#lftcot

[tortibomb]

Ju Yeong & Do Hoe | Episode 8 | Let Free The Curse of Taekwondo

[heretherebedork]

The kiss! The sweetness and then Dohoe pulling away when Juyeong tried again and isn't that just heartbreaking and a sign of everything else that keeps happening and how they relate to each other and the pain and the fear and the love that keeps hurting because neither of them really knows how to love.

[divineandmajesticinone]

LET FREE THE CURSE OF TAEKWONDO I EP. 04

[ltstrikesback]

The thing that’s great about Let Free the Curse of Taekwondo is that I get to know what it’s like to be hit by a bus every week without actually getting hit by a bus.

[hotasfahrenheit]

i know it probably makes practical, financial sense that Dohoe moves in with Juyeong instead of them trying to hang on to Dohoe's apartment- without the tutor job and with having to serve 6 months in jail meaning he probably got rid of the apartment anyway instead of paying for it while he was gone, and with Juyeung probably not making a lot of money by the time the official living together point happens after that, they need to live in the less expensive apartment if the other was even available anymore- but i love that it's Juyeong's place they end up in because Dohoe's apartment felt so empty and cold and full of shadows, but Juyeong's place feels warm and full of light.

Dohoe's apartment was big and fancy and sparse and a manifestation of the lies he was living, the trappings of success without any real substance filling the space at all, a place that had stuff in it but still felt like it should echo with how empty it was. it's where he asked Juyeong to focus on only the present, and it's where they reconnected physically with each other, but especially with the flashback comparison to their first time together, there's still the obvious disconnect between them emotionally at that point.

Juyeong's place is cozy and warm and his bed is surrounded by windows and actual lights, with a lamp at the foot of his bed and a bulb hanging over the pillows AND a desk lamp on the desk right next to the bed; the whole place is full of personal touches and bits and pieces of his life and the things he loves, and even tho Dohoe has said he only cares about the present, the first time he walks in the door he immediately is drawn to the pieces of the past Juyeong has kept there. Juyeong always clearly felt out of step and out of place in Dohoe's apartment, but Dohoe is immediately comfortable in Juyeong's space and it feels natural for them to be there together.

it's a home filled with light and laughter and love, and it's where they can start to build their shared future and shared lives and grow together in a place that is a healthy safe foundation for both of them. a place where they can be honest with each other, and be themselves, and just be happy. which is all they've both ever wanted anyway.

[queercowboyinspace]

this trend but make it queer

[dropthedemiurge]

Let Free the Curse of Taekwondo is fascinating, fascinating story. Complicated one, with flawed characters and complex emotions and themes.

Just 2 episodes ago I was rooting for Juyoung and Dohoe and thought they were perfect for together, and now I think they won't work out this way at all - and isn't it the great portrayal of first teenage puppy love versus adult relationships?

It's fascinating. I don't think is BL is bad at all, despite me having more complicated feelings about Dohoe now, and there are many details that can be interesting to poke around and discuss with other tumblr folks. Also I think the time gap was really needed and made a lot of sense, in case some people still doubt, it was clearly shown.

And still, I sigh. I had one short thought that might be they really should just let go and move on, and this will be their happy ending, but I know Juyoung and Dohoe aren't easily torn apart.

But also the burden on their necks and above their heads are way, way too heavy, and can't be just put aside like a cross necklace.

Fascinating.

[badsassitude]

I keep seeing so much negativity directed toward Ju Yeong of Let Free the Curse of Taekwondo. I’ve seen some serious hate against him, and I’m just over here feeling like a whole lot of people are missing so much of the brilliance of this series.

Here’s the thing y’all- hurt people hurt people. Trauma makes a lot of us into assholes on the surface, especially when we are in survival and reaction mode.

The whole framework of this series is generational trauma live and in action. Do Hoe’s is the most obvious- because physical abuse is easily visible. We can see how he has been abused, both at home, and by his peers as they take out their anger on him. We see his avoidant attachment clear as day, and how for him survival means leaving and never looking back.

Ju Yeong is a case study in complex trauma as well. He’s been abandoned, thrown away, and is desperate for connection and love. Where as Do Hoe’s trauma response is to leave/avoid/disconnect- Ju Yeong’s is to cling to connection, to make it work at any cost, to suffer and endure whatever hardships are necessary in service to the relationship. Ju Yeong hides his pain under his smile and bubbly personality. He knows what it is like to be cast aside, and he’s willing to suffer beatings in order to not lose Do Hoe, and he will do so while smiling and laughing and reassuring Do Hoe that he is fine.

Nobody’s trauma response is more valid than another’s. And in the case of Do Hoe and Ju Yeong we can see how their trauma responses run counter to the other’s. Blaming Ju Yeong for ruining Do Hoe’s life does a disservice to both of these characters, and completely ignores the fact that Ju Yeong is suffering from his own “curse” of trauma just as much as Do Hoe.

Healing is hard. Cycle breaking is exhausting. We all are doing the best we can with the tools we have.

[dekaydk]

Oh, damn, matching cozy lounge-y outfits

This is so cute. I don't think the pre-reunion Dohoe would have done this.

