*chefs kiss*
where do i even start. the art is gorgeous, the characters are great (including the supporting cast! i'm just as attached to secondary characters like mokwon, palweol, and dugi woo as i am to soongap and bongchun), the story is compelling but with enough natural lulls that the amount of smut feels earned, and the romance makes me want to walk into the sea but in the best way possible.
do be warned some of the subject matter is pretty heavy. there is a tertiary but pretty jarring portrayal of suicide by hanging as well as some suicidal ideation on the part of the protagonist, and there are several scenes of sexual assault and rape. the antagonist is the main character's semi-estranged younger brother who is infatuated with him and it's incredibly gross, but to the author's credit he is pretty clearly supposed to be read as a horrific creep. conversely, bongchun, who is unambiguously the character you're supposed to find hot, is hot in large part because of his consistent patience and regard for soongap's boundaries and autonomy. like there is a very intentional contrast between pilgyeon's terrifying desire to possess soongap and bongchun loving him so much that if soongap wanted to leave, all bongchun would wish is for him to take food and warm clothes with him when he does. ultimately it's a story about finding things to live for after trauma, and about the difference between selfish obsession and selfless love. i think it handles its dark subject matter fairly tastefully but regardless, tread lightly.
Bongchon Bride