To be a family means a lot for Joowon.

^This and the newest q&a confirm your pov

Yup I kind of agree. He definitely comes off arogant and selfish and his reasons are not always so pure but still I think his insecurities are the big factor in his behaviour/actions.

Okay, it's spoiler, I wanna add my 2 cents



In the latest creators's note, the author told us about Joowon's childhood. His mother died early and his father was busy so his childhood was mostly of him watching TV or at school. He romanticized the happy family from American film and Korean drama. And he has a deep love for his family and his people.

It's sure that family meant a lot for Joowon, so I could say that why he said the infamous "Don't fall for me" is because he didn't want to ruin his family, to him, family always comes first, even tho he has to see Haesoo in secret.

But I think it's true too that Joowon has this little "narcissism" in him (or worse, people say it's sefishness) :((( he thought that Haesoo would never get tired of him, he thought that Haesoo would get along in their little game just like him forever, he thought that Haesoo always needs him and he's always better than Haesoo's exes and he'd eventually get tired and come back to him. Or he has confidence, let's say. But now, it's true Taku made him anxious and afraid that he might lose Haesoo for real (unlike his past flings), that's why he kept assuring himself that the ending will always be him, tho it's clear Haesoo wanted to break up everything with him in chap 57. But now Joowon is on the process to get over Haesoo and (spoiler) in chap 68, he said that Haesoo shouldn't be Taku's model, if he just wanted to get rid off him, he would just back off, but Haesoo assured him that he wanted it himself and he needed the publicity and it seems that Joowon has cooled down a bit.

When he said he wanted to be his side as brother forever, I think it's sincere, tho. Joowon is still my favorite character after all. It doesn't matter if he's narcissistic/self-centered, I accept him and the critics.

...wow, I really liked the way you portrayed Joowon (=・ω・=)

Guys when i talk about narcissism i mean as in a psychological personality trait and that comes with a lot of behaviors that Joowon clearly has showed us.
I don't think that's him being family oriented as much as that point being shown to us to highlight his love for apparences. That's something narcissists love, they want to keep a perfect image in front of society while they can be super sneaky and hurtful on the low.
Him being an actor is also very telling...
Being overly selfish id part of being a narcissist, had he really been that family oriented he would've been devastated when their parents divorced znd would've done his best to keep the family together.
Anyway, I think it's okay to appreciate a character like joowon as long as you don't paint them as an angel because that's what makes them so memorable. He's a terrible "person" but a great character to read(〜￣△￣)〜

Uh oh, I don't study psychology so I can't give clear assessment about his narcissism personality. I can see the traits too, but it doesn't have to be some like a kind of real personality disorder that needs to read too deeply. I guess you know better. But Joowon being family oriented is not something that other readers or I painted. It's stated by the authors.
Hahahaha, just because I said he's family oriented doesn't mean I think he's angel. Like what you said, I think "he's a terrible person but a great character to read", too. I like him that way, as a character.

Yes, your comment said the author said it, I just said I think it was said to highlight something else, just my understanding of it.
Oh! I was adressing anyone who supports all of his actions and wants to make him a victim at any cost, it's always great to see Fujoshis not defending the evil ways of a character regardless of how great they make the story.
(▰˘◡˘▰)

I like your approach. I find it interesting that we learned more from Joowon in the eyes of Haesoo than from Joowon himself. With Taku it is a bit different, since we see him more. It is difficult for me to capture Joowons more distinctive personality trait. what haesoo lacks, Joowon has all the more. haesoo is also a narcissist who has lost himself. In any case that brought me back to the "dark triad" (the three by society disliked personality traits).
Is Joowon really more a narcissist, the psychopath or just an asshole? I had also read comments saying that Joowon was a sociopath. What he cannot be btw. He seems to be the simplest character right away, his temper, being an actor, the villain among people, I still have difficulties in naming his main personality trait and now to the rest. Does Haesoo fall under the borderline category? and Taku, who looks like an actual narcissist, is actually the machiavellist. That describes him the best.
But anyway, at the end of the day the webtoon is less psychological than we think it is.