Please support the authors by reading Manhwas on the official websites. This is where you can read the Manhwa: Jinx But be aware that the Manhwa is a mature Yaoi, which means, it is about homosexuality with explicit scenes. Here is the link of the table of contents about Jinx. Here is the link where you can find the table of contents of analyzed Manhwas. Here are the links, if you are interested in the first work from Mingwa, BJ Alex, and the 2 previous essays about Jinx The Wolf’s Cure Among the Sheep and The Silent Shore
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Introduction
The journey of Joo Jaekyung finding Kim Dan
(chapter 59) is a masterful interplay of symbolism, reflection, and narrative breadcrumbs laid out by Mingwa. Central to this exploration is a photograph
(chapter 59) —an innocent request by the nurses at the hospice
(chapter 59) —which becomes the pivotal clue leading Joo Jaekyung to Kim Dan. Through a careful analysis of the timeline and the use of contrasting events, it becomes clear that Mingwa’s narrative mirrors a kaleidoscope, reflecting positive and negative elements rooted in Taoist principles. While the doctor’s unconscious
(chapter 59) led him to the shore, driven by despair and suicidal intent, the MMA fighter’s journey stands as its opposite:
(chapter 59 ) a conscious choice to follow his heart, hence he was full of anger and frustration. Joo Jaekyung was no longer repressing his feelings, even if he had yet to fully recognize his affection.
(chapter 59) This deliberate action underscores the contrast between their emotional states and sets the stage for their eventual reunion. The stay of Heesung and Potato
(chapter 59) embodies the negative reflection of Joo Jaekyung’s purposeful arrival. We can detect the divergences: day versus night, work versus break, healthy versus unhealthy etc. Through the juxtaposition of images and situations, Mingwa provides profound insight into the characters’ thoughts, desires, and intentions. The photograph’s role becomes pivotal: while it marks the end of Heesung and Potato’s visit
(chapter 59), it simultaneously signifies the first crucial clue in Joo Jaekyung’s search. This marked the turning point where his ongoing efforts were given direction, transforming his pursuit into a decisive journey toward discovery.
At first glance, the photograph
(chapter 59) features key individuals such as Heesung, Potato, the green-haired nurse, and the director of the hospice
(chapter 59) —each of whom had interacted with Kim Dan
(chapter 57) during his time at Light of Hope. While these individuals appear as potential candidates for revealing Kim Dan’s location, the true helper remains shrouded in mystery. This ambiguity emphasizes the layered narrative of Jinx, where each small action—no matter how mundane—contributes to the larger theme of fate’s intricate web, offering insight into the power of both intentional and unintentional intervention. If Potato had not suggested the picture
(chapter 59), if the nurses had not insisted
(chapter 59), or if the photograph
(chapter 59) had remained entirely private (only Kim Dan, Potato and Heesung together), the chain of events might not have unfolded. Each of these “ifs” reflects the delicate interplay of fate and intervention, where seemingly small actions cumulatively wove the threads that guided Joo Jaekyung to Kim Dan. This demonstrates how intentional and unintentional acts alike can influence the larger narrative, ultimately intertwining lives in unexpected ways. The “if” becomes a recurring symbol of fate and intervention. Through a process of deduction and analysis, the photograph emerges as the link that sets fate into motion, guiding Joo Jaekyung to his lover. The stay of Heesung and Potato, defined by inaction, lies
(chapter 58)
(chapter 58)
(chapter 58), ignorance and superficiality
(chapter 58), becomes the shadowed reflection of the proactive search by Joo Jaekyung. This interplay of light and dark is central to unraveling how fate unfolded.
Potato, Heesung, and the Decision to Stay Silent
Heesung
(chapter 58) and Potato, despite their contrasting motivations
(chapter 58), came to the same conclusion: they should not reveal Kim Dan’s whereabouts to Joo Jaekyung. Heesung argued that Kim Dan was better off in his secluded life, away from the chaos of Joo Jaekyung. Potato, deeply trusting his lover’s seniority and judgment, chose to follow Heesung’s lead. Their decision reflects not only their loyalty to Kim Dan’s expressed wishes but also their passive adherence to the belief that avoiding intervention was a form of help which reminds us of Potato’s former principle:
(chapter 35) This shows that despite the last incident, Yoon-Gu didn’t drop this terrible principle. Notice that he is advocating the same philosophy than Shin Okja. Heesung justified his stance by claiming that it was in Kim Dan’s best interests
(chapter 58), implying that the relationship between Kim Dan and Joo Jaekyung was toxic. However, his reasoning revealed a deeper selfishness: Heesung harbored resentment and sought to see his frenemy suffer as payback for the humiliation and damages he had endured.
(chapter 58) This hidden motivation underscores the complexity of his actions and casts doubt on his proclaimed concern for Kim Dan.
This decision persisted throughout their ten-day stay at the hospice.
(chapter 59) Importantly, Joo Jaekyung did not arrive during this period, further affirming their resolve. The photograph taken just before their departure was the key turning point. However, the timeline—marked by the sunsets
(chapter 59)
(chapter 59) —suggests that Joo Jaekyung arrived only two days after Heesung and Potato left. This indicates that neither Potato nor Heesung leaked the information to Joo Jaekyung, as the champion would have sought Kim Dan immediately if informed by them. Instead, this photograph—seemingly public rather than private—became the clue he needed. Moreover, since the two friends knew where Kim Dan lived, I am assuming that he would have gone right to the doctor‘s rented room. But he did not. He went to the beach. Since the nurses didn‘t notice that Kim Dan was a friend of Potato and Heesung and mistook him for a fan, I am assuming that only the two friends know his address.
The Photograph as the Catalyst
The photograph holds immense symbolic and narrative weight. It was not meant to expose Kim Dan
(chapter 59); it was requested by the nurses as a keepsake for their time with the visiting celebrities. Initially intended as a simple memento, the photograph transformed into the thread that connected Joo Jaekyung to Kim Dan. Importantly, the identities of Heesung, Potato, the green-haired nurse, and the hospice director all become relevant, as each had interacted with Kim Dan during his time at Light of Hope.
This public nature of the photograph underscores the idea of “hiding in plain sight.” Kim Dan was among a crowd, blending into the background, not anticipating that anyone would recognize him. However, this picture became the critical link for someone who initially focused on Heesung, Potato, or the green-haired nurse or the hospice director. The person looking at the picture was not searching for Kim Dan but discovered him by accident, making the revelation both unexpected and serendipitous. This discovery highlights how fate operates through chance and unintentional connections. It serves as a prelude to exploring the contrasting dynamics of intervention, from misguided actions to purposeful assistance, which will be further examined in the comparative analysis.
Thus it is unlikely that the information came from members of Team Black, in particular from Oh Daehyun and Kwank Junbeom. Initially, I envisaged them as potential candidates, for Oh Daehyun has always had sharp eyes (he has an eagle as tattoo)
(chapter 8)
(chapter 37) and Kwak Junbeom was a witness of the encounter between Kim Dan and director Choi Gilseok.
(Chapter 48) Nonetheless, there exist significant points against this theory. Despite their fondness for the actor
(chapter 30) and their interactions with Heesung and Potato
(chapter 35), they are unaware of the actor’s relationship with Potato. The author left many clues for this interpretation. They didn’t notice the maknae’s absence at the champion’s birthday
(chapter 43), but more importantly the presence of Yoon-Gu‘s embarrassment in front of his hyung indicates secrecy. .
(chapter 58) His “redness” indicates that he doesn’t want to expose his special relationship with Heesung. Therefore I believe that he didn’t mention this trip to other members. Consequently, I doubt that the members were looking for Potato in such a photograph. Furthermore, from my perspective, members of Team Black are still left in the dark about Joo Jaekyung’s struggles. They are unaware of his drinking habits
(chapter 56), or his emotional state. They think, he has not come to the gym due to his recovery. Furthermore, they don’t use his cellphone number to contact him. The hiring of a new physical therapist and
(chapter 57) the interview suggested that Joo Jaekyung was taking a break to recover from his injury, leaving no indication of his active search for Kim Dan. However, Yoon-Gu got informed through Heesung that Joo Jaekyung was desperately looking for him:
(chapter 58), but probably saw this as another “negative reaction” (bad temper) of a spoiled child. This makes it unlikely that members of Team Black could have provided the critical information.
This leaves only the green-haired nurse and the hospice director as plausible sources of assistance. However, the hospice director can be ruled out, as he did not make the request for the photograph. His lack of direct involvement in this key moment suggests that his role in connecting Joo Jaekyung to Kim Dan was minimal, leaving the nurse as the final candidate.
The green-haired nurse
(chapter 59), while not pivotal in initiating the photograph
(chapter 59) —this was driven by her colleagues’ request—holds a central position in the narrative due to her placement next to Kim Dan in the picture. Although quiet, observant
(chapter 57) and unassuming
(chapter 57), her positioning reflects Mingwa’s deliberate storytelling, emphasizing her subtle yet crucial role in connecting the threads of fate. She is also unlikely to have directly contacted Joo Jaekyung. As an average nurse living far from Seoul, she would not have access to the champion’s contact information or knowledge of his search for Kim Dan. However, this does not exclude her influence entirely. My idea is that she shared the photograph with someone close to her—a family member or friend—turning what was initially a public image into a private clue. Through this intermediary, the picture may have reached someone who recognized Kim Dan and understood his connection to the MMA fighter. This chain of events underscores the role of chance and intervention in the narrative and suggests that another, yet unknown, individual helped guide Joo Jaekyung to his destination.
In season 1, both Joo Jaekyung and Kim Dan became victims of schemes
(chapter 50)
(chapter 49), highlighting the failures of relying solely on fate. The champion’s eventual discovery of Kim Dan underscores the necessity of teamwork and active intervention. Notably, this also reflects the flaws in Team Black, whose inaction and superficiality limited their understanding of both Joo Jaekyung’s struggles and Kim Dan’s situation. While Heesung’s stardom and blog
(chapter 30) could have amplified the picture’s reach, it’s unlikely Joo Jaekyung relied on such sources directly. I can not imagine him spying on the actor’s blog. Instead, the role of the helpers — the nurse and her acquaintance— emerge as crucial to piecing together the connection. The inadvertent role of the nurses Mind and Heart, urging Heesung to take the picture, becomes an integral part of the story’s progression.
(chapter 59) Symbolically, their request took place on the road, metaphorically paving the way for the reunion between Joo Jaekyung and Kim Dan. This act of intervention can also be compared to the three fairies in Sleeping Beauty
(chapter 13) who played pivotal roles in lifting the curse, as Mingwa’s narrative often draws on such reflections. Here, the nurses’ actions, though seemingly minor, echo the same themes of fate and intervention.
Comparative Analysis: Bad Help vs. Real Help
And now it is time to show the table with the comparative analysis which helped me to determine the identity of the “decisive helper”.
| Aspect | Heesung and Potato (Bad Help) | The Anonymous Helper and Joo Jaekyung (Real Help) |
|---|---|---|
| Motivation | Coincidence – They visited Kim Dan for unrelated reasons and deferred to his expressed wishes to stay hidden. | Purposeful – Joo Jaekyung actively searched for Kim Dan, aided by the helper’s deeper insight. |
| Driving Force | Heesung dominated decision-making; Potato followed blindly out of trust. | Collaborative – The helper actively supported Joo Jaekyung with information and empathy. |
| Knowledge of Kim Dan | Limited to surface-level observations, unaware of his deeper struggles (derealization, isolation). | Comprehensive understanding of Kim Dan’s physical and emotional state, possibly worsened by isolation. |
| Knowledge of Joo Jaekyung | None; they did not factor in Joo Jaekyung’s struggles or his importance to Kim Dan. | Awareness of Joo Jaekyung’s emotional repression, suffering and need for reconciliation. |
| Action Taken | Chose not to reveal Kim Dan’s whereabouts, leaving him isolated and misunderstood. | Proactively helped Joo Jaekyung locate Kim Dan, recognizing their interdependence. |
| Impact on Kim Dan | Reinforced his isolation and emotional detachment, respecting his wish to remain hidden but worsening his condition. | Facilitated a reunion, offering support and an opportunity for Kim Dan to heal through connection. |
| Encounter Timing | During the day, casual and detached, focused on surface-level interactions. | At night, intimate and deliberate, focused on reconnecting and providing real help. |
| Interaction Depth | Minimal – They barely talked to Kim Dan and misunderstood his deeper needs. | Profound – The helper’s understanding of both characters allowed for meaningful assistance. |
| Emotional Tone | Misguided loyalty, passive adherence to Kim Dan’s expressed wishes without deeper consideration. | Empathy-driven, with active efforts to address both Kim Dan’s and Joo Jaekyung’s struggles. |
| Identity of the Helper | Heesung and Potato: Superficial understanding, driven by friendship and blind trust. | Anonymous Helper: Likely someone who knows both Kim Dan’s struggles and Joo Jaekyung’s challenges |
| Motivated By | Fear of “making things worse” by interfering, leading to inaction. Heesung sees Joo Jaekyung as a violent, drunk and selfish ruffian ![]() ![]() | So the other person should stand for the opposite notions: Genuine care and understanding of the importance of reconnection for both parties. |
| Outcome | Left Kim Dan emotionally isolated and neglected Joo Jaekyung’s need to help him. | Enabled Joo Jaekyung to find Kim Dan, fostering potential healing and growth for both. |
Portrait of the Anonymous Helper
The anonymous helper stands out as a figure of quiet significance, bridging the emotional and practical divide between Joo Jaekyung and Kim Dan. Acting out of genuine care and empathy, this individual demonstrated a nuanced understanding of the connection between the two protagonists. While they may not have known all the details of Kim Dan’s struggles or Joo Jaekyung’s emotional turmoil, their insight and actions played a pivotal role. By recognizing the doctor in the photograph and ensuring it reached the athlete, who could act upon it, the helper catalyzed the reunion. Their ability to intervene discreetly and purposefully exemplifies the transformative power of small, compassionate gestures. This role, often unnoticed in its quiet execution, serves as a symbol of how intentional yet modest actions can shape the course of fate.
