Even setting the romance aside, the ML is associated with some extremely disturbing actions. He knowingly financed Paradiso despite understanding that it relied on child trafficking to obtain Healers. Regardless of his motive, choosing to fund an organization built on kidnapping and exploiting children makes him complicit in those crimes. The story also raises allegations about his necrophiliac tendencies. While those accusations are left ambiguous rather than explicitly confirmed, he never clearly refutes them, and his presence in the basement and connection to the recordings leave enough uncertainty that many readers view it as another major stain on his character. Even if that particular accusation remains unconfirmed, his involvement with child trafficking alone is enough to make him a deeply morally compromised character.
Another point that often gets overlooked is how the ML treated the Eunuchs. He knowingly used Healers/Eunuchs for his own sexual gratification despite being fully aware that they were victims of child trafficking and exploitation. They weren't people who freely chose that life they were kidnapped, abused, and stripped of their autonomy. Instead of challenging that system, he benefited from it. Even if he later developed genuine feelings for Yaba, it doesn't erase the fact that he initially viewed the Eunuchs as tools to satisfy his desires while ignoring the horrific circumstances that brought them there.
I feel like if we read the story up to current chapter we can guess all that no need to type it it'll scare away the new readers
Hence why I put it under a spoiler tag. What do you mean by "it'll scare away new readers"? Am I not allowed to explain why I think the ML is a red flag? If his actions include things like child trafficking, coercion, and sexual exploitation, then mentioning those isn't unfair it's literally explaining my opinion. Anyone who doesn't want spoilers can simply avoid opening the spoiler tag.
That's exactly why I mentioned it. New readers deserve to know what they're getting into before investing dozens of chapters. If themes like child trafficking, sexual exploitation, coercion, or the implied necrophilia are dealbreakers for someone, it's better they find out early rather than halfway through the story. Content warnings don't scare readers away they help people make informed choices.
Thank you so much for this! For me, the ml is a huge red flag that can never be forgiven for what he has done. I was supposed to read this but the ml disgusts me so much
The ML is a massive red flag. He secretly funded Paradiso, fully aware that it obtained Healers through child trafficking. Although his original motive was to save his sister, he still chose to support a system built on kidnapping, exploitation, and abuse. As a result, he is indirectly responsible for Yaba's kidnapping, castration, severe trauma, psychosis, delusions, and suicidal thoughts. While he later tries to help Yaba, that doesn't erase the fact that he helped create the circumstances that destroyed his life. He also used his wealth and influence to hide his involvement and largely avoided accountability, showing very little genuine remorse for the suffering caused by the organization he financed.
His treatment of the MC is just as disturbing. The placebo drugs he gave the MC were meant to replace the GHB that Kang Gina had gotten him addicted to, but he exploited that dependence. When the MC came to him asking for more of the placebo drugs, the ML coerced him into sex in exchange for them, despite the MC explicitly saying "no." The MC only gave in because he believed he would receive the drugs and finally be left alone. That is coercion, not consent.
Their relationship was never equal. The MC was essentially a prisoner living in Paradiso, unable to escape because of the constant threat that his brain would be exploded if he tried to run away. The ML held all the power through his wealth, status, and influence. When the MC learned about the ML's alleged necrophiliac tendencies and refused to accompany him to visit Cha Myunghwan, the ML simply became angry and forced him to go anyway. The story even suggests that if anything had happened to Yaba, the ML could simply bribe the Eunuchs and gangsters who witnessed it.
On top of that, the ML willingly participated in orgy parties, used the Healers for his own sexual pleasure despite knowing they were victims of human trafficking, relied heavily on alcohol and drugs to fuel his sexual desires, manipulated Yaba's feelings to satisfy his own lust, and even planned his brother's death for personal gain. The basement/DVD incident further implies involvement in something serious enough to threaten his reputation and political ambitions, yet the story provides very little accountability or meaningful self-reflection for any of these actions.
The story begins with Yaba as an extremely fragile and mentally broken character, surrounded by abuse and instability. For a large portion of the novel, the ML doesn't genuinely care about him as a person. He sees Yaba more as an object of desire than an individual with his own pain and humanity. It isn't until he notices Yaba's beauty that his feelings begin to change, which makes his affection feel rooted in possession and attraction rather than empathy.
What frustrates me even more is how easily people brush all of this aside because the ML is handsome, rich, calm, and charismatic. Attractive characters often receive far more forgiveness than they would if they looked ordinary. Readers end up excusing actions they would condemn in almost any other character simply because they like the character's appearance or personality. A character can absolutely be complex, compelling, and well written while still being a terrible person. Admiring the writing doesn't require excusing the character's actions.
That's why I consider him a major red flag. He's undeniably a fascinating and well-written character, but being well written doesn't make him a good person, and I don't think the story gives enough weight to the harm he caused.