Jinx: Daily Jinx Advent Insight 13 📆👮‍♂️🕵️‍♂️

In this essay, I will talk about vanishing without leaving any traces. Anyone might think that the trigger for this analysis was the doctor’s departure in this panel (chapter 53). Because the latter is slowly vanishing into the light, it looks like the champion will have difficulties to find his soulmate. However, if you pay attention to this picture, you will perceive that Kim Dan’s shadow is huge. In fact, we have to envision that the closer he gets to the “sun”, the bigger his shadow becomes. This metaphor is implying that the cute hamster is leaving a trail behind. This represents the traces he left in Joo Jaekyung’s life and heart. The farer he is, the clearer the fighter can only realize the importance of his roommate in his life. However, I believe that though Kim Dan is about to become a ghost, the huge shadow is implying that Joo Jaekyung will be able to find him quickly.

The ghost in Kim Dan’s life

Funny is that the topic “Vanishing without leaving traces” came to my mind with a different panel, more precisely with this one: (chapter 47) You might find it strange, but everything started with the following question: where is the grandmother’s cellphone? One might argue that as an elderly woman, she doesn’t possess one. I can only reply that all the seniors I know (even my grandmother who is much older than Shin Okja) have one. Besides, let’s not forget that according to me, this image or this one (chapter 47) represent moments where pictures were taken. I doubt that the grandmother had a camera. Then in the last picture, Kim Dan was definitely too young to have on his own cellular telephone. Finally, observe that in this panel (chapter 47), people were taking pictures with a cellphone. However, since Kim Dan only recalled this moment in the bathroom, it exposes that the young man couldn’t look at the picture, as he desired it. In other words, he didn’t own this picture, but the grandmother did. And now, you are wondering how cellphone and vanishing are linked to each other. The reason is simple. Nowadays, the cellphone has almost become part of our own identity. If you watch the following videos

you will realize the importance of the cellphone and as such of social media. The best example for this connection in Jinx is Baek Junmin. (chapter 47) Before he was practically inexistent, only famous in the underground fighting ring (chapter 47), and notice that the champion had even forgotten him. (chapter 47).Interesting is that disappearing without traces implies the notion of “the right to be forgotten”. But why would people make such a decision? Either they want to escape from their environment (abusive husband, debts, …) or they desire starting a new life afresh. So when we look back at Shotgun, it becomes clear that his new identity is to mask his dark past. (chapter 47) It was, as if this man had not existed before. That’s how a star got born, or better said, he was a new-born man.

But let’s return our attention to the grandmother and her cellphone. One might reply that the elderly woman had a fixed-line telephone, like I detected in this image (red circle): (chapter 19) Nevertheless, since the readers are unable to see the cable, it signifies that the latter was coming from the front. I am deducing that the phone was placed on the small table. And now, look at the following images:

(chapter 10) (chapter 21) There is no landline telephone. Its absence seems to indicate that the senior switched to a different phone. She had to have one because of the authorities (school for Kim Dan, etc.). I would even go so far to say that the elderly woman changed her phone number. But why would she change her phone?

According to my theory, the fixed-line phone call symbolizes the moment the little boy was abandoned. As you can see, the phone call is linked to the vanishing of Kim Dan’s parents. (chapter 19) Not only it left a wound on the young boy’s heart and mind, but also on the halmoni’s as well. My assumption is that she internalized the phone with betrayal and abandonment. Moreover, my avid readers should keep in mind the remark from Joo Jaekyung: (chapter 22) He doubted her existence. Why? It is because he never heard Kim Dan talking with his grandmother over the phone. He had only mentioned her in his drunken state. (chapter 10) Finally, he didn’t see the picture from her on the night table, for the doctor had not placed the image there yet. In other words, she appeared like a ghost to the champion. Is it a coincidence that readers only know this terminally ill woman unter the name “grandma” in Jinx (English version). I am calling her Shin Okja, because the Japanese version revealed a name. Nevertheless, by having no name in Jinx, it reinforces the impression that this woman is like a ghost.

