02/24/2024 10:02 PM  Some cultural context: 차갑게 말해 with no manners. 나쁘게 떠날수록, better   Sangwoo is your stereotypical Korean guy who was weaned off the soccer ball since young and just as worshipful of world-star soccer players: “I’m not gay, only for Messi because Messi is god.” It’s behind this very average Hyung-next-door masquerade that he hides his baser proclivities. Though, it’s just as likely that he may be the chameleon breed of sociopaths who have no interests of their own (or at least those that are socially acceptable, which violent homicide is not) but instead affects whatever persona he deems most beneficial to the given scenario, only to be shed off just as quick for another mask he calculates would endear him the most to the next person he interacts with. There is of course his go-to though: golden boy. ‘Isn’t he cute? He doesn’t even swear.’ An avid gymrat, Sangwoo is also /ridiculously strong./ He was able to easily overpower Seungbae, an impressive feat considering Seungbae is a graduated police cadet. South Korean police academies are infamous for being exceptionally physically grueling, as officers are expected to routinely throw down with local gangsters such as loan sharks and dealers to organized crime. South Korean police are known to be so prone to violence that that they are often considered only a step above actual thugs themselves. But on the upside! South Korea is also considered a very safe country, aside from the very occasional serial killer. Sangwoo’s bitter disillusion with societal obsession with outward appearances actually carries more merit than the odd manic spiel. South Korea holds a lot of importance to “인상,” which roughly translates to “first impression.” For example, a person could be deemed to have a very “fortuitous, vibrant” impression, while another can be said to come across as having a “harsh,” or “abrasive” bearing. This can actually make or break serious decisions in interpersonal relationships, such as hiring or even when brokering major corporate deals. (Note: While this may seem like such an insanely skewed pretty-privilege juxtaposed to Westerners’ much more inclusive beauty standards, it may also be entrenched in Korea’s historical embrace of the superstitious and occult before becoming secularized. While Christianity is now the nation’s most practiced religion (27%) followed by Buddhism (15%), it remains very common even today for people to seek “mudangs” (shamans) preceding big life events, such as marriage or the birth of a child to have the newborn’s fortune (or wretchedness) read. I once came across one such book my mother had in her possession, and the practice appeared to range from ciphering facial structures to how certain blood veins lie, similar to palm reading. Just to give you an idea.) This “skewed pretty privilege” may also help put in context how those that don’t fit the very specific standards are that much more marginalized by society, as was in Yoon Bum’s case. But conversely, these cookie-cutter standards are also what enabled sociopaths like Sangwoo to game people so easily into thinking he was a golden boy to idealize and pursue. (I may add more as they come to me.) 0 Comments  Report Post

02/24/2024 10:01 PM  Sample .o1: "Kyungri" 차갑게 말해 with no manners. 나쁘게 떠날수록, better   "Dongyu, shut up," Sangwoo spoke pleasantly. "Shut up, and go back to stuffing your face, or something." Sangwoo fell back silent over his textbook, letting the idle chatter of his juniors drift over him. If he was being more reticent than usual, well, wasn't that to be expected? He and Ji-eun had gotten pretty close before her disappearance. Everyone knew how Ji-eun was always following after Sangwoo, he must be really worried too... Sangwoo could almost read these predictable sentiments off his juniors' loathsomely-sympathetic faces. What his mind was really on, though, were more fundamentally boring matters than theirs. Like how late this tutor was planning on being. Interest piqued despite himself upon hearing she was from the prestigious school. With an impressive lineage at that. Probably thought she could be doing something better with her time than hanging with the low lying fruit. See, people shouldn't be so dismissive of others like that. It was wrong, and it always bothered Sangwoo until he was able to set things right. There should be more respect and kindness in the world. "Oh, she's here guys." Jisoo said after a text lit up her phone screen. She texted back, and from the periphery of Sangwoo's vision he saw a figure approach their table. This tutor had already fallen out of Sangwoo's graces with their tardiness, but uninformed meant unaware, and Sangwoo peered up from his textbook with a ready, easy smile. He wasn't quite prepared to find the statuesque woman before him. Chestnut hair falling perfectly tousled over deep, inquisitive eyes that could have been brown, but looked darker than chasms. There was nothing garish about her style per se, but she had a quiet gravity that drew you in, an exoticism Sangwoo couldn't put his finger on. He stood and joined the rest of his friends who were bowing with a chorus of 'nice to meet you's and 'thank you for coming's. Dongyu with gusto in particular, wheezing out "Nice to meet- thank you, coming-" in a rush. Sangwoo thought he was the only one who heard it above the din of chatter. Then Dongyu was doing this flailing motion, presumably to pull out a chair next to him for the female, not seeming to realize his girth would probably take up both seats. Jisoo gestured the tutor over beside her anyway. Which Sangwoo was fine with, since it was across the table. In front of him. A welcome break for his eyes after trawling through textbooks. Jisoo, as the point of contact and hereby the appointed ice-breaker, began the introductions around the table. Plying names to the faces as the tutor's gaze fell on them. /"And you are?"/ Sangwoo felt those amber pools fix on him with a heightened intensity, and his smile widened to a perfect crescent of white. Boyish, with just a side of I-don't-care. "My name's Oh Sangwoo. X-year at Sungsoo. Thanks for coming, I know we can learn a lot from you." If he was still the old Sangwoo, she would have made a perfect candidate. A thought that left him almost wistful. But he didn't pick them for himself anymore, he picked them for Yoonbum. And there was nothing killing this woman would do for Yoonbum. At least, that he could think of so far. 0 Comments  Report Post

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