The Angel’s Intervention
And all these clues led me to Cheolmin!
(chapter 13) The latter knew the PT’s face,
(chapter 13) but didn’t know his identity. He mistook him for someone who was selling his body for money.
(chapter 13) In addition, Kim Dan never got to know the intervention of this hyung: he was the invisible helping hand in season 1. And now, if you reread the scene in episode 13, you will notice that this conversation between Joo Jaekyung and his friend contains all the ingredients in episode 59: the use of the phone, fainting, malnutrition, secrecy, neglect, secret suffering, pictures and public knowledge
(chapter 13), the death of a man and finally urgency. Moreover, remember what his friend told him before: the importance of rest and
(chapter 13) He should send him to the hospital for tests, but the fighter refused. Why? It is because the latter feared his “chingu”. The doctor seemed rather interested in Kim Dan, therefore he feared that the PT might dump him for a “colleague”. That’s why Heesung was sent later to his gym. Karma was punishing him for not listening to his friend’s advice. Finally, it is important to recall his advice:
(chapter 13) His recommendation makes him a clear supporter of the couple which stands in opposition to the second couple: Heesung and Potato. That’s why I am suspecting that the actor is about to receive his own punishment!! Who is standing next to Kim Dan?
(chapter 59) The Cute Potato! The actor is about to get a rival. But let’s return our attention to Cheolmin. Though in episode 13, he remained unaware of Kim Dan’s true identity and personal struggles, I have the impression that he got updated by the athlete later.
(chapter 43) And during that evening, the champion called his penthouse with the doc “Home” for the first time. Finally, in season 2, Joo Jaekyung started visiting each hospital or Sports Rehabilitation Center in Seoul in order to find Kim Dan.
(chapter 56) And there’s no doubt that Joo Jaekyung got recognized by people forcing him to use a mask to hide his identity. So this frenetic search must have reached the mysterious doctor’s ears, but I doubt that he made the connection between the star’s lover and the physical therapist right away. Since he‘s a guest of XY club,
(Chapter 13), it is also possible that he could have heard about the last incident in the restroom with doc Dan’s replacement. Since Cheolmin found Dan cute, it is very likely that he was also drawn to the surrogate „Dan“. But I don‘t think, this was enough to intervene, as Joo Jaekyung didn‘t ask for his help.
However, this must have changed, when Cheolmin came across the photograph and recognized Kim Dan, his prior connection to both men could have inspired him to act. Moreover, since he had examined Kim Dan before, as a detailed -oriented physician, he could have detected the pale face of Kim Dan.
(Chapter 59) Moreover, if he talked with the green-haired nurse, he could have heard about his unusual tiredness and spacing out. This would reflect the theme of fate weaving unlikely connections into the narrative. Cheolmin’s invisible intervention would also underscore the contrast between those who act out of genuine care and those who avoid involvement due to fear or inaction. However, since the champion came at the right time, it is likely that Joo Jaekyung will feel deeply grateful to the person who informed him. This gratitude may pave the way for Joo Jaekyung to trust others more fully and recognize the value of relying on others’ judgment.
Finally, I would like to remind my readers about my previous portrait of the mysterious doctor Cheolmin: I compared him to an archangel
and to Neptune
and strangely, the doctor moved to a place next to the coast. So maybe Cheolmin comes from that little town and the green-haired nurse is his relative. I had already outlined their similarities. Finally, look at the numbers, we have 4 in both episodes, 13 and 59 (13: 1+3 = 4 / 59: 5-9= -4) The -4 would coincide with Kim Dan’s vanishing, but also with the intervention of Cheolmin. And if my theory is correct, this means that the champion will come to regret his past decision
(chapter 13), not to listen to his true friend, the one who was not called
(chapter 56), but who reached to him, when Joo Jaekyung needed assistance the most. He was the only one who was accepting the fighter’s struggling, whereas Park Namwook chose to bury the truth.
Contrasting the Two Photographs
The two significant photographs in Jinx—one of Kim Dan and his grandmother
(Chapter 19) and the group photograph at the hospice
(chapter 59) (Chapter 59)—serve as visual metaphors for Kim Dan’s emotional state and his evolving journey. However, their contrast is best understood through an analysis of key aspects: location, subjects, feelings, and the importance of memory.
Location: The first photograph, taken in a garden filled with vibrant flowers, symbolizes life and nature. This imagery conveys warmth and innocence, yet in reality, it reflects ephemerality and death due to the flowers. Moreover, it is ironically undercut by the secrecy surrounding the picture, as it was hidden from view. That’s why the readers can not identify the location and occasion for this image too. In contrast, the hospice setting of the second photograph can be more easily identified and located. In addition, it represents a more clinical and structured environment. On the other hand, it contains a common denominator with the first image: death and temporality. This means that The “Light of Hope” sign in the background casts a dual shadow. On the one hand, it signifies the grandmother’s oppressive influence but also hints at the possibility of healing and reconnection. Someone else will take over her place.
Subjects: The first photograph features only Kim Dan and his grandmother, emphasizing their private and familial bond. This simplicity, however, underscores Kim Dan’s isolation and dependency on a single flawed relationship. The group photograph, on the other hand, is crowded with people: nurses, hospice staff, and celebrities. The collective setting reflects a growing sense of community, albeit one where Kim Dan remains on the periphery. His inclusion in this photograph marks the beginning of a tentative integration into a broader social circle.
Feelings of Kim Dan: In the first photograph, Kim Dan’s childlike happiness is genuine, hence I am suspecting that the halmoni’s smile was not sincere. How so? It is because in the hospice photograph, Kim Dan’s outward expressions appear subdued, reflecting discomfort and reluctance. Everyone is happy except him, but no one noticed it. Hence I believe that in the first picture, Kim Dan has been idealizing his grandmother’s happiness. However, since he is now struggling, I see this new picture as a good sign. This juxtaposition highlights his transition from stagnation and idealization to a fragile but growing acceptance of connection and support.
Importance of Memory: The childhood photograph was hidden, suggesting that it served more as a relic of the past than a tool for connection. For Kim Dan, it embodied a memory of his grandmother’s love, but for her, it likely held no such significance—highlighting her emotional distance. In contrast, the hospice photograph, initially intended as a lighthearted memento, became a pivotal clue in reuniting Kim Dan with Joo Jaekyung. Its transformation from public to private use underscores the power of shared memories in forging connections. Furthermore, since the second picture announces the future reunion of the protagonists, I am connecting the first picture to a future „separation“. On the other hand, the second image was taken just before they departed, so both photographs are linked to separation and departure.
Photographer’s Identity: The identity of the photographer adds another layer of contrast. The hospice photograph was taken by Heesung’s manager, someone connected to work and external responsibilities. In contrast, the photographer of the childhood image remains unknown, shrouding the moment in secrecy. This anonymity, combined with the hidden nature of the photograph, reinforces its association with private pain and toxic positivity. Both images carry “ghosts”—the grandmother’s influence and the silent presence of the anonymous photographer—highlighting the themes of temporality and loss in Kim Dan’s journey.
Through these comparisons, it becomes evident that the first photograph symbolizes stagnation, secrecy, and unspoken pain, while the second reflects progression, albeit hesitant, toward community and healing. These images serve as mirrors of Kim Dan’s journey, reinforcing Mingwa’s use of visual storytelling to depict the interplay of isolation, connection, and fate. This comparison serves another purpose as well. Keep in mind that the one who desired to have a private picture was Potato
(chapter), he wanted to have a good memory of his stay there with Heesung and Potato. However, this is how it looked like in the end:
(chapter 59) It became the synonym for “work” and “fame”. So should the news about Kim Dan’s action reach Potato’s ears, he can only get shocked. What he thought to be a happy memory, was not, because he was unable to detect his friend’s suffering. He was not a true friend. As you can see, I have the feeling that this image will drive an edge between the second couple in the end. Let’s not forget that the actor is now using friendship and work to hide his true relationship with Yoon-Gu. So far, he has not been honest to the chow chow. He used his innocence to his advantage. However, the doctor’s attempted suicide announces the loss of Potato’s real innocence.
Conclusion: A Green Thread Among the Red
Through the photograph and the green-haired nurse’s inadvertent intervention, Joo Jaekyung was led to Kim Dan. The story’s thematic underpinnings—fate, connection, and the contrast between isolation and community—culminate in this reunion. Joo Jaekyung’s journey was not simply guided by one person but by many, each playing a small but significant role in weaving the threads of fate. If Potato had not asked for the photograph, if the nurses had not encouraged its capture, or if someone like Cheolmin had not acted upon it, the outcome could have been vastly different. These small moments of intervention underscore the story’s larger theme: the quiet power of collective action. However, keep in mind that Kim Dan met the actor and the „puppy“ by coincidence. So in their meeting, fate still played a role: the beach. As you already know, my theory is that Joo Jaekyung recognized Kim Dan‘s back from the road, as the latter is higher than the beach. And where did the nurses asked for the picture with Heesung?
(Chapter 59) They were standing on the road. On his way to the hospice, he arrived by the coast, from there he could see the ocean. Nature (sea) brought them together, just like the dog Boksoon let Kim Dan reunite with his friends.
Interestingly,
(chapter 59) Kim Dan’s ocean scene—a night devoid of moonlight—symbolized his emotional turmoil and loss in the darkness which marks the end of the grandmother‘s power over her grandson‘s life. By contrast, Joo Jaekyung’s intervention represents the light of hope rekindled
(chapter 59), offering Kim Dan a chance for healing and reconnection. He embraces him, something his grandmother has not been able to provide lately, Through this journey, Joo Jaekyung also learns to trust others and realize that self-reliance, bolstered by money alone, is insufficient. His disillusionment with Park Namwook, who failed to act on his requests, should further cement this realization. Gradually, Joo Jaekyung comes to value genuine support and collaborative effort, paving the way for both his and Kim Dan’s growth.
This narrative progression, captured through time, characters, and symbolism, ultimately reveals that Joo Jaekyung’s journey to finding Kim Dan was not simply one of chance. It was a testament to the interconnectedness of lives and the quiet power of actions—a snapshot of fate’s many hands.

