I’ll be curious as to how author will handle how open they can or will be with their relationship. There’s Joowon’s high profile career to consider, but also the fact that they are a gay couple. I feel like the fact that their parents were briefly married in the past should be far less of an issue than them being gay. (Like if they were straight, I think far fewer people would see anything “perverse” about it, and more likely to find it “charming.”)
And here lies what I find to be a flaw in the storyline, which is to suppose that any taboo about ex-step siblings is worse than being involved in yet another high profile same-sex relationship. Not only high-profile, but no less than a controversial bisexual Japanese man known for sexually-charged photography, who has flings with his models, and a leaked sex tape. It doesn’t make sense for this relationship to be somehow considered more viable or socially acceptable.
I think the whole dilemma of conforming with parental and social convention vs following one’s heart/ true love would’ve worked better if Taku’s character had been written as a woman. But if Taku’s character had been a woman, I’d anticipate she would’ve been largely reviled by the fandom from the start, and that’s obviously not the dynamic that the author wanted with this work.
I was thinking this whole time!! How is it okay for Joowon, a high profile Korean actor, to be working with Taku: an openly bisexual photographer, with controversial work, and who has a leaked sex tape with his boyfriend (i guess most of the korean public doesnt really know abt that tho, but i think the company would at least do a background check or something.... but taku says he avoids photos or whtv so idk idk). Taku's character being a woman would've in fact made some more sense considering the societal context of this whole manhwa (it doesn't seem to take place in gay ppl fairy land the way many BL do lol). But youre right that if Taku's role was a woman, she would've totally been hated by fans (plus a traditional "uke" being bisexual AND with a woman?? even more crazy considering the heteronormative depictions of ukes in BL or whatever).
As for what's MORE controversial: them being ex-step siblings like a decade years ago, vs them being gay??? idk which one exactly, but im inclined to side with you that the sibling thing would be more accepted, knowing how deep homophobia can run in some asian countries (i say this as a closeted asian lol). Like even Joowon's own dad said that there was no incestuous taboo over their relationship anymore so....
Yo but how are they gonna live together. Will they be hiding and shit cuz mediawill be like THEY WERE STEP SIBLINGS THO