Responses
My guess is that the uncle didn't do anything because the grandfather wouldn't allow it, most likely to keep the family from being publicly shamed. I am certain that the issues between Cheol's father and his uncle were caused by the grandfather. It's probably going to turn out that the uncle didn't want to disobey the grandfather.
It's still really horrible and makes you feel worse for Cheol because even the people who did love him did not treat him well.
At first I really liked the uncle, who appeared almost like a respite for Cheol. The more chapters pass though, the more I questioning why he didn't do anything earlier.
Like not only did Cheol said to his face, he wished he was his real dad the uncle knew basically off rip that he was getting abused.
So no calling protective services? Not taking him in? Just checking in on him every once and a while? Even in the flashback where Cheol says that he was afraid that he would be killed, he still didn't step up.
Not to mention the whole "you can only love those who are blood related" what about his whole wife? (who I assume is dead because she isn't really mentioned.) it doesn't feel like he carried a lot of love for her. I mean when cheol asked him about love being from someone unrelated, he didn't mention his wife. At all.
Im not saying I dislike his character. Honestly I like their interactions Everytime they show up together. It's just sad to me that Cheols supposed father figure didn't do everything he could when he was getting abused.