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(chapter 54) and penthouse
(chapter 54) in Seoul—a city symbolizing anonymity, invisibility, and corruption—to the hospice “Light of Hope”
(chapter 56) in a small town on the West Coast
(chapter 56), where people know each other. This essay builds upon my previous interpretations of the series, which led me to develop these predictions for the upcoming season. By comparing the visual depictions of the gym and penthouse in Seoul with the hospice and small town on the West Coast, the divergence in weather becomes a powerful symbol of the changes Joo Jaekyung will undergo. The rainy, overcast settings of the gym and penthouse reflect the fighter’s inner turmoil and sadness, highlighting the oppressive atmosphere of a city rife with anonymity and corruption. In contrast, the sunny and open environment of the hospice and town by the ocean represents a space of hope and renewal, where human connections thrive. This comparison underscores the significant role the hospice and small town will play in fostering Joo Jaekyung’s self-discovery and healing. The gym and penthouse in Seoul symbolize anonymity, invisibility, and corruption. This anonymity stems from the city’s indifference to individual suffering, as seen when Kim Dan was dragged
(chapter 16)
(chapter 16) through the streets by loan sharks in broad daylight without anyone intervening. Invisibility is further exemplified by the perverted hospital director,
(chapter 1) who harassed Kim Dan without facing any consequences, though he was caught, and by Kim Miseon’s unethical actions, such as leaking patient information 
(chapter 48) and using Shin Okja as a guinea pig for trial treatments
(chapter 21) —none of which led to accountability. In contrast, the hospice represents a counterpoint:
(chapter 56) a space where respect and dignity take precedence over ambition, fostering genuine human connection and care. This contrast between the city and the hospice highlights the champion’s need to redefine his understanding of life, identity, and success. The contrast between the hospice and MFC becomes pivotal, as these environments symbolize opposing values: while the hospice fosters compassion
(chapter 52) The best example is the vanishing of the protagonist’s former rival, Baek Junmin,
(chapter 57) who no longer appears in the news.
(chapter 56) emphasizing respect and dignity. This stark reality will serve as an eye-opener for Joo Jaekyung, who is burdened by news and media narratives equating
(chapter 36)
(chapter 35)
(chapter 36) his shoulder injury or potential career loss with “death.” At the hospice, he will encounter people who are truly facing the end of their lives
(chapter 57), prompting him to recognize that his so-called career end does not symbolize his real death.
(chapter 29) This realization will help him distinguish between his life as a fighter and his life as a person, setting the stage for his transformation. It provides a stark contrast to the MFC, which is riddled with manipulation and greed. At the hospice, Joo Jaekyung is likely to encounter individuals whose lives are defined not by competition but by care and connection, like Mingwa implied it with the comment of the nurse:
(chapter 57). This environment challenges him to confront the indifference of figures like Yosep and Park Namwook, whose neglect, blind trust, passivity, naivety, neglect and selfishness have shaped his struggles. Notice that the nurses are often seen together and exchanging thoughts about doc Dan symbolizing unity and harmony
(chapter 57), yet her exclusion of Kim Dan reveals her flawed understanding of family, which she associates solely with a location. This behavior aligns her with the symbolism of the black sheep: a disruptive force within the community whose selfishness and inability to nurture genuine familial bonds isolate her. Her neglect of Kim Dan, despite his evident suffering, exposes her as prioritizing her personal comfort over the well-being of her own grandson. The arrival of the wolf—Joo Jaekyung—will challenge her perception, forcing her to confront the flaws in her thinking and her selfishness. His presence, along with interactions with other characters such as Potato and Heesung, who possesses the perceptiveness of a gumiho, will expose her true nature to the community. This confrontation will push her toward an overdue reckoning with her actions and their impact on Kim Dan. I also realized that since this woman is suffering from Peter Pan Syndrome, her true enemy is youth which is embodied by Yoon-Gu. The latter stands for the opposite values: innocence and responsibility. So his ignorance and purity could lead her to experience unpleasant truths, like for example: Potato asks her about the whereabouts of Kim Dan’s parents, a new version of this scene:
(special episode 1) In other words, the presence of Kim Dan’s friends (Joo JAekyung, Potato and Heesung) could make her realize her true nature, which would impact her mental health. She led a life full of missed chances and regrets.
(chapter 26)
(chapter 27) In Korean culture, the saying “when the heart isn’t in it” reflects a profound truth: actions devoid of sincerity lack real value. Season 2’s new settings allow the champion to reflect on his mechanical, dispassionate life and begin to act with intention and feeling.
(chapter 54) Though in denial, Joo Jaekyung feels undoubtedly responsible for the doctor’s suffering, as one of his nightmares reveals his guilt for doubting Kim Dan’s honesty and dedication. Once seeing his terrible transformation, the man can only blame himself, especially if he recalls Cheolmin’s advice:
(chapter 57) and her puppies. Kim Dan is tasked with taking care of the dog and her newborns, and Joo Jaekyung should be asked to do the same. This responsibility not only serves as an allegory for taming the wolf within him but also paves the way for the champion’s deeper connection with Kim Dan. By being close to the ocean
(chapter 56), a place where Joo Jaekyung finds relaxation through swimming, the setting introduces an opportunity for him to teach Kim Dan how to swim, addressing the latter’s fear of water
(chapter 27). Swimming could become a shared activity that rebuilds their relationship on a foundation of trust, mutual learning, and growth. Engaging in this physical activity would not only strengthen their bond but also boost Kim Dan’s confidence and help him rediscover his own resilience.
(chapter 54), his connection with Kim Dan is no longer defined by a boss-employee relationship. Their interactions, now free of financial obligations, offer the fighter a clearer view of Kim Dan’s selfless and angelic nature. The physical therapist’s unwavering care, even at the expense of his own well-being, highlights his ungreedy and altruistic character. This realization will deepen Joo Jaekyung’s respect and affection for Kim Dan, further cementing the transformative journey they both embark on.
(chapter 57) and the yelling patient
(chapter 56) “Nurse Mind” and “Nurse Heart,” provide another layer of mentorship. They could act as the champion’s eyes and ears, teaching him to observe and understand Kim Dan’s mental state. Though the nurse 1 started reproaching Kim Dan to neglect himself
(chapter 13) She already noticed his unusual fatigue, so in my opinion, this third woman could be the one detecting that the main lead is not eating properly. If this assumption is correct, then she stands for food and body, like in the Korean saying: “If your heart is not in it, you can’t see if you look. You can’t even hear if you listen, and you can’t taste even if you eat.” Their guidance should help Joo Jaekyung cultivate a nurturing side, showing him that strength is not solely physical but also emotional and relational. In this way, the nurses become pivotal in his journey from a lone wolf to a leader who values and protects his pack.
(chapter 49), though their positions are absolutely opposite. The patient’s reaction in Chapter 57 echoes this dynamic, as he accuses Joo Jaekyung of being ill-tempered (this means that he remembers the suspension), a perspective shaped by the media’s manipulations. His criticism reflects the behavior of a sheep, falling prey to misinformation and failing to see the larger truths. On the other hand, it indicates that this man also knows a part of the truth: the suspension which is no longer mentioned, but also escaped Kim Dan’s notice, as he was dealing with his departure. In contrast, Potato’s response in Chapter 49, where he courageously questioned Director Choi despite the latter being an elder, showcases independence and critical thinking. This juxtaposition highlights the patient’s potential to awaken Joo Jaekyung, Kim Dan, and Potato to the damaging impact of media narratives. Over time, the patient himself must confront the wrongfulness and cold-heartedness of his accusations, fostering growth and understanding on all sides. These characters reflect the flaws of Yosep and Namwook, enabling Joo Jaekyung to see the neglect and indifference he has endured and inspiring him to redefine his role in the gym and in Kim Dan’s life.
The illustration’s inclusion of the hamster—symbolizing Kim Dan’s fun, fragile, and nurturing nature—along with the chow chow and the gumiho, emphasizes the roles of protectors and mediators. The chow chow’s loyalty and the gumiho’s cunning serve as essential forces guarding the hamster and navigating the complexities of this “pure community,” where lies and selfishness can still exist. These characters highlight the intricate dynamics within the hospice, where Joo Jaekyung must balance strength with empathy.

(chapter 57) She wondered if this nickname “MAMA” was not a spelling mistake, and that the translator might have meant “MMA fighter Joo Jaekyung.” Intrigued by this possibility, I sought clarification, and indeed, in the Japanese version
(episode 57) the reporter introduces the main lead differently: “Next, we have news regarding Joo Jaekyung.” This subtle difference is significant for three reasons.
(chapter 52) and the suspension from their narrative highlights a calculated effort to erase inconvenient truths that could tarnish not only MFC’s reputation but also that of the medical professionals complicit in their schemes. Let’s not forget
(chapter 41) the complicity of the doctors who cleared Joo Jaekyung to fight despite his evident injuries as another example of the corruption within this world. Moreover, by avoiding any mention of the suspension
(chapter 52)
(chapter 52), is not only a protective measure for MFC but also shields the medical professionals who facilitated the situation. Doctors at the health center failed to report the ankle injury caused by the sabotage
(chapter 50), further implicating them in a network of complicity and greed. Their decision to place the two fighters next to each other without proper privacy measures, such as curtains, reveals a disregard for professional ethics in favor of spectacle and profit. I would even add, the decisions from the health center’s medical staff, played a significant role in escalating the situation. By placing Joo Jaekyung and Baek Junmin next to each other post-fight, without appropriate measures like curtains to ensure separation, the health center created an environment ripe for conflict.
, (chapter 52) as the provoked champion lashed out in an unregulated setting. The decision to ignore these systemic failures and instead to suspend Joo Jaekyung suggests a deeper layer of complicity from the medical world, where doctors and nurses prioritized organizational demands and reputational interests over ethical responsibilities. Their failure to report the provocation and the ankle injury caused by the switched spray further highlights their alignment with MFC’s corrupt practices.
(chapter 47) and favored by MFC’s CEO, Baek Junmin has now been discarded, his relevance extinguished the moment he ceased to serve the organization’s agenda.
(chapter 47) His background, combined with his visible association with MFC’s CEO, positions him as a key figure who could potentially expose the organization’s darker practices.
(chapter 49), his ultimate fate now reflects the broader cruelty and exploitation perpetuated by those in power. That’s how I realized the other signification of the cross below his left eye. The latter symbolizes his blindness in the end. The cross signifies his inability to see beyond the role he played within the system—a symbol of his naivety and misplaced confidence. Baek Junmin believed he understood the brutal reality of the fighting world, given his background in underground rings and illegal gambling. He thought his experience and cunning gave him an edge, making him untouchable or indispensable. However, his taunts to Joo Jaekyung
(chapter 49) reveal a man who overestimated his position within the organization.
(chapter 54), it shows the athlete’s lack of reflection and insight. He hasn’t been able to discern the truth, the corruption of his “world”. This means that he needs to travel and experience a whole new world. The contrast would serve as an eye-opener for the athlete.
(chapter 56) released shortly after the champion’s urgent request to locate him. This timing is no coincidence. Instead, it reflects a calculated effort to manipulate both the public narrative and Kim Dan’s own perception of his role and value. By introducing the anonymous person as “one of his close associates”, it implies that the champion has already moved on from the protagonist. He is not missing him at all. At the same time, it implies that within a short time, the person was able to get the athlete’s trust which stands in opposition to this scene:
(chapter 51) Thus I conclude that the interview serves a dual purpose: to emotionally undermine Kim Dan and to cement his estrangement from Joo Jaekyung.
(chapter 57): his regret was not merely about using the spray but about his failure to assert himself professionally.
(chapter 49) By complying unquestioningly with the champion’s requests, he had diminished his role, acting more like a servant than a competent physical therapist. The interview, though painful,
(chapter 57) serves as a harsh wake-up call, forcing him to confront his own shortcomings and reevaluate his behavior.
(chapter 41), drawn boundaries, and made his expertise known. I would even add that he never felt responsible for the champion’s reputation in the media
(chapter 41) In addition, while many Jinx-Philes are blaming the champion for his outburst,
(chapter 50) rejection and
(chapter 50) accusations,
(chapter 51), the main lead is not blaming his fated partner at all. Why? It is because none of this would have happened, if he had acted as PT and trusted his own hands. He was too passive, standing by the sideline. He never became proactive.
(chapter 47) his indifference and lack of professionalism. In the end, the grandmother is the reason for his lack of professionalism and neglect.
(chapter 54) Unlike the newly hired PT, who likely has the backing of a hospital or organization, Kim Dan operates independently. This independence, while offering a degree of freedom, also makes him vulnerable. He lacks the institutional support that could shield him from the manipulative tactics of MFC. Moreover, his independence places him in direct contrast to the systemic corruption that permeates MFC and its associated entities. As someone who has already been victimized by two major deceptions—the drugged nutrition shake
(chapter 37) and the switched spray
(chapter 57) —Kim Dan stands as a figure who threatens to expose the cracks in MFC’s carefully constructed facade. Let’s not forget that the incident with the poisoned beverage was swept under the rug by framing haters.


(chapter 11) Here, she offered him a sweet bread as present, but since it was his birthday cake, he had to share his “own present” with his grandmother. The little he possessed was given to his grandmother, a new form of this scene
(chapter 43) In other words, he was the one sharing his food with her. But there exist more conclusive evidences.
