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lookismstuff · 3 months

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Lookism Theory: On The Deaths of "The Sister" and "The King"

SPOILER ALERT FOR EPS 482-485 AND THE WAILING (2016)

Ep 485 pretty much solidifies PTJ's statements on March 2022 and September 2023 (in vlogs that have since been made private) that the Cheonliang Arc is based on the Korean horror film The Wailing (2016), also known as The Strangers. So I'm going to talk about the deaths of Seongji and The Sister from the film's standpoint.

Based on the film's plot these are the archetypes of both characters.

Seongji The King of Cheonliang is "The Demon in the Cave" and,

The Sister is "The Woman in White" and "The Hanged Woman".

A. The Death of Seongji (The Demon in the Cave)

In The Wailing, the entity in the cave is actually a Japanese demon with a human identity. He used to live in a run-down house in the mountain, before being chased away by angry and scared villagers that he nearly died in a deserted cliff. A character appeared midway through the film (Il Gwang the shaman) because he was invited, and was actually in cahoots with the demon. Towards the end, the demon retreated into a cave and resumed his original appearance as a demon.

So, based on the film's plot...

Seongji was probably ambushed by either the villagers, the Yamazaki henchmen, the Kojima brothers, or perhaps even Charles Choi's or the King of Seoul's men in his cave or in the mountain, assuming that the latter was already an acquaintance of the shaman's (Shinmyong).

The duel that resulted in Seongji's death was probably unfair, because he was chased away from his house, ran away through the woods in the mountain, and was cornered, wounded, and exhausted.

If the King of Seoul was involved, somebody must've invited him to Cheonliang on purpose. This invitation probably came from someone in Shinmyong's circle or from the shaman himself.

If Vin really murdered Seongji, then it was probably an accidental death or a mercy kill. In case the latter actually happened, it probably happened when Seongji was dying alone in a deserted place.

B. The Death of the Sister (The Woman in White and the Hanged Woman)

In the film, a naked woman appeared on a stormy night in front of the town's police station. Then she hanged herself the next day after murdering her family, and nobody saw it. Apparently, when she stood naked she was wandering in the state of possessed after getting in touch with Il Gwang the shaman and the Japanese demon. She was the first victim in the town, and after her a series of other violent murders happened.

Elsewhere, a mysterious unnamed woman in white tried to warn the other characters but was unsuccesful in protecting the town from evil, because they thought that she was an evil spirit. In the end she could only watch as Il Gwang and the demon left together.

Going by this film's plot...

When The Sister appeared during a rainy night at Vin's doorstep, she was actually half-drugged or was in a daze from other causes, and she ran away from trouble.

The reason why The Sister's clothes were disheveled because she either ran away in a daze or was assaulted.

Whatever happened to The Sister must've involved either Shinmyong the Shaman, Taejin, the Kojima brothers, or anyone else closely affiliated with them.

She probably tried to tell what happened to her or another secret but was stopped before she could do anything.

It was her death that sparked the change in Cheonliang, and it probably happened before Seongji died.

The girl was probably found dead early in the morning and nobody actually saw how she died the night before.

#lookism #lookism webtoon #lookism manhwa #vin jin #jin hobin #yook seongji #seongji yook #taejin cheon #cheon taejin #cheon shinmyong #shinmyong cheon #the wailing #lookism 485 #kojima shigeaki #kojima hiroaki

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lookismstuff-2 · 2 months

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Lookism TMI (Trivia)

The nickname of the Kojima brothers (Shigeaki and Hiroaki) during Gen 0, that Taegeuk Han and Gon Kwon mentioned to Gabryong Kim, was "Gwijeon".

The phrase "Gwijeon" (귀전) or (鬼傳) more or less means "Ghost Story".

#lookism #lookism webtoon #shigeaki kojima #hiroaki kojima #lookism tmi #lookism trivia #kojima shigeaki #kojima hiroaki

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lookismstuff · 3 months

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Highlights of Ep 486

SPOILER ALERT

"I can't breathe. I can't breathe! Take me out of this darkness that has lost its light. I can't stop it anymore. It's swallowing me up. Save me from myself..." - SONDIA, Nightmare

Some time during the night, Vin let the girl in but his mind kept him awake, thinking that the shaman must've sent the girl to kill him.

In anger, Vin was thinking of kicking the girl out but was stopped by the sight of her tears in her sleep.

