For anyone wondering - Yes director is indeed died , it was verified by the author . Also ,yes, it is Yijae who goes to the prison to teach the now-blind Minhyung in the final chapter but the purpose why he went there is different from what you imagine.
Minhyung completely fits the profile of a high-functioning psychopath .He does not experience, process, or internalize emotions the way a psychologically healthy person does. Instead of feeling genuine empathy or remorse, his internal world is driven entirely by obsession, Calculation, and control. He successfully mimicked normal human interactions( like from Namhyun), maintained a socially acceptable persona, and masked his true intentions to keep Yijae close. When he committed his crimes—such as murdering Director Hyeon Ho—he did not panic. He was highly methodical, manipulating evidence, leveraging connections (like the director's brother), and carefully covering his tracks to eliminate any loose ends. Minhyung's ultimate downfall happened because his obsession turned into a fixation. When he realized Yijae would never truly belong to him and was still mourning his past lover on that cliffside, his logical mask shattered. He snapped, confessed out loud, and let his reckless impulses destroy the quiet, controlled life he had spent years building. The police heard that there and he got arrested.Armed with Minhyung's confession, the evidence, and Yijae's final police statement, the authorities lock Minhyung away on death row(meaning life in prison without parole in Korea )
Yijae survives but remains deeply traumatized, ultimately leaving everything behind with only the namesake teddy bear. That's why story is named Teddy bear .
Eight Years Later Minhyung is imprisoned, completely blind, mentally shattered, and frequently suicidal. Yijae enters the prison as a Braille instructor, teaching Braille—a tactile reading and writing system used by people who are blind or visually impaired. He takes on this role because it is the only way he can legally meet Minhyung. As an ex-partner and an unrelated civilian, Yijae would otherwise be barred from visiting him. Once his status changes from an authorized educational volunteer back to that of a civilian, he will permanently lose the ability to register as a personal visitor.
Ending Note Keeping Minhyung alive serves a profound psychological purpose in the author's ending. Rather than granting him an escape through death, the story leaves him trapped in a miserable existence defined by total blindness, constant isolation, and emotional devastation. At the same time, it creates just enough opportunity for Yijae to return and establish their final, haunting dynamic. As a Braille instructor, Yijae guides Minhyung's hands over the raised patterns that allow him to navigate the world without sight. This role reversal is deeply symbolic. Despite everything Minhyung once did to isolate and control Yijae, their positions have completely reversed. Minhyung is now the one who is trapped, isolated, and dependent, while Yijae holds all the power.
The Bitter Reality Once the educational program ends, they will most likely never be able to meet again. It is a one-time, fleeting encounter. Yijae's appearance feels almost ghostlike—a fleeting presence, he uses the Braille program to infiltrate the prison, forces the blind Minhyung to feel his touch, leaves him with a haunting reminder of the life he destroyed, and then walks away. Once those lessons conclude, the iron doors shut forever, leaving Minhyung entirely alone in the dark for the rest of his life .
Portraying that even after all the trauma, murder, and manipulation, their toxic and tragic bond remains unbroken, leaving the story on a deeply bittersweet and haunting note.
For anyone wondering - Yes director is indeed died , it was verified by the author . Also ,yes, it is Yijae who goes to the prison to teach the now-blind Minhyung in the final chapter but the purpose why he went there is different from what you imagine.
Minhyung completely fits the profile of a high-functioning psychopath .He does not experience, process, or internalize emotions the way a psychologically healthy person does. Instead of feeling genuine empathy or remorse, his internal world is driven entirely by obsession,
Calculation, and control.
He successfully mimicked normal human interactions( like from Namhyun), maintained a socially acceptable persona, and masked his true intentions to keep Yijae close. When he committed his crimes—such as murdering Director Hyeon Ho—he did not panic. He was highly methodical, manipulating evidence, leveraging connections (like the director's brother), and carefully covering his tracks to eliminate any loose ends.
Minhyung's ultimate downfall happened because his obsession turned into a fixation. When he realized Yijae would never truly belong to him and was still mourning his past lover on that cliffside, his logical mask shattered. He snapped, confessed out loud, and let his reckless impulses destroy the quiet, controlled life he had spent years building. The police heard that there and he got arrested.Armed with Minhyung's confession, the evidence, and Yijae's final police statement, the authorities lock Minhyung away on death row(meaning life in prison without parole in Korea )
Yijae survives but remains deeply traumatized, ultimately leaving everything behind with only the namesake teddy bear. That's why story is named Teddy bear .
Eight Years Later
Minhyung is imprisoned, completely blind, mentally shattered, and frequently suicidal. Yijae enters the prison as a Braille instructor, teaching Braille—a tactile reading and writing system used by people who are blind or visually impaired.
He takes on this role because it is the only way he can legally meet Minhyung. As an ex-partner and an unrelated civilian, Yijae would otherwise be barred from visiting him. Once his status changes from an authorized educational volunteer back to that of a civilian, he will permanently lose the ability to register as a personal visitor.
Ending Note
Keeping Minhyung alive serves a profound psychological purpose in the author's ending. Rather than granting him an escape through death, the story leaves him trapped in a miserable existence defined by total blindness, constant isolation, and emotional devastation. At the same time, it creates just enough opportunity for Yijae to return and establish their final, haunting dynamic.
As a Braille instructor, Yijae guides Minhyung's hands over the raised patterns that allow him to navigate the world without sight. This role reversal is deeply symbolic. Despite everything Minhyung once did to isolate and control Yijae, their positions have completely reversed. Minhyung is now the one who is trapped, isolated, and dependent, while Yijae holds all the power.
The Bitter Reality
Once the educational program ends, they will most likely never be able to meet again.
It is a one-time, fleeting encounter. Yijae's appearance feels almost ghostlike—a fleeting presence, he uses the Braille program to infiltrate the prison, forces the blind Minhyung to feel his touch, leaves him with a haunting reminder of the life he destroyed, and then walks away. Once those lessons conclude, the iron doors shut forever, leaving Minhyung entirely alone in the dark for the rest of his life .
Portraying that even after all the trauma, murder, and manipulation, their toxic and tragic bond remains unbroken, leaving the story on a deeply bittersweet and haunting note.