(chapter 5) When he visited her in episode 5, the main lead was the first one to bring up the topic “dinner”. How did the grandmother respond to his question? “You know your granny never skipped a meal”. Her statement is implying that someone else skipped his meals before. That can only be the doctor. So she knows that he has not been eating on a regular basis. And what is the opposite of “never”? ALWAYS! Yet, observe that she is smiling, when she is saying this. It exposes that she never saw the doctor’s skipping meals as worrisome. She must have probably thought that her grandson was a picky eater.
(chapter 57) So she was not sitting down to a meal with her grandchild literally. In addition, when she suggested snacks to console him, she didn’t realize the terrible consequences of her decision. Once it was dinner time, Kim Dan would no longer feel hungry. With the introduction of such a ritual (eating became the synonym for repressing negative emotions), it is normal that the little boy would stop eating with his grandmother. That’s how the routine of eating on a regular basis got dropped, as it was strongly intertwined with his negative emotions and terrible incidents.
(chapter 5) Thus she offered him two sweet yogurts.
(chapter 5) Her words “You used to love these when you were little” are alluding that she perceives the main lead as a picky eater. As a child, he would never refuse the drinks. So when she offers them to him, she is sure that he will eat these. Finally, when she saw the celebrity, she indirectly put the blame on her grandson. He is thin and weak, because he didn’t eat properly.
(chapter 21) In her eyes, Kim Dan’s habit for skipping meals was the expression of an avoidance of certain foods. It was because he was a picky eater. This shows that she never questioned herself and her past decisions. Then in the latest episode, she is seen eating her lunch,
(chapter 57) yet at no moment she shares her food or questions him if he has already eaten. For me, this scene exposes her neglect. Her focus lies elsewhere:
(chapter 57) She asks this question, because she has already witnessed him sleeping next to her. She associates tiredness with lack of sleep, but she is not making the connection between malnutrition and his exhaustion.
(chapter 57) On the other hand, the expression “wasting away” displays her realization. She is seeing how Kim Dan is losing weight!! To conclude, she is not totally blind. Her grandson is not eating properly. But why is she not questioning her grandson about his meals? It is because he is working at the hospice where lunches are provided to the staff.
(chapter 56) In other words, she is relying on the hospice, while the staff is too busy and overwhelmed with work to notice that Kim Dan has been working too much and even avoiding lunches.
(chapter 57) It took them days before the nurse noticed that he shouldn’t be there. Interesting is that the nurse “Mind” is starting to put the blame on the physical therapist
(chapter 57) This shows that Kim Dan had become a ghost at the hospice for the last few days, and no one paid attention to him. He was invisible because it was his way to be “accepted” and not stigmatized as “bun” or “orphan”. People only noticed him, until he created some ruckus at the institution. However, this means that the man must have spent the night with his grandmother. Yet, at no moment she sent him away or even shared her meals with him. This shows her indifference and egoism. She contrasts so much to the protagonist’s landlord.
(chapter 57) This scene represents the man’s new routine. He would go to Kim Dan’s bedroom and ask the protagonist to eat breakfast with him. On the other hand, though he noticed the doctor’s absence, he jumped to a false conclusion. He imagined that his new room mate had returned to Seoul. This raises the following question. Why is this caring man assuming that Kim Dan moved to that small and insignificant town just for a short moment?
(chapter 57) And why did he think that Kim Dan had left for good? First, I can imagine that the doctor looked for a place without deposit.
(chapter 16) But more important, it is because the physical therapist only arrived on the West Coast with two small bags.
(chapter 53) And now pay attention to the PT’s departure on the day he was sent back:
(chapter 57) He had gone to the hospice with all his belongings, a sign that he had planned to stay with his grandmother until his “death”. In other words, his “workplace” would have become his tomb. This means that the landlord already noticed that the main lead only had a few belongings, and the moment he didn’t see the black bag with the halmoni’s picture, he assumed that Kim Dan had returned to the city. Thanks to the introduction of the new landlord, my interpretation about the champion’s biased judgment got confirmed.
(chapter 19) When Joo Jaekyung saw the huge Wedding Cabinet, he thought that Kim Dan had many clothes. Thus he saw it as a sign of “greed”, Kim Dan was poor, because he was not able to save money. And this observation brings me back to the landlord:
(chapter 57; here he used guilt and shame to incite Kim Dan not to drink), he is attempting to be close to his new room mate, to understand him. The problem is that the protagonist is keeping everything to himself. He is not speaking about himself and his past. This is quite understandable, as the grandmother keeps telling him that he has no roots here.
(chapter 57) Her words inadvertently repeat the narrative of abandonment and lack of belonging that has followed Kim Dan throughout his life. It feels as though she’s repeating those same accusations, reinforcing the idea that he is rootless, unworthy, and out of place. Instead of acknowledging the sacrifices Kim Dan has made for her, the grandmother dismisses him as someone without meaningful ties, perpetuating the feelings of invisibility and worthlessness he’s battled since childhood. So with this declaration “This place isn’t your hometown and you don’t have any ties here” she was triggering his abandonment issues and low self-esteem. This outlines her lack of empathy, self-centeredness and ignorance. Thus I have to admit that I am even wondering if he has not been adopted by Shin Okja.
(chapter 53) On the other hand, the landlord embodies the opposite notions:
(chapter 57) Care, curiosity and responsibility. Here he is asking for help as well. Nevertheless the nature of his request is different, for it is not about himself, but about Boksoon and her puppies. As you can see, he is making sure that she gets the best environment to raise her puppies. On the other side, Shin Okja used to prioritize herself and her own suffering. Notice that the doctor was resting under a tree in the yard
(chapter 57), until the owner appeared. Thus I couldn’t restrain myself thinking that this man is strongly associated with the sun (fatherly figure) and life, whereas the grandmother stands for darkness
(chapter 57), night and death.
(chapter 43) No, his avoidance of eating increased. Park Namwook and the others assumed like many readers that it was related to his overwork and exhaustion, but it is only partially true. Sleeping was also his way to avoid food in the end. And this brings me back to the incident with the switched spray:
(chapter 57) That’s the reason why I don’t think that Kim Dan’s ARFID can be suddenly cured, the moment Potato reveals the truth about the incident. He has to develop a routine around eating. Someone has to put food right into his mouth, to feed him literally. On the other hand, I can imagine that a change will take place, when he sees his fighter totally diminished. He would serve as a reminder and reflection to himself.
(chapter 52) He was the only target and victim. Therefore it was reduced to the work of a hater and rival. Nevertheless, they didn’t interrogate the real victim of the crime correctly. Either he was about to get framed or his involvement was totally denied. It was, as if he had not been present. By not taking the physical therapist’s psychological damages into consideration, they actually expose their true nature. They don’t care about mental health at all. This explicates why the athlete had to prove his worth constantly. We should see these comments as a new form of bullying
(chapter 36), which were supported by MFC, the Entertainment agency and Park Namwook. Joo Jaekyung had to prove them wrong: his career is not finished yet. So when the couple meets again, they should quickly realize the importance of mental health, as both are definitely at their lowest point in their life. In other words, the mental issues from Kim Dan serve a purpose in this story: people close to him should come to the realization that mental health is essential in life, something they neglected before. Either they didn’t feel concerned or they were biased or simply ignorant. Thus the athlete in the illustration for season 2 is looking at his fated partner’s face :
He is now paying attention to his facial expressions and trying to discover his thoughts. Moreover, note that he is also grabbing his wrist, which could be interpreted like this. On the one hand, he is attempting to stop Kim Dan from working, as the symbol of a PT is the helping hand. He should relax and rely on the fighter’s care and protection. He is his shelter and home. On the other hand, it could be seen as his attempt to stop Kim Dan from using his wrist against the sinners and criminals: Kim Miseon who used her halmoni as guinea pig, Choi Gilseok who tricked him etc… Yes, I have the impression that at some point, the physical therapist could end up feeling like his fated partner:
(chapter 41) Kim Dan is looking for light, because he has been trapped for too long in that darkness: 

(chapter 35), where people’s actions and words can go unnoticed, the hospice fosters an environment of close-knit relationships and mutual observation.
(chapter 56) In this communal setting, actions carry weight, and behaviors are scrutinized. Thus the door to the meeting room is made of translucent glass.
(chapter 56) While in the previous essay, I pointed out that this door reflected Kim Dan’s emotional entanglement—he is physically present but emotionally excluded from his grandmother’s world, highlighting the imbalance in their relationship -, in verity this transparent door offers an opportunity for the main lead. How so? The glass door stands not only for transparency, but also for “emotional distance”. The glass allows visibility but creates a barrier, symbolizing a balance between openness and detachment. This is essential in a hospice environment, where the focus is on providing care and support without becoming overly attached to the inevitable outcome: death. For the staff, maintaining a degree of detachment is necessary for their well-being, as becoming too attached could make the emotional toll of their work unbearable. Therefore I am suspecting that the two nurses
(chapter 56) She is projecting herself in his shoes. Why? IT is because she got influenced by the comment from her colleague. That’s how I realized that together, they represent the balance of heart and mind, their unity and understanding forming a cohesive whole. That’s how both are able not to become indifferent or too much attached. This coincides to the dualism of their profession: care but also detachment. Under this new perspective, it becomes comprehensible why the second nurse is not referring to facts, but to impressions and imagination. Her words are strongly intertwined with rumors: “with his experience”. So far, the main lead had barely experience in his field, as his first big gig ended up in a fiasco. He didn’t stay that long at the hospital and it is the same for the champion. He only worked at the gym for three months. The dark haired woman might have seen Kim Dan’s resume and the last employer, but she didn’t notice his name (Joo Jaekyung). This is her MO for „detachment“, she doesn’t pay attention to names. Moreover, she didn’t detect that he had barely worked as a PT before indicating that she has no notion of „time“. The discrepancy between her thoughts and reality can be easily explained. She also recognized the transformation in the patients, and could link it to the doctor’s skills. The reference to “famous athlete” and the doctor’s skills created a false perception, and this had an influence on her colleague: “You’re telling me!”.
(chapter 56) Her hypocrisy, particularly in her treatment of Kim Dan, remains hidden behind the guise of socially acceptable behavior. Within the hospice, residents maintain a positive opinion of her, which enables her to mask her neglect and selfishness effectively. But since the two nurses are sharing their thoughts and working as a team, it signifies that Shin Okja’s wrongdoings could be detected this time. Or better said, they will realize the true suffering from the protagonist. Nurse Heart and nurse Mind will do their best to protect their new mascot and give him what he truly needs:
(chapter 26) The reality is that he still has no idea why the champion was acting that way. He tried to explain his odd behavior by jumping to conclusions (prejudices: a spoiled child) and by listening to others. He never used his heart and mind, rather his ears and eyes. And this brings me to my next part.
(chapter 5) And the other laughed. Then the coach seems to have no cellphone. Maybe he believes to have no need for it, for he goes to the gym every day. This signifies that he expects to be informed by his hyung Namwook. However, like mentioned in the previous essay, I believe that the manager has been sweeping under the rug the terrible condition of his “boy” from the coach and the team members. To sum up, Team Black embodies the opposite of the hospice’s values. There is no transparency, because the conversation took place not outside, but behind closed door. The door might be translucent, the reality is that they sent away all the members.
(chapter 36) The gym, while ostensibly a team environment, is ruled by indifference, anonymity, and a lack of genuine camaraderie. The heart and the mind are not working together. Why? It is because the coach is trusting the manager, as he views him as the heart of the gym. What he fails to see, is that Park Namwook is neither the heart nor the mind, for he is more reflecting his surroundings: money. Secondly, the manager is easily influenced and is using conformity and social norms to avoid responsibility. He fears making decisions and lets others become proactive. Joo Jaekyung, the leader, relies exclusively on Park Namwook, the manager, who undermines team spirit by fostering distrust and misinformation.
(chapter 46) The member’s loyalty got questioned, but the irony is that they had the real insight.
(chapter 47) Thus rumors about Baek Junmin being an illegal fighter never reached Jaekyung’s ears. That’s why the author made fun of the main lead here:
(chapter 47) His ear seemed to have caught their badmouthing, but not the real information. But why did he not listen to the members? It is because Namwook had encouraged the champion to keep his distance from others. He had even planted seeds of distrust among the team with his badmouthing about the champion. He has a bad temper and is a spoiled child, so no one needs to pay attention to him and his moods. The slap was the evidence of his disrespect and hypocrisy.
(chapter 52) He was not willing to listen to the fighter’s suffering, because he didn’t want to be burdened. In fact, the opposite happened.