And this remark brings me back to the starting question: where was the grandmother’s cellphone? Notice that Kim Dan only received phone calls from the hospital (chapter 21) Thus I deduce that the elderly woman must have got rid of it. One might say that at the hospital, she no longer needed it. Nevertheless, such a reasoning is too superficial and simple. I am convinced that the grandmother had other motivations as well. First, that way she was putting the whole responsibility on her grandchild. Why do you think the association called him and not the grandmother? (chapter 11) There is no ambiguities that she was registered there as a resident. But if she got rid of her phone, the authorities are forced to call her closest relative. Secondly, observe that Kim Dan used the cellphone to pay bills and have a look at his bank account: (chapter 11) In other words, by refusing to have any phone, she dropped all the debts on her grandchild. He was now responsible for their household and expenses. Yes, the question with the grandmother’s phone led me to the following observation. Little by little, Shin Okja was vanishing which reminded me of the action from Kim Dan’s parents. At the same time, with no cellphone, she forced her grandchild to visit her, to keep in touch with her. Hence I can’t stop restraining myself from feeling that the grandmother used the hospital and the nurse to control her grandchild’s moves. No wonder why Kim Miseon complained to Kim Dan about his neglect (chapter 21) The senior could express her distress to the doctor, for she couldn’t see her grandchild so often. That way, Shin Okja wouldn’t appear as a whiny person. If my perception is correct, this means that the elderly woman utilized social norms and conventions to achieve her goal. The absence of a cellphone made her dependable on her grandson. Under this perspective, Jinx-philes can grasp why I am suspecting that her behavior is strongly intertwined with the abandonment in chapter 19. There is no doubt that with her illness, she could feel like she had become a burden herself to Kim Dan, and the latter could decide to leave her too. If you read all my previous analyses, you are aware of the existence of two theories concerning the parents:

  • They ran away after leaving the amount of debts, because they didn’t want to face the consequences. Moreover by being raised by such an immature mother, there is no ambiguity that the child could learn how to become selfish and immature as well.
  • They died by committing suicide.

No matters what their fate is, they definitely vanished into thin air. Therefore the male figure never tried to search for them.

How to Legally Vanish Without Leaving Traces: A Comprehensive Guide

Building a new identity requires careful planning and lawful actions. Here’s a detailed guide to achieving this while addressing all aspects of personal information.

1. Understand Your Current Identity

Your identity is made up of:

  • Personal Information: Social Security Number (SSN), date of birth, gender, and education.
  • Contact Details: Phone numbers, email addresses, and residential address.
  • Relationships: Ties to relatives, friends, and professional contacts.

These details define how companies and institutions recognize you. Begin by auditing your digital and physical presence to understand where their traces exist. This aspect is important, because Park Namwook will be forced to admit his ignorance about Joo Jaekyung’s private life. He might know where he lives, and have his cellphone number, but he never brought up his family and social background. On the other hand, Joo Jaekyung can find Kim Dan through the halmoni because he knows her name, probably her date of birth and her SSN!! (chapter 22) Yes, by paying the bills, he got access to this information. However, for that he needs a person who can have access to such information: (chapter 13) Cheolmin who is also a doctor. Medical professionals often use the Resident Registration Number (RRN) or equivalent patient IDs provided by hospitals to manage medical records. Access to sensitive personal data like RRNs is restricted and regulated under South Korean privacy laws such as the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA). This ensures that sensitive data is protected and only accessed when absolutely necessary for healthcare purposes. Only a doctor could detect the move to the Hospice “Light Of Hope”.