Credit to @jimmysea for the GIF

[heretherebedork]

Studying kiss and the evolution into matching pajamas.

[miss0atae]

Random Thoughts about Let Free the Curse of Taekwondo (EP 3 - 4):

Sometimes, you think you're prepared to handle the angst and usually it turns out it's not really that easy. Let's say it was this way for me, with these two episodes. I knew from the start that the relationship between Do Hoe and Ju Yeong would be affected by something Do Hoe's dad would do, but I never quite imagine the domino effect it would have for the rest of the story. To be honest, I had to rewatch the part where everything went wrong because I wasn't sure I had quite understood what happened. I guess this part reinforces the sudden volte-face that you never quite imagined, neither the characters did. In the end, you just feel like Ju Yeong: confused and in a need of answers.

I guess I would be easy to have resentment for Do Hoe. I understand that he feels guilty in some way about what happened. He also maybe believes that avoiding Ju Yeong, being cold to him or keeping a distance with him, will be the right penitence for what happened... but it's not. He still feels guilty and that's shown when he met again Do Hoe at his father's funeral. When asked by Hyeon Ho if he is okay, he curtly answered "no, I'm not okay". I think Do Hoe hasn't been okay for 12 years now and it's a very long time to feel guilty. Harm was done by his notoriously abusive father to someone he cares for and Do Hoe feels like the blame fell at his feet. He is struggling with guilt and that made him not being able to do his exams and to cut any contact with Ju Yeong.

On the other hand, we have a very confused and lost Ju Yeong, who was beaten by Do Hoe's father because he wanted to "protect" him, in some way. In the end after this event, he was left with no contact, no way of talking or seeing Do Hoe. He never quite understood why. He deserves a valid explanation, but he was left with uncertainty. Uncertainty is everywhere and that's part of life. Yet, we all crave security and control over our life. By denying him a reason to explain his actions, Do Hoe made Ju Yeong feels fear and doubts. They can trap you in a downward spiral of "what-ifs". That's why he never really found his way, made strong bonds with others and he kept contact with Do Hoe's father, despite everything. In a way, he was looking for Do Hoe is every part of his life. It is shown in the scene where he rushed outside when it was snowing because snow is associated with Do Hoe and the good time they had together.

I guess it must have felt weird for some viewers about why Ju Yeong kept contact with Do Hoe's abusive father or why he cried during his funerals. I think it can be explained in several ways: first, it's a way of still being close to Do Hoe, even if Do Hoe is not present in his life. Secondly, it is the feeling of being wanted. Ju Yeong was adopted and never felt he had a place in his family, but even if Do Hoe's father is really abusive and despite the toxicity, it's worth it, just to feel wanted. Finally, and that's just a guess, alright, some people stay around toxic people because deep down, they believe they can't do any better and/or the abuse is a preferable alternative to being alone. By losing his coach in an accident, Ju Yeong lost an important person in his life. Even if this person was toxic and put him in this situation where he lost contact with the real most important person in his life: Do He. So yes, I understand why Ju Yeong stayed in touch with the coach and cried when he died. Of course, it also gave him the opportunity to see Do Hoe again, something he desperately wanted because he wants answers. That's why he is always asking him “Don't you have something to tell me?!”. I think the explanation may not be what's important, what he really wants is for Do Hoe to talk to him.

Recently, I read a post by @usertoxicyaoi about the loneliness of being queer as it is portrayed in Love in the Big City through Go Yeong's journey. I think it also works, in a way, with Ju Yeong. I will quote this post because I think it was so well-written: “It's such a relatable, universally felt loneliness that in particular queer adults feel. and yeah love is nice and all, and it was fleeting and a whirlwind and it came and it went. but that loneliness? Stayed.” I think it also relates well to what Ju Yeong must have felt during these 12 years where he was left with no real answers and the loss of someone he really loved and trusted. I hope that now, Do Hoe and Ju Yeong will be able to start their healing journey: one must free himself from feeling guilty over something he couldn't change and the other must be able to get free of the loneliness he thinks he deserves because of his past. I get that the series is called “let free the curse of Taekwondo”, but we all know it's not Taekwondo that is the curse and both have a different one. The idea is that maybe they are the cure for one another. I wouldn't say love is the only answer, but in a way, it's not only about romantic love, but also self-love. Both are the answer, in my view.

As you can see, I had so much to say about this series and it shows how great it’s for me. I can’t wait to see how they are both going to re-connect, heal and live this love again.

[impala124]

Am I being delusional, or is this scene in Ep 2, where Juyeong admits to liking Dohoe, set up as a church confessional?

Juyeong : Are you asleep? I'm sorry. I like you. I really care about you too.

And then they get interrupted by Dohoe's drunk father. When it becomes clear that his father might hurt Dohoe, Juyeong pushes the father onto the couch, takes Dohoe's hand, and runs out of the house.

The Catholic Church teaches that sacramental confession requires three "acts" on the part of the penitent: contrition (sorrow of the soul for the sins committed), disclosure of the sins (the 'confession'), and satisfaction (the 'penance', i.e. doing something to make amends for the sins).