(chapter 52) The man acted, as if he had been the biggest victim. Moreover, Namwook’s actions often reflect a lack of genuine loyalty, as seen in
(chapter 22) episode 22, when he falsely claims ownership of the gym and again in episode 56 when he reminds the champion of his absence from the gym, behaving as though he were the boss.
(chapter 56) Hence he is seen talking over the phone and not face to face, unlike the nurse. He knows that his boy is struggling, but he acts, as if he didn’t know. This contrast validates my previous interpretation of the manager. His question “Is everything okay with you?” exposes his lack of genuine concern. He uses work not to praise his “boy”, but to blame him for his “negligence”. He downplays the champion’s struggles while still recovering from surgery. This lack of care creates an atmosphere of apathy, anonymity, and selfish expectation, sharply contrasting with the hospice’s values of dignity and communal care. But how do we explain this huge divergence? First, the main principles of the hospice are dignity and care, and not primarily money. Therefore the institution offers free health check once a month:
(chapter 1) The fighter with the head injury received treatment from the members (self-medication) and Kim Changming had a shoulder injury which got neglected.
(chapter 7) These incidents reflect the gym’s underlying indifference and mismanagement. This disparity explains why Jaekyung’s mental health suffered under Namwook’s leadership, as the gym lacked the supportive and transparent environment required to nurture emotional resilience. Jaekyung’s stay at the hospice is likely to open his eyes to this overlooked aspect, prompting him to reconsider his leadership style and the values governing Team Black. But it is the same for Kim Dan, especially if he sees how weak and neglected the fighter looks:
(chapter 56) Her actions, such as allowing Kim Dan to stay by her side and covering him, contrast sharply with her earlier attempts to push him away. In this scene, a caretaker might pass through the rooms to ensure everything is in order, noticing the doctor present. To an outsider, the visible outcome suggests that she accepts her grandchild’s relentless care without protest. It was, as if she had said nothing at all. Yet, this perceived acceptance masks her internal struggle and the discomfort of being dependent on Kim Dan, reflecting her conflicted emotions. These moments of vulnerability and acceptance highlight the gradual erosion of her denial under the hospice’s symbolic light.
(chapter 19) However, for Kim Dan, this object represented a burden rather than a gift. He had troubles to find a new place to stay because of her „treasure“:
(chapter 16) Despite its substantial value, the grandmother never sold the cabinet to pay off the debts, prioritizing its preservation over the survival of her home and family. On the one hand, this reveals her immaturity and selfishness, as she put up with her grandson’s suffering. On the other hand, her decision created the impression to Kim Dan that this belonging had just a sentimental value and nothing more. So when the champion saw that huge Wedding cabinet, he judged it as „junk“ and that’s how the doctor got this perception validated.
(Chapter 53) Finally during her move to the Light Of Hope, she did not ask about the whereabouts of her belonging which could only reinforce the impression that this item had no real value. It had even lost its sentimental value, as she was no longer thinking of her former home. Her ignorance and forgetfulness are once again outlining her superficiality, self-centeredness and lack of empathy. The sentimental value of her Wedding Cabinet was rather shallow. But the tragedy is that when the furniture was moved the penthouse, the champion noticed this item for the first time and came to associate this cupboard with the doctor.
(chapter 42) This explicates why the athlete didn’t pay attention to his soulmate’s clothes. And now, observe that the doctor is only wearing his PT uniform.
(chapter 56) Thus I am predicting a huge awakening for the champion. Without the cupboard, the champion can see that the physical therapist almost has no cloth. Thus he can only admit his humbleness and benevolence. However, the moment he hears that this furniture belonged to the grandmother, the champion can only perceive the relative in a different light. Yes, the gift should expose her true personality. At the same time, Shin Okja never gave her Wedding Cabinet to Kim Dan, so should she discover that she lost her gift or the latter ended up in the athlete’s hands, she could protest and reclaim it. My point is that this legacy serves as a tool to expose the grandmother’s childish and shallow nature.
(chapter 56) She is wearing it daily and is proud of it. Deep down, she knows the true value of the scarf: it was expensive
(Chapter 41) as she employs the expression „spoil to death“. By wearing the scarf with flowers, she appears wealthy, but also vain! Since I detected that Kim Dan likes pink flowers, my interpretation is that this gift mirrors the doctor’s taste indicating that he was slowly regaining his identity and confidence..
(chapter 31) And notice that the bouquet of pink roses pushed Kim Dan to talk to Joo Jaekyung about his taste. That’s how I detected a strong connection between presents and communication. Notice that on the champion’s birthday, the manager sent a message while the presents were delivered.
(chapter 45) This aspect gets even validated with the doctor’s keychain. The latter not only caused an argument between the two room mates
(chapter 45), but also encouraged the doctor to convey his thoughts and expectations in the card. On the other hand, he didn’t expose the whole truth
(chapter 55) Another interesting aspect lies in the doctor’s shaking hands which the champion noticed, when he offered the present:
(chapter 55) This scene reminded me of their first encounter:
(Chapter 56) So the man must have recognized the doctor‘s fear, which explains why the champion could voice his anger later. But back then, he never wondered why the doctor‘s hands were shaking like leaves. It is because the doctor feared rejection. The present had the following meaning for the physical therapist: recognition and acceptance. The gift was the symbol for „conditional affection“ which he had long internalized due to his grandmother. But this doesn‘t end here. The shaking hands appeared in a different scene:
(chapter 49) The common denominator between these three scenes is the mistake. Kim Dan feared to have made a mistake with the present, because he was afraid of the champion‘s reaction: will he accept him or not? But let‘s return our attention to the gifts from the doctor.
(chapter 31)
(chapter 55) implies that as soon as the main couple meet each other, they will have to discuss this matter. To sum up, a gift encourages the couple to communicate, yet contrary to season 1, both should be more honest to each other at the Light Of Hope. Every word and action will appear in a different light. Another aspect is that none of them takes things for granted, which stands in opposition to hyung Namwook and the grandmother. This explicates why the latter have no problem to spend money.

(chapter 56) and
(chapter 56) While in the first picture, Joo Jaekyung is calm, concentrated and silent, in the second one, the fighter is agitated, lost, breathless and yelling. These two mental dispositions are reflected in the location. In the first image, the MMA celebrity appears behind the steering wheel, which is a symbol for power, determination and control, whereas in the second panel the champion is wandering alone in the street. This running is no longer part of his training and routine, but it exposes his powerlessness, loneliness and despair. He has no idea where to go contrary to the first picture. This means that the latter embodies goal and destination, whereas the second image represents the opposite values: beginning, start, ground zero and source. In other words, the end of episode announces the athlete’s rebirth or better said, the start of a new life. I will elaborate further below. But let’s return our attention to the symbolism of the auto.
(chapter 56)
(chapter 56) Even if the main lead is moving among other cars, people can recognize that the owner of such a car is rich and probably famous due to the brand and design. On the other hand, by roaming in the street, the champion blends into the background and as such to the mass.
(chapter 35), Joo Jaekyung succeeded. He is just a passerby. In other words, the avenue indicates not only his failure to find Kim Dan, but also his loss of power and status. He has just become a nobody. Thus we should consider this as the athlete’s karma for thinking that Kim Dan could be replaced, because he was just a nobody:
(chapter 55) It is no coincidence as well that the author showed us the star’s back, when the latter called his hyung Park Namwook.
These two chapters are similar, for they convey the same emotions: anger, anxiety, frustration and despair of the fighter. In the car, the champion attempted to control the doctor’s libido.
(chapter 33) On the one hand, he appeared calm and concentrated like in 56, yet deep inside, he was burning up. The pink dildo was used as a tool to voice his negative emotions (abandonment issues, insecurities and jealousy). With the release of episode 56, another reason came to my mind why the athlete proposed to drive the physical therapist to Choi Heesung.
(chapter 32) First, he switched the car in order to demonstrate his wealth and status. It was, as if he wanted to show off to his fated companion, which reminded me of the actor. The latter would bomb doc Dan with “presents”, an indirect demonstration of his fortune. In addition, Jinxphiles will certainly recall that during the same day, the comedian came to fetch the physical therapist with his white Porsche.
(chapter 32) Consequently, I came to the following deduction. The man selected the gray car in order to distinguish himself from his rival, to impress his companion.
(chapter 42) And what was his attitude there? He would not listen to his passenger. Moreover, he would separate his job from his roommate’s. It looked like they were living in two different worlds, though they were sharing the car. This scene exposes miscommunication, lack of faith, stubbornness and prejudices. The fighter was not willing to accept the physical therapist’s doubts and chose to go through with the training and match.
(chapter 2)
(chapter 37) with arrogance and weakness, but this is not true. [For more read this
(chapter 54)
(chapter 5) He allows the coach to drive the car and the manager to sit in the front. Thus they represent the higher authorities. However, so far, the doctor had only been his passenger. Thus a new idea popped up: what if the athlete let the physical therapist drive his car? Let’s not forget that the loner wolf shouldn’t be driving on his own, for his shoulder has not healed properly yet. I already pointed out the wrongdoings from the two hyungs.
(chapter 53) They should have brought him home. They stand for neglect and indifference due to their passivity and routine. In my eyes, they are happy at the gym, the latter represents their second family. So they imagine that it is the same for their boss. In other words, they projected their own thoughts and feelings onto the celebrity. They embody silence and lack of communication and this is actually palpable in the car. In episode 5, the manager and the MMA fighters lied to each other:
(chapter 5) Then in episode 49, the champion kept The Shotgun’s words as a secret, while his coach confessed his trust in his “boy”
(chapter 49). Yet, he revealed his true thoughts at the hospital:
(chapter 37) He was using the landline telephone. This observation is relevant, because it exposes the coach’s dependency on Park Namwook. The latter’s task is to keep in touch with his boss and champion, for he has his cellphone number. Nevertheless, how do we explain the absence of the coach’s cellphone? I have the feeling that this could be related to his divorce.
(chapter 19) Thus this observation made me think that the coach could have something in common with Kim Dan. And that’s how the champion will demonstrate his strength to his hyung. Contrary to him, he didn’t accept the divorce so “easily”. In fact, he is fighting for the doctor in his own way. The problem is that he is his own worst enemy.
(chapter 49), Jinxphiles could never view the driver.
(chapter 13) His question “Is everything okay with you?” is purely mechanical and as such meaningless, for he doesn’t inquire, when he hears a silence from the other side of the line. I would even say that he doesn’t really wait for his boy’s answer as well.
(chapter 56), he could end up in the same situation than the protagonist. And keep in mind that the coach Yosep is actually relying on the manager. Thus I reckon that the champion’s other source of power is actually his cellphone! Without him, he has no connection
(chapter 5), no money
(chapter 32) and no power. His call to the manager during that evening represents his last resort. Thus he is calling the manager “Namwook hyung” contrary to episode 5.
(chapter 5) This title is indicating that the champion is opening up, and willing to show his vulnerability and despair. On the other hand, this change also implies “expectations” from the fighter,
(chapter 46) Keep in mind that at the gym, the athlete denied the relevance of information. Though both hyungs were warned, the reality was that they got off scot-free. They never received any blame for failing to protect him and this twice. And now, he is looking for intel about the doctor. Indirectly, fate is teaching him to recognize his error. In fact, information can procure a good insight about people’s behavior and as such fears. Let me give you an example: if Joo Jaekyung were to hear about Kim Dan’s first employment as PT, he should understand why the PT made mistakes, why he took odd jobs and why he “left” Seoul. If he wanted to work as PT, he needed to go elsewhere.
(chapter 56) He somehow expected doc Dan to listen to his words and accept them. That was it. Then at the end, it is just about seeing doc Dan and nothing more. At no moment, he voiced the desire to get to know his partner or to listen to his side of the story. Why? It is because he had strongly internalized that the man was a liar. He never questioned his perception and detected his own prejudices. It is important to recollect how Jinx-philes could sense a positive change in the physical therapist:
(chapter 22) Yes, it is the view with the star’s back. The author selected such a position on purpose. The face represents the character’s identity and as such his personality. By showing the back, Mingwa is implying that the beholder is full of prejudices and doesn’t know his partner that well. That’s why I judge this image
(chapter 7)
(chapter 32)
(chapter 37)
(chapter 40)
(chapter 43)
(chapter 45)
(chapter 46)
(chapter 47) Looking at his face had become his new secret ritual and as such his source of joy. Naturally, his heart and unconscious were the causes for this new habit. This explicates why he hated hearing the doctor leaving the penthouse during the night: he feared that he would no longer be able to see his cute face. That’s also the reason why Joo Jaekyung got angry/upset, when he saw the doctor turning his head away
(chapter 51) He wished not to see his “face”. The latter had become his “addiction”. Thus his face in tears came to haunt him.