The next day, Vin met the Cheonliang fam and apologized, but they teased him saying they wanted the old (rude) him back. Vin was embarassed but he insisted that he really meant to apologize to them (and that he was thankful). And that from then on, he was a Cheonliang Fam member, and called Seongji "Master".

Seongji called Vin to help him with kimchi, which Vin thought as maybe Seongji's way to trick him. Jewoo explained that they were running out of side dishes, while casually asking about the girl who was hiding behind Vin.

The girl then helped Seongji with the kimchi, and Vin then told the Cheonliang Fam kids that she was a servant of the Cheon household. She specially served Taejin, and had since ran away.

Taejin seemed to have vented his frustration of losing Vin and Seongji on the Yakuza and the servants. So the girl ran away out of fear of being killed.

Jewoo realized that this means Taejin must've been even more furious and would want to find both Vin and the girl.

The girl announced that she was a perfect servant: good at cooking, doing laundry, and doing dishes, which made Taebong and the others felt both pitiful and uncomfortable about her presence there.

Jewoo asked whether they would send her back, and Vin retorted that she would die since Taejin would never save her life, as his errant property.

Then Mary chimed in that they should take the girl in, and the girl thanked her (mistakenly called her "bro" and got hit in the head). Jewoo teased Mary whether she made this decision because of her rice diet plan and she kicked him mercilessly.

Seongji decided that the girl must stay at Vin's place (to his shock) since it was Vin who took her in the first place, then he got inside his house and left the kids behind.

Seongji also told Vin that he'd better take responsibility for her, and Vin was struggling with it but eventually said yes, on condition that Seongji taught him how to fight.

Vin told Seongji that he had no power to protect anyone yet, so with the new strength he'd be able to protect someone. Seongji told Vin that it wouldn't be just ssireum that he taught, but the classes would be so hard and vomit-inducing, the way he himself learned it, but Vin was happy anyway.

Seongji then proceeded to lock his door, and inside, he was gasping for air in what seems like a panic attack. In a daze, the young king took some pills to ease the attack.

Jewoo, perceptive as ever, realized that something was wrong and went knocking on his Master's door. Seongji deflected Jewoo's concern and told him to go and not to come in. In sad understanding, Jewoo complied.

Meanwhile, Charles was confident that the Shinmyeong would relinquish Cheonliang land ownership to him to deflect treason accusation. But the shaman showed the Red Paper that he obtained from Seongji: the evidence of Charles' treason, allegedly worse than Shinmyeong's. Shinmyeong called up the Kojima brothers and the other Yakuza lackeys just as Charles moved to attack him.

But Charles still had another ace up his sleeve: Enter young Gun, with a taunting smile on his face, to the foray.

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lookismstuff · 3 months

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Highlights of Ep 484

SPOILER ALERT

"The more you try to trap me, I'll go off the rails. So take a good look. If you want to see the end, push my buttons." - TAEMIN, "Advice"

It was revealed that Shigeaki Kojima and Seongji Yook entered a one-sided agreement in the past, for Seongji's annointment as a yaksha (guardian spirit) for Taejin. Apparently Seongji was taught to become this (and therefore sort of "graduated" from his original "sacrifice" slavery) by Shigeaki.

As she was helping her friends, Mary warned Seongji that the Japanese men were dangerous. Then they noticed that their master and Shigeaki were arguing in Japanese.

Tension escalated. Shigeaki accused Seongji of hiding Vin from the shaman the cult, Vin denied that the King was hiding him and followed the Japanese men instead.

Taejin was furious and jealous that Vin, (his property) was seen with Seongji, his promised yaksha (his other property). (There's no saving this kid I fear...)

Afterwards, Mary told the others that she thought Vin followed those people to protect them, but Seongji dimissed her, saying that Vin was just another brainwashed kid.

However, Wooseok told them that Vin was only there because he was trapped, and originally came there with his mother for the cure of polycoria, until she took her own life and he was enslaved as a sacrifice. This explanation seemed to stun Seongji.

Meanwhile, a surprising guest visited the shaman: Charles Choi, as a newly rising CEO. It was revealed that the businessman knew that men from Shigeaki's side of the Yamazaki faction were supporting the shaman. The shaman then asked, what exactly it was that Charles wanted from him.

During a ritual that night, Vin had a mental breakdown and shouted that this whole thing was a scam and that everyone was fooled into thinking that Cheonliang and the cult were their salvation.

