He doesn't love Bum, he loves the role that he makes Bum play, his mother figure. That was shown for example when he asked him if he wants to play a game where he's the kid and Bum the mom.
Look at the traits of a Sociopaths, that's Sangwoo, the traits suit him more than anyone else. He may understands how it feels like and yet did he treat Bum like trash after he told him his past.
Also, empathy, really? He played sick games with various victims before killing them and mutilating their dead bodies. His "empathy" is nothing more than his mother issues. He has never shown empathy other than when he tries to act like he does.
He accused Bum for having "consensual sex" with his uncle and told him that he should have killed Bum so he himself doesn't have to "suffer".
I disagree. I know it's complex, but koogi has demonstrated all the steps in the development of psychopathy, schizophrenia and Sangwoo's psychosis. Now it is up to you to research and see for yourself the truth or continue to think that the lies and methods of control for Yoobum is love.
I Do admit a lot of Sangwoo's actions are driven by his mother's shadow. He may have kept Bum because of how they look so much alike or how much they tolerate from the abuser. But what reaffirms my belief that Sangwoo loves bum is that no one can take bum's place.... if it was simply a "role" then anyone could play Bum's part... someone else could be mommy... but the thing is that Bum is nothing like his mother. Bum is sweet soul and would rather die than to see his abuser suffer. Sangwoo should know this by now after seeing bum becoming upset after he murdered his uncle. On some ocassions Bum's presence overshadows his mom's and this is what made sangwoo fall in love with bum.
As for diagnosing Sangwoo as a Sociopath... I'm not one to put labels on people... I'm not a doctor and have no intentions of pretending I am. He treats Bum like trash because he can. He's a bonefide asshole... not all assholes are sociopaths... but maybe all sociopaths are assholes? Idk but even so, bum and Sangwoo are so alike... they share similar childhood trauma, fear of their past abusers, hullucinations, desire for affection (sangwoo's mommy issues) etc. Etc. The only difference would be Sangwoo's violent/murderous behavior and his lack of (but not totally without) empathy.
This is the thing though.
Sangwoo CAN'T stop putting Bum and his mom in the same place. From all his victims, Bum looks physically the most like his mom.
In Sangwoo's eyes, Bum basically took over the mom role. He's his "new mom". Sangwoo doesn't want his old mom anymore. That's why he killed the women when they were skiing even though she looked like a complete copy to his mom. At that point, Bum already took over as his mom. His dream in Chapter 36 further confirms this.
Yes, he should know now that Bum is nothing like his mom, but he can't stop it. The smallest misunderstanding makes him delusional and snap in fear of Bum ending up like his mom.
Not all Sociopaths are Assholes just as not all Sociopaths are Abusers or Serial Killers. You probably already met some irl.
Bum and Sangwoo are really not alike other than them having traumatic pasts.
I agree to disagree, in the beginning of ch 58 or 59 (I don't remember which) there was a discussion about the hand trick with the ring finger and how it symbolizes that you cannot be apart from the one you love. Sangwoo mentions that... the mother didn't show up in any of those scenes... he only began to having flash backs and a relapse because of the misunderstanding with the pills. The pills is what triggered him
And they really are alike... it's just that they chose different methods of dealing with their abuse?
But that doesn't mean that he didn't think about her. For all we know he could look at Bum and see his mom while mentioning it.
In all fairness, they're not, "just" both traumatic pasts. Bum seeks affection and it could be by anyone while Sangwoo has mother issues and we don't really know if he seeks his moms affection or not. Like, Season 1 and Season 3 Sangwoo have different opinions about the mom.
Well, I'll leave it at that. It was nice exchanging opinions with one another. Hopefully the next few chapters will answer more questions than it gives
Lmfao Sangwoo had empathy as a child and teenanger
It's not Sangwoo telling the ring finger trick, it's Bum.
Uh, yes, I know? Sociopaths are created, not born.
And um you wrote "He has never shown empathy other than when he tries to act like he does".
NEVER
I seriously dobut that this women was so simmilar to his mother, it was Sangwoo's state of mind getting worse, these were probably hallucinations. This women probably was a bit similar but he was projecting hsi mother image on her.
Never as in his Adult life.
Who knows.
So The thing is that "Sociopaths" are incapable of loving someone. Sangwoo is Capable of love. He loves Bum but doesn't know how to. His change in Behavior toward Bum Demonstrated his desire for Bum's affection. He allowed himself to be vulnerable in front of Bum. IDK why People are so quick to label him as a Psychopath or Sociopath. I know for a fact that he is a murderer, Violent, has mommy issues, and has a broken childhood but to label every murderer as a Sociopath or Psychopath would not be accurate. It was his love and hate for his mother that drove him to kill. He understands what if feels like to be a victim and, unfortunately, understanding what it means to be weak influenced his violent behavior. He did want to be seen as a victim... He would rather be seen as the abuser/predator. He is capable of love, the thing is that he sees it a sign of weakness due to his mother.