(chapter 21) and almost got shocked
(chapter 56), when he imagined that she had died. In reality, he helped financially more the grandmother than Kim Dan himself. Kim Dan is the one he should really empathize with. He has always been a victim of circumstances.
(chapter 56) Desperation can strip away the higher faculties that make us human—reason, empathy, and self-control—exposing something primal.
(chapter 17) and
(chapter 11). In season 1, the athlete stands for golden hour, whereas Heo Namwook embodies blue hour. “Entre chien et loup” is the time of day when the light is such that is becomes difficult to distinguish between a dog and a wolf, between friend and foe, between known and unknown. Hence I am thinking that if the next episode represents a continuation of that nightfall, it signifies that the champion is on his way to meet someone from the past. Moreover, I detected that the pavement is the same than in front of the gym:
(chapter 52) It is because this exposes the champion’s bad coping mechanism. The champion always uses his fists, therefore he doesn’t reflect and as such analyze his emotions.
(chapter 52) That’s how he felt right into the trap of the schemers. So by having his splint, Joo Jaekyung is indirectly coerced to meditate on his feelings., as he can no longer use his shoulder and as such his fist. His physical injury represents in reality his “lucky charm”, for it helps him to transform, to overcome his trauma and face the shadows from his traumatic past. Notice that for the first time, the athlete came to accept the existence of feelings for Kim Dan.
(chapter 5) He is much calmer. He is not oozing red and remaining silent. He is not burning up inside, in fact he is expressing his thoughts and emotions:
(chapter 5) In both cases, the athlete asked for his manager’s help. However, as Jinx-philes can sense, there exist two huge differences between the past and present. Back then, Park Namwook didn’t care for Kim Dan. He was just a PT like any other doctor. He didn’t even care that Joo Jaekyung would lose his temper and ruin the sandbag.
(chapter 5) It was not worrisome in his eyes, because his day would consist of training and punching the sandbag. The problem is that the fighter is no longer coming to the gym and he is not even calling him:
(chapter 56) This shows that the athlete is using more and more his intelligence, he is forced to interact with people. He is gradually developing his social skills which stand for COMMUNICATION. And how did he get deceive in the past?
(chapter 48) He got manipulated by his eyes! They used a trick to deceive the athlete: delivering the truth in delay. Joo Jaekyung didn’t confront Kim Dan, because he saw the pictures as proofs! He never tried to hear his side from the story. And now, you comprehend why I am expecting that the champion will suffer another “blow” in the next episode. In my opinion, he will hear an important information. The fire in the illustration is there to indicate “Tabula Rasa”, a clean state. Joo Jaekyung has to lose all his principles and his bias about doc Dan. But for that he needs to face his own past and mistakes. Only through this effective anguish, he can become a better man, a new man.

(chapter 55) One might think that the causes for his throbbing head are his depression and insomnia. On the other hand, I am quite certain that many readers had a different explanation for his migraine. He is missing his lover, Kim Dan, as the color red symbolizes the headache and the physical therapist’s name is strongly intertwined with this pigment which was once again confirmed in episoe 56.
(chapter 56) So it is true that his migraine are caused by the doctor’s absence. It was, as if the main lead was suffering from withdrawal symptoms. The fighter has a love addiction, but he is not aware of the existence of this “sweet poison”. But there’s more to it.
Thus I consider this image, where the champion is seen
(chapter 55) or the medicine against migraine.
(chapter 54) However, in episode 55, we can observe a huge change in the champion.
(chapter 55) The latter is finally admitting the inefficiency of the medicine. In other words, in this scene, he was giving up on them. This represents an important step on his way to enlightenment. For me, it signifies that he is stopping relying on pharmaceutical products. Let’s not forget that in the past, he rejected the PT and even neglected them. Why? It is because he trusted more sprays and other medicines than people.
(chapter 49) Therefore the switch of the spray had to occur. He needed to question his prejudices and attitude. But let’s return our attention to the champion and his throbbing head. One detail in this panel caught my notice.
(chapter 55). This means that she had not seen the mess in the master room before:
(chapter 55) And now, pay attention to the number of the bottles in his room:
(chapter 55) I count 12 bottles of wine exactly like in the last image from chapter 54. Thus I came to the following deductions:
(chapter 54) and the appearance of the staff in chapter 55. It indicates that Jinx-philes can witness time deceleration in season 2. From one month in one chapter, then a week in the next episode, finally we have a reference to a day: Monday. Thus I deduce that in episode 56, only 2 or 3 days elapsed. I have already announced that the couple should meet each other around 25th:
(chapter 55)
(chapter 55) Consequently, I judge the cleaning lady as the positive version of Park Namwook. Though she uses social norms, she doesn’t use them against her employee. She didn’t condemn him, it is a mixture of teasing and reminder. At the same time, her intervention implies that she must have noticed changes in her boss after the arrival of Kim Dan in the flat and his departure. That’s the reason why I have the impression that this image is announcing another turning point in the champion’s life either:
(chapter 55) He won’t drink like before. However, I don’t think that he will behave like in the past: reject any alcohol entirely.
(chapter 55), his migraine vanished. Though he is holding his head the next morning and hiding his gaze
(chapter 55), the Webtoonist didn’t add any red or “throb” as an indication for a migraine. As you can see, his headache is strongly intertwined with repressing the physical therapist and as such locking away memories. However, there exists another cause. What had the doctor done in the past?
(chapter 44) Yes, the main lead had patted his lover’s head, while the champion had his eyes close. In my opinion, his unconscious had registered this gesture and loved it. However, the champion had not seen it himself. He was drunk and had his eyes closed. This stroke on the head symbolizes appreciation, affection and recognition.
(chapter 23) That’s how little kids are admired and loved. This stands in opposition to the abuser’s behavior:
(chapter 54) parental criticism and absence of contact. And how did Choi Heesung express his “love” to Yoon Gu?
(chapter special 2) The same way than Kim Dan with the patting! In other words, the champion is deep down longing for such a gesture, but he has not realized it yet. Nevertheless, I believe that he just needs a trigger.
(chapter 55) With his left opened eye!! The exact opposite from this picture:
(chapter 56) As long as the fighter thinks of his fated partner, he is not plagued with a throbbing head. This shows that it has something to do with repressing memories. However, his physical condition is still not improving:
(chapter 55) This signifies that in reality, the uke is the one benefiting more from this relationship, while the “Gucgi guy” is a placebo for Joo Jaekyung. He can not replace the true medicine: Dan’s love. But Joo Jaekyung chose to close an eye to the truth forgetting his “insight” from chapter 2:
(chapter 2) However, back then, he had just stated it in order to get rid of the mint-goblin. He needed a justification for switching his partner. In other words, this was reflecting more the protagonist’s corrupted mind and heart. Therefore he is designed eyeless, the symbol for ignorance, lies and blindness.
(chapter 55) And where did he have his migraine exactly?
(chapter 55) It was on the right side and eye! It truly exposes that Joo Jaekyung was getting punished for his attitude. He is not allowed to bury and forget Kim Dan. The star’s open eyes in this episode symbolize denial, lack of self-awareness and as such the absence of insight. He is also punished for his lies in episode 2. His words might have reflected the truth, but his words didn’t expose a change of heart. He was taking advantage of this situation as well. So when the pain intensified pushing him to close his right eye, we should consider this image as a short moment of reflection and realization. In the restroom, he was forced to admit that only Kim Dan could kiss him. Is it a coincidence that just before Mingwa presented this image
(chapter 55) Naturally no, she was mirroring the attitude of both figures: both were in denial!! Notice that though the star had no reaction in front of the “replacement”, the latter chose not to give up at all. This man was not expecting a rejection, in fact he was in total denial as well. He didn’t notice the star’s passivity and silence.
(chapter 55) He was just standing there and avoiding his gaze.
(chapter 55) How can the MMA fighter reject him? This displays his huge confidence or arrogance. There’s no doubt that he will put the blame on Joo Jaekyung. At the same time, I believe that his blindness was also caused by his greed.
(chapter 5) Therefore he was in a happy mood after that match. A simple gesture with a lot of power! He has been missing this hand or better said this gesture. This action was the main lead’s true motivation.
(chapter 54) Don’t forget that Dominic Hill had expressed his admiration in a similar way, patting on the back:
(chapter 40) No wonder why he felt so lost and empty after the last fight.
(chapter 43) this was the coach’s hand. In other words, the athlete felt more close to the coach than to the manager. This would explain why he would listen to the coach and even entrust him with huge tasks like the charity event. Strangely, in season 1, we can observe how more or more he is distancing himself from the fighter. Probably related to his secret relationship with Kim Dan. According to my theory, the coach is aware of their relationship. They are more than just boss and employee. As you can see, I don’t think that the champion is right now just missing the doctor’s sweet lips. Deep down, he would like to be patted by his loved one, exactly like Potato.
(chapter 23)
(special episode 2) But this is what he received after the last match:
(chapter 2) The champion’s reaction is quite telling. He is not easily swayed. But we have another bigger evidence that his intercourses were replacement for “fights”. In The States, the fighter asked Kim Dan to join him at 11:00.
(chapter 38) He needed to prepare himself mentally, to visualize how he would screw his opponent Dominic Hill. He was just taking the expression “fuck/screw” too literally. The latter idiom has the following synonyms: to cheat, oppress, bleed, coerce, wrest and to tighten. Just before the doctor came to his door, what was the athlete doing? He was watching a video from his challenger:
(chapter 38) Therefore it is not surprising that he rejected Kim Dan’s request first.
(chapter 39) He didn’t feel like it, because he was not aroused at all. Imagine that he needed two hours for that erection, a sign that during that night, Kim Dan was in reality a replacement for the American fighter.
(chapter 39) Even when the doctor rubbed his hand against his sex, he had no reaction.
(chapter 38) In fact, he needed a fellatio to get an erection, and he only started getting excited, when he saw the doctor’s gaze. That’s the reason why he remembered this image under the shower:
(chapter 55) However, the more time the champion spent time with his physical therapist, the more he came to violate his own rules and principles: It started with their first meeting, when he crossed the line by mixing private and professional life together:
(chapter 6), Sex was no longer linked to matches, but to his own desires. To conclude, for the first time, the fighter connected sex to pleasure and desires and not “work and fighting”. Because of the deal and Joo Jaekyung’s strange behavior (sex shower scene, …) the PT had the impression that his boss was a man obsessed with sex.
(chapter 53) The latter didn’t feel the need to have more sex with Kim Dan, he let his partner leave the place. Why? This contrasts so much to their First Wedding Night:
(chapter 4)
(chapter 53) Pay attention to the behavior from the fighter during their last night together. He is looking away, he is not paying attention to his fated companion. His mind was elsewhere, focused on Baek Junmin! In my opinion, during that night, the champion had been able to differentiate between the physical therapist and his opponent. Fighting was more important than sex and as such his sex partner. To conclude, the physical therapist had been able to win Joo Jaekyung’s belief and heart. He was no longer a replacement at all. He had become a person close the fighter.
(chapter 49) he wanted to screw Baek Junmin for real. In this image, the athlete oozes confidence and strength. This means that he was no longer dependent on the good fuck before the match.
(chapter 53) However, the main lead never realized this huge change, he kept his old belief as a tradition out of habit. This explicates why the fighter tried to replace with a new uke
(chapter 56). I don’t think, he was referring to the spray incident, rather to their night before the match. The doctor had not behaved like a real opponent, he had admitted his “defeat” quite easily. He had left the ring before procuring him a good fuck. He was blaming his partner for violating his rule:
(chapter 2) But here is the thing. Kim Dan had just accepted the deal because of his grandmother. Secondly, he learned an important lesson during that magical night: consent!
(chapter 44) Sex is a synonym for love and as such it is about giving pleasure and affection to his partner. It is a two-way street. And this is something that the champion has to admit and accept. Thus I deduce that the fighter still has a long way to go before dropping all his fake principles. Like mentioned before, he needs to ponder on the following question: what matters to him the most? His championship or his happiness? Or what is sex to him? Why does he think that he is jinxed? He needs to face his own painful past and remember the face of his tormentor.
(chapter 1) The physical therapist is not only his reward and price, but also his “second shoulder” and as such his pillar. The new PT won’t be able to replace him. Joo Jaekyung is not just a champion, but also a team: Kim Dan as his PT and his lover. As for Kim Dan, the celebrity is his “energy drink”, his source of comfort and joy. He is also his home, for he is the first one who invited him to stay with him! Yes, the grandmother didn’t invite her grandson to live with her, he was just dumped at her place. And because the celebrity is like a home and family, it explicates why the doctor is once again “living like a ghost”. 

