The shaman demonized Vin (who also wanted to die) instead. The kid was pummeled, kicked, and eventually almost stoned by the cult members until Seongji stopped them.

The shaman proceeded to introduce Seongji as Taejin's yaksha, and Taejin was excited.

However, Seongji asked Vin whether he wanted to be rescued. Not getting used to neither admitting that he needed help nor getting actual help, Vin said no at first then broke down and said "Save me" (which reminds me of the cult kdrama Save Me).

As Vin wondered why he was worthy of saving, Seongji told him that they were both sacrifices, and that Vin's eye was cool. The kid wept as he was hearing this, probably the first time after years and years of being ashamed of it.

Seongji announced right then and there that he was taking Vin away, and breaking his promise of becoming a yaksha. He welcome the oncoming fight.

Notes:

Mary had always been quick at discerning people's behavior and I'm glad that Wooseok was the same. I thought Jewoo was the more perceiving kind but going by the awkwardness between him and Mary in the future, I don't think that's the case.

I like how PTJ made almost everyone, including Seongji, think that Vin was just a brainless cult member until they got the full story. This is consistent with what I watched and read about cults. People usually are quick to judge that people in cult are foolish, without understanding why they were manipulated in the first place.

I wonder whether it was Seongji's death that sent Vin back into his vicious cycle of shame and guilt, including hiding his polycoria.

#lookism #lookism webtoon #lookism manhwa #jin hobin #seongji yook #yook seongji #lookism spoilers #lookism 484 #choi wooseok #cheonliang fam #cheon taejin #taejin cheon #wooseok choi #mary kim #kim miru #SoundCloud

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lookismstuff · 4 months

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Highlights of Ep 483

SPOILERS ALERT

"Drowning so much, I'm affected by the ripple. Feeling so low that I can't even see the middle. Dark days, lost ways, made me feel little..." - "Something Beautiful", Tom Walker and Masked Wolf

Cheonliang Fam was basically the kids who were pupils of Yook Seongji's, the King of Cheonliang. They were present at Seongji's house, enjoying tanghulu candies, when Vin came barging in naked and begging to be killed.

Seongji wondered whether Vin really wanted to die, as the boy rambled on and on about how the monster in the mountain turned out to be this candy-eating hobo, to his dismay. To that, Seongji replied that Vin ate so many of his tanghulu candies anyway.

The Cheonliang Fam members, consisting of Park Jewoo, Lim Taebong, Choi Wooseok, and Lee Hyungjae, told Vin that Seongji had been teaching them the truth behind the Child God Cult's manipulations.

To that, Vin told them that it was all a futile crap, and Jewoo stood up to beat him up for being rude at school (Seongji's School of Truth). Vin was stronger than Jewoo, however, and before the other three kids could do anything but rushing at Vin, they were stopped by a girl.

This girl was none other than Mary. Because she was big, Vin mockingly called her The Elephant Monster, to which she replied by throwing him down.

Fainting, Vin realized that she was the strongest person he had ever met so far.

It appears that Taejin was the culprit who called the students to the sacrifice ritual, just so they could watch Vin walking all naked and paraded in the street. Having made this conclusion, Vin was livid when Taejin flippantly said that the other kids were bound to find out sooner or later, anyway.

When one of the kids was about to shame Vin further, Taejin even condescendingly stopped the kid, leaving a grand impression on that kid and the others that he was such a good person.

Vin came rushing at Taejin to punch him but Taejin pulled a Kudo move on him, having learned about the martial art from his father's Japanese bodyguards.

The kids cheered for Taejin, for trampling on the Eye Monster, who is none other than Vin. But Vin defiantly told them that they were the stupid ones for following the Shaman and his entourage and giving up everything for the cult. Yet it was Vin who was called the Eye Monster.

But Vin wasn't completely alone, it seems. Four boys stood up for him: The Cheonliang Fam. And Mary threw Taejin down, announcing that anyone who caused a ruckus at school would be stopped by The Elephant.

Being rescued didn't make Vin grateful. Simply because years of abuse made him believe that the Shaman would be out to get them anyway. But Jewoo told him that Mary's fame as a young, promising judoka shielded him from harm, even though her own parents were neck deep in the cult.