2. Inform Trusted Individuals

Before embarking on this journey, it is necessary to notify a few close friends or relatives about this decision. Without doing so, they might mistakenly report the person missing, which could lead to unwanted legal and social complications. The purpose is to prevent unnecessary investigations and keeps trusted contacts informed. This aspect made me wonder if this phone call (chapter 19) was not just announcing the abandonment, but also a request not to file a missing report. Maybe they “promised” that they would come back soon. And don’t forget that during the last incident, coach Jeong Yosep reported a crime to the authorities. (chapter 52) If the champion doesn’t return to the gym and moves to the place where Kim Dan is without informing Team Black, they could fear the worst. The champion is the target of criminals. Finally, it is important to recall that Heo Manwook only knew how to contact Kim Dan with his address. (chapter 1) He didn’t have his cellphone number at all. That’s the reason why he would come to his house to harass him. This explicates why he disliked so much the idea of Kim Dan’s move: (chapter 16)

3. Relocate and Start Fresh

  • Move to a different city or town, ideally a place where you have no connections.
  • Change your mailing address and inform relevant institutions confidentially.

The purpose is to breaks ties with your existing community and offers a new environment to establish yourself. That’s exactly what the grandmother is doing, she is imagining to start fresh (chapter 53)

4. Modify or Rebuild Your Digital Presence

  • Delete old email accounts, social media profiles, and cloud accounts.
  • Create new ones using pseudonyms or a new legal name if you’ve changed it.
  • Opt for encrypted communication platforms.

The goal is to prevent tracking, but also it offers better privacy. Don’t forget that Joo Jaekyung kept receiving calls from journalists and unknown persons. (chapter 48) Besides, these persons seemed to know about the champion’s habits (being awakened late, being home) I had already pointed out that “the cellphone” represents the negative side of “sharing is caring”. And now imagine that Joo Jaekyung decides to leave his cellular telephone behind or even he decides to switch his phone with the one from a friend.

5. Pursue a Legal Name Change

  • File for a name change through your local government.
  • Inform necessary agencies such as banks, employers, and the DMV.

The purpose is to establishe a lawful new identity. This aspect brings me to the champion’s identity. We know that many celebrities have a stage name, and they are hiding their true identity behind their stage name. Sure, many MMA fighters use their real name. But since they are artists as well, they can also decide to hide their true origins by using a stage name. As you can see, through this topic, I came to question Joo Jaekyung’s name as a celebrity. It is definitely possible that he took a different name because of his family background, for the relatives disliked his choice of career. Moreover, let’s not forget that the company Team Black (chapter 16) is an incorporated business. This means that Joo Jaekyung is the shareholder. So he is hiding his true power and identity behind Team Black. And since the Emperor was the victim of a hatred campaign in the media (chapter 52), his vanishing wouldn’t be surprising at all. It would be actually a normal reaction to be fed up of being online, and of being defined by the last match. What the schemers didn’t realize is that they pushed indirectly Joo Jaekyung to make the opposite decision than Baek Junmin. To disappear from the spotlight. But this can only lead him to create a whole new identity.

6. Reinvent Your Professional Life

  • Transition to a new career field or job role unrelated to your previous work. Here, I was thinking that the last crisis might lead the champion to act like the real owner of Team Black. So far, he hid behind his hyung, but in the future he could act like the director or even support Kim Dan to become a PT specialized for MMA fighters.
  • Avoid using professional references tied to your past.

The purpose of these measures is to ensures a clean slate in the professional world.

7. Build a New Social Circle

  • Engage in new hobbies, clubs, or volunteer activities to meet new people. Why? It is because if you keep the same interests, people will find you more easily. In our case, Joo Jaekyung could decide to focus on swimming, something he neglected before due to his job as MMA fighter. I had already speculated that the star might teach Kim Dan how to swim.
  • Though in reality, it is important to avoid revealing details about one’s past, I believe that in the champion’s case, the opposite would happen. He would be forced to reveal his true identity and past to the doctor. That’s how he would show his trust. As you can see, through the topic of “vanishing without leaving traces”, I came to make the connection between the champion’s vanishing and the revelation of his true identity and past. This means, Kim Dan will be the one who knows the fighter the best. As for the new social circle, everything will revolve around the physical therapist.