(chapter 11) and indirectly the persons involved in the redevelopment. However, I have to admit that I have a different explanation.
(chapter 11) Let’s not forget that in Jinx-Fandom, many Jinx-addicts calls him a “red flag”. Here, he was abusing his position. Furthermore, this theory could be seen as validated with the first episode with this image:
(chapter 1) The main lead appears as a beast, triggering the doctor’s fears. He seems to be like an antagonist. However, I believe that it is just a deception. First, Mingwa has clearly stated that the champion is the protagonist of Jinx. As such, he can be neither a villain nor an antagonist. Secondly, though he seems to serve as a barrier, the reality is that Kim Dan is incited to mature and overcome his own fears. In fact, the celebrity represents the opposite notions of “conformity” and “immobility”. He embodies verity, maturity, transformation and progression. The evidence of this perception is the gradual transformation of Kim Dan as an inexperienced PT to a very professional and performant physical therapist. According to my interpretation, the Emperor works as the mirror of truth. He confronts the delusional physical therapist with his mental and emotional issues, like here:
(chapter 45) as a good trigger for the 29 years old man to turn into a good PT. From that moment on, he only focused on the sportsman, and stopped asking the help from colleagues or listening to them.
(chapter 42) He only relied on his hands. He was forced to become a serious and confident PT!!
(chapter 1) The star was just waiting, and not threatening the doctor. As you can see, Joo Jaekyung doesn’t appear like a threat or a monster. But this doesn’t end here. One detail caught my interest. The champion is associated with blue. It is his true color, whereas Kim Dan is “red”, like a sweet strawberry. So why does this young man ooze a red aura, when his true shade is blue like water
(chapter 27) or the ocean. It is because he was under the influence of his hyung Park Namwook which explains why Mingwa introduced him like this:
(chapter 1) Note the contrast to his “boy”. The red is not coming from Joo Jaekyung’s body
(chapter 11) The coach is yelling for Joo Jaekyung’s comment, yet the reality is that the manager didn’t treat Kim Dan at all. In fact, he feigned ignorance. Moreover, look at the champion’s t-shirt:
(chapter 26) In this composition, I compared the MMA star with a leopard and Park Namwook to a spider:
(chapter 17) or in episode 46
(chapter 46) He represents regression or the hurdle to overcome.
(chapter 11) 











(chapter 9) or other events like this one:
(chapter 37) Buying in secret junk food.
(chapter 1)
(chapter 1) But it is the same for the champion who got his “gym” stolen from his hyung:
I came to this revelation thanks to this article:
. (chapter 46) This would explain the champion’s emptiness and darkness:
(chapter 21) and Kim Miseon’s reproach to Kim Dan could be seen as an indirect allusion. And if my interpretation about her number is correct, then we would have a good explanation why Kim Dan was unable to perceive her true nature, but also why she is so selfish.
(chapter 53) Only the logo is red.
(chapter 53) It is important, because it announces the manager’s resignation. He doesn’t want to become responsible for the mess. Unconsciously, he is no longer claiming to be the owner of the gym. Furthermore, notice that the grandmother desires to return to the West Coast in order to see an ocean of “fire”.
(chapter 53) This shows that she is longing for warmth and red colors. Yet, the color of the sea is rather green or blue. As you can see, everything is pointing out that the couple had to overcome the antagonists from season 1, the emotional vampires, who were so close to them than none of them realized that they were the origins of their suffering. And now, if you look at my table again: 
(chapter 35) In episode 16 and 17, the presence of the sun is a reference to the MMA fighter, it is announcing his arrival. This corresponds to the color I had detected with the first scheme:
MFC with the blue “ring” embodies this pigment, just like the ocean. In other words, blue should be the dominant color in season 2, and in Taoism blue stands for YIN! On the other hand, Kim Dan also represents red with his name. Moreover, if you look at the numbers of the quoted episodes again, you will realize that the villains are strongly connected to the number 10 and as such one and zero. Thus Director Choi Gilseokf’s phone number is 010-1….
(chapter 46)
(chapter 37) He never complimented him for his hard work at all.
(chapter 46) With these words, the manager creates a negative atmosphere, therefore there is no longer any trust and loyalty among the members.
(chapter 18), until the champion confronted the protagonist with reality.
(chapter 46) He avoided a confrontation. This number symbolizes how the lead feels burdened by obligations imposed by his oppressor, who positions himself as provider of “stability” while actually fostering dependence and draining his victim. And naturally, in the same chapter, we have a similar interaction between Heo Manwook, the minion and his hyung, the real boss:
(chapter 46) Here, the director was reminding him of his mistakes and obligations. However, this time the boss chose to become proactive and responsible.
(chapter 13) They are strongly intertwined with the color green and as such blue. In literature, art, and psychology, the color blue often represents calmness, loyalty, and introspection.This fits to the description made by the author concerning season 2. The latter would focus more on emotions and thoughts than on the plot. And now, it is time to reveal why in the illustration I added the number 9.
(chapter 9) The leopard agreed and that’s how they came to argue about his home the next morning:
(chapter 10)- So from 9 to 18, the story is focusing on the doctor’s home. In episode 18, Joo Jaekyung invites the poor physical therapist to his home.
(chapter 18) In this episode, both main leads refuse the assistance from the other. Kim Dan is bothered that Joo Jaekyung paid off the debts, while the other dismissed the worries from the PT:
(chapter 18) Then in episode 19, Joo JAekyung is not asking for his “help”, until he calls him. But even here, he is refusing to prepare his partner:
(chapter 19) As for Kim Dan, the latter doesn’t feel truly needed as PT, hence he is already thinking about taking another job:
(chapter 19) Then in episode 27, Kim Dan offers his assistance.
(chapter 27) He encourages his VIP client to take a break by remaining by his side. However, this attempt fails, as in episode 29
, (chapter 29) the champion rejects the idea of resting for a day. Then after the incident with the article, at no moment Kim Dan offers his assistance to help the champion. He remains totally passive,
(chapter 39) The problem is that it is related to a drug and sex. This has nothing to do with his job or career. Interesting is that in episode 45, for the first time, Joo Jaekyung voiced his needs to have him as a PT: 
The end of Joo Jaekyung’s torment. He doesn’t need to chase after him.







(chapter 27)
(chapter 13) This gesture with the hand implied not only that he was just looking forward to meeting him again, but also generosity. And if there was a request from Cheolmin, it was just about an information:
(chapter 33) According to me, the man was calling his friend Cheolmin, because he truly believed that the actor had been hurt. The fact that he went to the rooftop in order to call the person is indicating that he desires to hide his contact from Park Namwook and Jeong Yosep. In other words, he was seeking secrecy, exactly like the actor. As you can see, the dragon and the gumiho had a similar attitude. They thought that the rooftop was the perfect place to hide a secret. So by calling Cheolmin who is working at a hospital, the MMA fighter was making sure that there would be no scandal. However, when he called him, he discovered the truth. Choi Heesung had faked his injury. Therefore how could he use his connection with Cheolmin, when there was no emergency? In his eyes, he would have abused his busy friend’s generosity. That’s the reason why the star chose not to intervene. If he had revealed the truth and as such accused the actor of deception, he would have no one by his side to prove the truth. It was one man against two. Secondly, by revealing his presence on the rooftop, he would have been forced to mention his close friend: Cheolmin hyung. His connection with the athlete would have raised some question. And because he didn’t utilize the Joker in that situation, he became a victim of a trick. It is important, because the champion’s decision to hide Cheolmin’s existence from Jeong Yosep and Park Namwook is a sign that deep down, he is not trusting his two other hyungs. In my eyes, it is related to his homosexuality. But there could be other reasons as well, for example he met this doctor, before he became a celebrity.
(chapter 43) They didn’t even bother to wait for him to arrive before drinking and eating, though the man was the birthday child. He was actually the guest of honor.
(chapter 43) This exposes violation of social norms and even the disrespect towards Joo Jaekyung. He is just seen as a cash cow, hence there was no thank you from them or even a short invitation for him, like Park Namwook and Kim Changmin had done it in episode 9.
(chapter 9)
(chapter 9) In fact, Joo Jaekyung was totally neglected at the restaurant, no one even paid attention to his actions. Under this light, I recognized why Mingwa created this incident:
(chapter 43) It was not just to bring the two main leads closer, but also to expose the wrongdoers. If they had waited for him, the champion wouldn’t have drunk some soju from the glass of water, for Kim Dan couldn’t have used his glass.
(chapter 43) That’s why the manager got red, a sign of embarrassment. He realized that they should have all waited for the birthday child. Moreover, don’t forget that the star was even paying the bill. And now, you are wondering if I didn’t diverge from my original topic, the Joker and Cheolmin hyung. No, as this new interpretation helped me to understand why Joo Jaekyung talked to his hyung in front of others. He already sensed that no one was observing him or waiting for him.
(chapter 43) Moreover, it is possible that the mysterious caller desired to congratulate for his birthday or even to thank for his donation. Let’s not forget that just before his real birthday, the celebrity organized a charity event, and it could be related to Cheolmin’s work place.
(chapter 41) Because I detected ingratitude, selfishness and rudeness from Team Black, I couldn’t help myself thinking that the other person must have behaved differently, which put the young man in a good mood. Therefore he overlooked the incident with the switch of glass:
(chapter 13) Here we have a threat from the champion to which Cheolmin replied with a joke. Here, we have the same situation: a threat, but people got scared
(chapter 43) before Park Namwook tried to relativize the incident.
(chapter 13). Hence I believe that the other reason why our cute PT didn’t meet Cheolmin in season 1 is that he was not ready to interact with him. Kim Dan needed to mature, to free himself from social norms in order to accept such a man as a “role model”. That’s the reason why I am expecting the return from this mysterious doctor in season 2. In my opinion, he will play a central role in dethroning the king Park Namwook at Team Black, but also in helping Kim Dan to obtain justice. Keep in mind that according to me, the protagonist was a victim of many crimes committed by doctors. (The hospital director, Kim Miseon, MFC doctors)
(chapter 35) He offered his assistance, but at no moment the main lead thought of even asking for his help.
(chapter 46) If he had voiced his struggle to Heesung, the latter would have understood him and “talked” some sense to the dragon. And it is the same for Potato. In the locker room, when Kim Dan was criticized for his sloppiness,
(chapter 50) he didn’t ask from Potato to vouch for him. He could have reached to him, requesting from him to testify in his favor. Yes, I believe that not only the actor and the maknae are to blame for their passivity, the physical therapist is also responsible for his own suffering. He is not seeing that he has already gained two friends. However, he didn’t treat them properly. No wonder why Kim Dan ended up alone at the end of season 1. At no moment, he confided to Potato or other members about his struggles, he kept everything to himself which is similar to his soulmate.
(chapter 30). Here, I am excluding the scene with his drunkenness. Nevertheless, from his words, Heesung couldn’t detect that he was raised by a single grandmother. He already had a hard time to “accept” the champion’s benevolence
(chapter 18) He was brainwashed to rely only on himself. Why? It is related to his halmeoni and his childhood. The elderly woman gave the impression that she raised him without any help. She did everything on her own which is only partially true. The young boy was forced very early on to help her.
(chapter 5)
(chapter 47) Hence he was taught cooking. In addition, we can already envision that when he was a high school student, he had to take a part-time job. She definitely minimized his assistance, creating a debt towards her.
(chapter 23), he just acted as their “PT” and nothing more. In other words, he acted, as if they only had a professional relationship. This explicates why Kim Dan never talked about himself, in other words he never shared any information with them. However, I doubt that he just considered them as his “patients”. He was happy to give his assistance. For me, the fact that he never lowered his guard is a sign of his low-esteem. So they had a strictly professional relationship, except with Potato.
(chapter 26) However, even here, Kim Dan never shared his cellphone number with the maknae. If Potato had it, he would have tried to contact him immediately. To conclude, though I criticized Yoon-Gu and Heesung for their indifference and neglect, I feel that Kim Dan is partially responsible for this too. He didn’t take the first step to improve their relationship. Friendship is a two-way Street!
(chapter 7) She needs to pay a nurse to give her some company. Therefore she is forced to rely on her grandson. Then she doesn’t pay any attention to her grandson’s needs and circumstances, for she is only focused on her own suffering and “unhappiness” chasing after an illusion.