Jewoo welcome Vin in the fold. They were impressed that Vin stood up to Taejin like that, and promised to protect Vin from the shaman. Offended, Vin lunged at him but he was thrown thrice by Jewoo, Taebong and Wooseok. All of them were good at ssireum, the Korean traditional wrestling sport, and it was Seongji the King who taught them. The reason why Vin defeated Jewoo the day before was because Jewoo held back: Seongji had warned them that ssireum was a dangerous sport.

The shaman's bodyguards found the kids. Their leader, a former member of the Yamazaki faction (Gun's) named Kojima Shigeaki, told Vin to get ready for the next sacrifice ritual.

Mary and the other Cheonliang Fam members tried to stop them but failed, since Kojima and his two lackeys were stronger than the kids. As they moved to execute Wooseok, somebody else came to the clearing.

It was Seongji. He came and crushed the ribcages of the two lackey bodyguards... with his six fingered-hands. Yes, he was the original sacrifice boy who ran away.

Kojima taunted whether Seongji wanted to start "another war". Seongji retorted that it was Kojima who started all of this, anyway. And he said that would show Kojima and the other two, why he was called The King of Cheonliang.

Notes:

I'm so glad that Mary's characterization and illustration are very humane. There's even a new sense of purpose and direction in the way she's written: what with her ambition as a young athlete and her conflict with her manipulated family members.

However, I wish PTJ didn't retcon her hair color because originally in the God Dog arc it was implied that Mary didn't color her hair before she came to Seoul, but after. This was why Vin was surprised to see her as a blonde after he removed his tinted glasses for the first time in the arcade, after his duel versus Ivan Park.

I wish we saw Taejin's upbringing from up close. From what I read and watched in cult docuseries and books, children of cult leaders either turned into power hungry figures, dysfunctional individuals, or people who disassociate from such cults or any belief system. But all of these results stemmed from a distorted upbringing. So I think it would be interesting to see how the events in Taejin's formative years led up to his bizarrely wrong choices.

#lookism #lookism webtoon #lookism manhwa #vin jin #jin hobin #cheonliang fam #cheonliang arc #kim miru #mary kim #lookism 483 #yook seongji #king of cheonliang #SoundCloud #lookism spoilers

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lookismstuff · 3 months

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Highlights of Ep 485

SPOILER ALERT

"Everyone is drunk in a dream. Trapped in an illusion, created by fear. The tightly held hands. The life and death faith..." - "Illusion", THE VANE

Although he was proven too strong for the Yamazaki lackeys, Seongji was overpowered by the Kojima brothers (Shigeaki and Hiroaki) before he could do anything to save a stunned Vin.

The shaman (whose name Shinmyong Cheon could mean "Godlike Person") taunted Seongji that basically his worthless life was saved because of his mercy and not because he was anything good, really. He ordered his men to kill both Vin and Seongji and drown them in the reservoir.

But Seongji said that the "Red Paper" that the shaman had been searching for was in his hands, and that he would relinquish it in exchange for Vin.

It turns out that back in the day, Charles Choi blackmailed the shaman to relinquish a part of his estate in Cheonliang.

Charles had a document to proof that, some time after Gen 0 ended, the shaman, in cahoots with the Yamazaki faction, cheated the village landowners out of their properties.

The red paper would prove fatal to Charles Choi, and the shaman was gleeful to have it in his possession.

Taejin went mad in his martial arts exercise as he beat the lackeys mercilessly. He was furious that his properties rebelled.

That night, when rain was falling outside, Vin thought about how embarrassing it was for him to cry and beg for help like that to Seongji. He tried to back out of the deal, saying that he didn't need Seongji's help anyway, that the King was doing it on his own, but essentially it was because he realized the worth of the Red Paper and that he was too accustomed of seeing himself as worthless. Seongji seemed to know this so he just cooked them both supper instead.

Then Vin saw a ghostly shadow outside of his window, freaking him out. But Vin forced himself to confront his fear and when initially there seemed to be nobody, a young girl with loosened clothing looked back at him.

Before Vin could react, the girl had fainted.

Note:

The scene with the girl in the end is based on a sequence in The Wailing (2016), solidifying PTJ's confirmation on March 2022 and September 2023 (in vlogs that have since been made private) that this arc is loosely based on said film.

#lookism #lookism webtoon #lookism manhwa #vin jin #jin hobin #lookism spoilers #seongji yook #king of cheonliang #yook seongji #cheon taejin #taejin cheon #lookism 485 #Spotify

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