8. Manage Financial Privacy

  • Open new bank accounts in your new name if applicable. Kim Dan has already planned to pay back the champion and is not thinking of disappearing. (chapter 53) It signifies that Joo Jaekyung has a way to track him down. On the other hand, should the MMA use the black card, (chapter 24), his relative could detect his whereabouts and moves. That’s why it is important if you desire to avoid of being detected, you need to use cash or prepaid cards to limit traceable transactions. That way, it reduces the risk of financial links to your old identity.

9. Avoid Revisiting Old Patterns

  • Avoid traveling to places tied to your previous life. This represents another reason why the athlete can find his beloved PT’s whereabouts. Don’t forget that the athlete spent some time with the grandmother and it is possible that she talked about her youth and the West Coast. (chapter 21) Back then, many readers wondered about the content of their conversation. However, I believe, whatever it was, the champion didn’t forget her words. Furthermore, by joining Kim Dan’s side, the star will be forced to drop his routine and change his habits. And that’s how he will change.
  • “Resist contacting old acquaintances unless necessary”, Jinx-philes can already understand the person I am referring to. During his stay with the doctor, there is no ambiguity that the athlete will ignore Park Namwook and even phone calls from the Entertainment agency or MFC.

Since the purpose is to prevent accidental encounters or recognition, Joo Jaekyung will have to change his appearances so that no one will suspect him of being the Emperor. Under this light, it becomes comprehensible why Mingwa posted this image: . He is wearing piercing, jewels and rings, and his clothes don’t look like designer clothes. Finally, remember how Kim Dan imagined his soulmate: (chapter 32) Yes, clothes make the man, and as such through new clothes and hair dress, you can appear as a different person. That’s how it dawned on me why the Webtoonist created such a scene: (chapter 35) Choi Heesung made a terrible mistake, he attracted the attention from the guests at the café by covering his face. In order not to be detected as a star, the athlete has to act and dress like an average person: no fancy dress or car. And this leads me to my final point: using public transportation or the bike would represent a huge change for the Emperor. Once again, no one would suspect that a biker is a celebrity, similar to this scene: (chapter 21)

To conclude, I think that this research for Kim Dan will push the champion to vanish like thin air. Indirectly, he is following the grandmother. However contrary to her, he wouldn’t live like a ghost, quite the opposite. He would become a real man, no longer the celebrity. By acting that way, the champion would not realize that he is getting closer to his true self. That’s how Joo Jaekyung would become forgotten. That’s how I realized why Park Namwook was putting his pupil so much under stress and pressure, forcing him to race against time. It is because he is himself a “forgotten” national wrestler athlete. Naturally, I am not saying that the star will drop everything, it is just that he will take his time to take control of his life for good. Since I compared Baek Junmin with the grandmother and Joo JAekyung, I assume that Shotgun’s fame can only be short-lived, as he got terribly injured. However, there is no doubt that the Emperor will make a huge comeback exposing the truth to public.

As a final thought, I would like to underline this important aspect. The former CIA-agent pointed out how tough it is to vanish completely, as it is strongly connected with loneliness. Hence we have to envision that if Kim Dan’s parent vanished, they must have struggled too (if they are still alive). In addition, by joining the doctor, the champion won’t make such an experience, quite the opposite. He will discover the good aspects of life with a companion. The cute doctor has become his true friend and family. He can no longer live without him.

However, I am suspecting that the champion’s disappearance can not take place without any assistance. For me, people close to the protagonist will help him to find the doctor and even to take a break: Potato, Cheolmin and Choi Heesung.

Feel free to comment. If you have any suggestion for topics or manhwas, feel free to ask. If you enjoyed reading it, retweet it or push the button like. My Reddit-Instagram-Twitter-Tumblr account is: @bebebisous33. Thanks for reading and for the support, particularly, I would like to thank all the new followers and people recommending my blog.

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