(chapter 53) Because she has no one by her side except Kim Dan, she has no problem to move to a different place where she doesn’t know anyone. Her grandchild is her “home”. This move reminded me a lot to a uprooting. It was, as though the male lead was not allowed to settle for good. Don’t forget that her deteriorated home let transpire that she didn’t consider this place as her true home. It was just a stopping-place. Under this new light, it becomes comprehensible why Kim Dan could never get any friend. Through the cards, I could find more evidences about my past interpretation. The halmeoni is responsible for the protagonist’s self-blame, lack of confidence, suffering and isolation. 

(chapter 9), we discover the origin for Yoon-Gu’s nickname, Potato. The coach and sparring partner from Joo Jaekyung is the one behind it. However, this connection reveals a lot about the divorced man. He is actually a soft and tender man. Yes, in my opinion, Yosep’s nickname should be Potato.
(chapter 9) This gesture oozes humility and respect. This contrasts so much to Park Namwook’s behavior during their first meeting: no bowing and no shaking hands.
(chapter 1)
(chapter 53) So when he tried to call her, she blocked his calls. One of the causes for their failed marriage is that they had stopped talking to each other. [As for the other reason, I will expose it below] That’s the other reason why I developed the theory that the coach Yosep was behind this phone call.
(chapter 22) This observation is relevant, for it indicates that the former champion must have listened to his manager as well. He never questioned the responsibility of his former coach or manager or organization. I am suspecting that he might have already been working with Park Namwook in the past, which would explain their closeness. For his divorce, Jeong Yosep chose to take the whole blame. Hence he kept his failure to himself. However, observe the manager’s attitude concerning this revelation.
(chapter 40) Interesting is that the idiom “boy” has historically been used to mean “servant” or “attendant” in certain contexts, particularly in colonial or hierarchical settings. For instance, it was often used during the colonial era to refer to male domestic workers, typically in a demeaning or racially charged manner. No wonder why though Yosep is the sparring partner of the Emperor,
(chapter 37) he acts more like a servant. In my eyes, the last image displays the manager’s three “boys”: Yosep, Kim Dan and Joo Jaeykung. They are the former wrestler’s servants, while he can stand on the sideline and watch as a superior and guardian.
(chapter 37)
(chapter 36). He even agrees to everything the man says and decides.
(chapter 36) Yet, I see a turning point in the States. For the first time, he is seen talking on the phone, which indicates a certain responsibility.
(chapter 49)
(chapter 40) In the States, he was not visible at all, he would even walk behind Oh Daehyun next to Yoon-Gu. In my opinion, he felt the need to be next to the maknae. However, in South Korea, he is standing right behind the protagonist. Moreover, note how Joo Jaekyung entrusted him with the charity event, another indication that the main lead was trusting more and more his sparring partner:
(chapter 47) He let his “hyung” and the other “experts” who were never in the ring do the talking.
(chapter 47) Why did he let it happen? It is simply because he just views himself as a “sportsman”. The others act with their title (managers, advisors), as if they had more knowledge than the sparring partner from the Emperor. Another mistake from him is that he never looked at his sparring partner’s files. He let Park Namwook take care of this, thinking that he would pay attention to their star’s health and security.
(chapter 52) Since he lost his wife and as such has no family, it is clear that this former champion views Team Black as a family. Therefore he participated in the surprise party.
(chapter 43) Consequently, I come to the following conclusion that the last scheme made him realize his own wrongdoing. He didn’t protect his sparring partner correctly. He failed him. However, like pointed out in a previous Daily Jinx Advent Insight, Yosep was manipulated from his colleague. Therefore the coach didn’t meet Kim Dan in the office and couldn’t talk him out of it. This discovery exposes that one of the protagonist’s problem is that he was following his sparring partner’s lead as well. Because Yosep trusted blindly Namwook, his “pupil” did the same. And this remark leads me to the confrontation in episode 46. The true owner of Team Black warned his both hyungs:
(chapter 7) Note the absence of Yosep in that panel, a sign that his work and position were minimized. Nevertheless, this was just the consequence of his own decision. He chose to minimize his own value and to rely on his hypocrite partner.
(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.
(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) Before he was practically inexistent, only famous in the underground fighting ring
(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 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?
(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 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:
(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 16)
(chapter 53)
(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 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.
(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.
. 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)
(chapter 53), she implied that she never got the chance to go to the West Coast because of him. It was, as if he had been a burden in her life (“life got so hectic”). This expression made me realize why Kim Dan came to live like a ghost. He embodies “life” for the grandmother: burden, responsibility, missed chance. It exposes her delusional mind-set. She is definitely chasing after an illusion. On the other hand, I detected that despite her words, she was not able to move her grandson’s heart. The latter was actually unwilling to leave the penthouse.
(chapter 53) His decision was strongly connected to filial duty and not to “love”. Moreover, by fulfilling her request, he is one step closer to become free from self-blame and accountability.
(chapter 53) Neither for the doctor nor for his “boy”.
(chapter 40) Though he lacked awareness in the States, for he was not present in the interrogation room, he can no longer claim to be oblivious. He knows about Kim Dan’s innocence. But why didn’t he call the physical therapist then?
(chapter 53) Notice that before leaving the penthouse, the main lead was holding the resignation in his hand. This means that the young man had not informed Park Namwook yet. This gesture exposes that Kim Dan was convinced that the manager was his boss, the master of Team Black. Nevertheless, Jinx-lovers should detect that the “hamster” left the flat during the evening. This signifies that the PT handed out his abdication the next morning, I can’t imagine that it happened during the night, for the man has a family with kids.
(chapter 53). This signifies that he must have spent some time at the office. To conclude, the young man didn’t vanish quickly from the gym like a ghost, similar to the PT from episode 1.
(chapter 1)
(chapter 53) He gave the impression that he was telling the truth. This incident was used to explain the doctor’s resignation. But here is the thing. If the doctor spent some time at the office in order to organize the files, why didn’t Potato stop him or tried to talk him out of it? That’s how I came to the following deduction. When Kim Dan came to the gym, the latter was empty, only the manager was there!! A new version of this scene:
(chapter 23) Thus I deduce that all the members from Team Black were busy due to the discovery of the scheme:
(chapter 52) Under this new light, I am suspecting that Park Namwook already knew about Kim Dan’s innocence, but he never revealed it to the physical therapist. He made sure that no one from Team Black met the main protagonist Kim Dan so that no one would stop him from quitting. That’s why there was no phone call during that week. As conclusion, I believe that Park Namwook used the members from Team Black at the hospital to have the majority on his side, to hide his passivity. There is no doubt that he feared to be blamed for his behavior in the locker room.
(chapter 53) He took his words to heart. Thus I come to the following deduction: Park Namwook already knew about the physical therapist’s innocence, but he chose to keep the truth from his boss to mask his own wrongdoings: his passivity and negligence. The reason is that the discovery of the scheme took place in the evening, and Kim Dan gave his letter in the morning. Moreover, some days had passed, when they showed up at the hospital. Potato’s vanishing injuries are the evidence. They waited for the right time to announce the terrible news, something similar to this:
(chapter 48) “If we tell him now, it will only throw him off his recovery or his surgery”. Once again, he chose silence and inactivity. Thus no one called the champion or the doctor.
(chapter 50) And what did the manager say to the protagonist?
(chapter 52) He should have checked the facts. The letter is exposing the manager’s lie. He is expecting that Kim Dan vanished like the previous PT. However, contrary to the previous one, the “hamster” lived with the celebrity. Thus he left a letter to Jaekyung in the penthouse, and the manager had no way to know the existence of this message. And now, you comprehend why Kim Dan never received any phone call from Park Namwook. It is because he would have to inform him about the existence of the scheme. There was no emergency from his side, for he desired to hide his own wrongdoings (negligence, blindness and stupidity).
(chapter 36). No wonder why the man is passive. But his inactivity is the result of his indecisiveness (I had portrayed him as someone suffering from Decidophobia). Interesting is that making no decision is the worst people can do. Why?
(chapter 19) This comparison outlines the PT’s metamorphosis. Not only his perception of Joo Jaekyung changed, but also he has become a responsible and dedicated physical therapist. He defines himself as a PT too. Hence he didn’t leave a mess behind with the files (chapter 53). His decision exposes that this was not an escape.
(chapter 53) It is because for Kim Dan saying goodbye over the phone is not proper. The reason is simple. He experienced it himself as a child.
(chapter 53) Even more than before!! Joo Jaekyung needs assistance and protection. From that moment on, he can grasp that his sacrifice was not the best for both of them, why his sacrifice was in reality pointless. He should have been more selfish and more confident.
(chapter 44) He stroke his soulmate’s face, kissed his cheeks and finally his ears. His actions triggered a singular reaction in the star:
(chapter 44) This made the physical therapist’s laugh.
(chapter 44) His genuine laugh combined with the following realization
(chapter 44) shows that in that moment, the physical therapist rediscovered his youth again. I would even add that Jinx-philes were witnessing in this panel how Kim Dan reconnected with his inner child.
(chapter 44) The blushing is an indication of life and innocence. But if this young man’s childish nature was brought to the surface, who was Tinker Bell during this night? Naturally Joo Jaekyung. Under the influence of soju, the man could no longer hide his true nature. He has a childish side too. In other words, he was lowering his guard. Anyone has already heard from the quote “In wine, there’s truth” (the original quote comes from Latine: “in vino veritas”). As you can see, this beautiful night corresponds to this one: 


(chapter 10) Under this light, it becomes comprehensible why Kim Dan’s beautiful night became a dream, an illusion. The young doctor had done something wrong from a moral point of view. However, because the young man had treated the champion so well before, his reward was to experience what love is.
(chapter 44) Thanks to Tinker Bell, he could fly: he was brought to Nirvana.
(chapter 44) The problem is that the physical therapist was reducing love to sex (“making love”). True love has to be expressed in a lot of different ways (spiritual intimacy, experiential closeness, responsibility etc) and not just through sex.
(chapter 43) Interesting is that in that scene, the protagonist couldn’t see his lover’s face. He couldn’t detect the glimpse of a smile and his warm gaze.
(chapter 11)
(chapter 47) By saying that he was a puppy dog, she was implying that she would be responsible for him. Keep in mind that pet are linked to care and accountability. However, her wish is strongly connected to one single moment:
(chapter 53) She is not thinking about the future at all. For her, it doesn’t matter, for her time is limited. Dog can be abandoned in the end, especially when the responsibility becomes a burden. That’s the reason why I believe that in verity, she was treating the protagonist more like an object than like an animal. Moreover, Jinx-philes should keep in their mind she used to describe him as a little boy, which also represents responsibility and care. Therefore I conclude that this scene didn’t stand for Kim Dan’s true home, it was just an illusion.
(chapter 44), though the communication failed, for Joo Jaekyung was drunk. Moreover, Kim Dan kept most of his thoughts to himself, a sign that he was still guarded. Hence while Doc Dan felt at home during that night, it didn’t last long. The next morning, they became once again boss and employee.
(chapter 19) They were no deep lingering feelings towards the grandmother’s house. In fact, before leaving, he remembered an incident, a mysterious phone call which I consider as the moment, which broke the boy’s soul and heart. For me, he was almost glad to leave this place behind.
(chapter 30) The pajama pattern in the image appears to resemble a leopard print, which features distinct rosette-shaped spots that are commonly associated with this type of design. He also looked like a sulky “cat”.
(chapter 30) And what was he trying to do here? To seek closeness to his new mate!
(chapter 19), very territorial and disliking surprises. In literature, leopards often symbolize strength, courage, agility, and stealth. They are seen as solitary and powerful hunters, often representing independence or mystery. In totemic traditions, the leopard can symbolize resilience, adaptability, and personal power, often embodying a person’s inner strength and ability to face challenges.
(chapter 26) One might argue that he laughed with Potato and Oh Daehyun in the States. But are you sure? We never saw him laughing. Only Joo JAekyung heard their laughs, but did it also belong to the hamster?
(chapter 37) Moreover, observe that during that terrible night, the athlete was wearing an t-shirt with a feline on it:
(chapter 37) Puma was designed on it. As you can see, everything is pointing out that this man is a leopard which was mistaken to a sulky cat or a puma.
(chapter 44) So since the champion was naked during this night, we could say that his true nature was slowly coming to the surface. As a predator, his annoyance to the strokes and kisses appears more normal and understandable:
(chapter 44) Kim Dan is teaching him how to control his strength and discover playfulness. And now, imagine Kim Dan patting a leopard 😉
(chapter 24), Oh Daehyun the eagle…
(chapter 9)