I'm sorry (contrition) , I like you. I really care about you too (discolsure of the sins). Protecting Dohoe from his father (penance).

I'm not a practicing Catholic, so please feel free to chime in if I got anything wrong here.

[hotasfahrenheit]

one of the things that is catching me up over and over and circling in my head about Let Free The Curse of Taekwondo is the way that Do Hoe keeps telling Ju Yeong to leave, and how at no point is it because he doesn't like Ju Yeong or doesn't want him around- he usually tells him to leave when he talks about leaving himself, even- but it's the looming, inevitable feeling that it is only a matter of time before his father hits Ju Yeong like he hits Do Hoe and all the other boys, and the fact that Do Hoe wants Ju Yeong to get out before it can happen.

there's such a feeling of resignation about it when it comes to Do Hoe expecting the abuse for himself, in carrying the weight of knowing he can't protect anyone else either. and he knows that the bubble of safety that Ju Yeong arrives with because of his family and his mother and his situation can only last so long.

and the way he looks absolutely crushed when he realises that it's already happened and that Ju Yeong is hiding his wounds because he doesn't want Do Hoe to know and add to his guilt just in turn crushes me.

[conscbgb]

Dohoe repressed anger : here she comes 👇

[y4zurulvr]

seeing people misunderstood/not talk about Dohoe's issues is KILLING ME, Like dude he cut off contact with Juyeong after the horrific realization that it was so easy for him to become just as bad as his father (hell even WORSE than his father, he was gonna straight up murder him), and he fears that he might treat Juyeong the same way as how his father did the same to him. He was trying to not enter the cycle of abuse but unintentionally hurts Juyeong in the process. anyways please send Juyeong and Dohoe to therapy.

[dropthedemiurge]

Honestly, at this point, maybe they both should move on and focus on themselves.

I get why Dohoe is acting this way, but I still don't think it's justified, you know? I can 100% understand why he wanted to keep a wall up - I personally would want nothing to do with the person who became the perfect daughter I could never be for my abusive dad. I can even get how Dohoe might've seen himself in Hyeonho and established a truce then grew close, both of them having quietly studied their way out of that town.

I understand all of that, truly. However, Juyeong is still a person, and he doesn't deserve what he is getting. It's true Juyeong is the one who is pushing for a way back into his life. And you know what? maybe Juyeong doesn't deserve closure. But, he also doesn't deserve disingenuous intimacy or vaguely classist comments about where he is in life. He doesn't deserve the mind games. Dohoe is being very unkind. If you're going to let him back in then commit.

I think that unless we see Dohoe go and work through some sort of therapy then the best conclusion would be a bittersweet ending. One that would see Juyeong learn to not invest so much into another person and start figuring out what he even wants out of life.

Dohoe has a lot of healing to do, both of them do. Will being together make it impossible? No. But, from what we are seeing, Juyeong's presence itself is a trigger for Dohoe. Juyeong, who so quickly made a home out of Dohoe, who currently can be likened to a puppy desperate to play with his busy owner, reminds Dohoe of his own. It's quite tragic, really.

A lot of people got an off vibe between them in the episodes that just came out. The reconciliation didn't do it for me personally (could be a language barrier thing tbh). The overall tone is also getting a little too corny for my taste, I'm not a big fan of love triangles and I thought the show was actually portraying it well at the start so I am disappointed to lose that authenticity.

I did not find anything romantic about Juyeong renting a nice car when he is struggling to make rent for his apartment, just so Dohoe (who is classist now for some reason??) will give him time of dsy. If this is the direction the show is taking I will be sad at the lost potential. I have enough confidence in the show to believe that it is all intentional. I think the juxtaposition of the two sex scenes was meant to highlight their emotional distance. Something isn't quite right and I think that is exactly what we are supposed to think.

Fingers crossed for next episode. 🤞

- ☁️

That's what I thought, anon!

Maybe it's not destined for them to be happy with each other without all their burdens. After all, the show is called 'Let Free the Curse' (in Korean too), the requesting, the demanding, the pleading way, and not 'being free of the curse'. The show keeps telling these characters in every episode that they need to let themselves free of the curse, and yes - it was external first, but Dohoe and Juyeoung grew up to be adults, yet they choose the curse over and over again.

I am so damn curious where this is all going.

I agree with all your comments, but also I don't think the blame is solely on Dohoe, you know. That's the thing, there are 2 completely different viewpoints and 2 different pasts that haunts them. Like you said, Juyeong's presence itself is a trigger for Dohoe. We already heard about it in the past 2 episodes, how Dohoe sees him. He is one of 'Them' for Dohoe: enjoying and resorting to violence, selfishly expressing emotions, upholding chains and rules (be it with religion or taekwondo). Dohoe loved him and told him to go away, to break free, tried to care for him in the inevitable violent space -- yet Juyoung stayed, and continued being violent with his dad (and then befriended him), and almost dared to say this was all because of Dohoe, because he sacrificed himself for him when nobody asked him to. As someone who almost became the monster too (when he grabbed that knife), no wonder Dohoe hated the past and everyone connected with it on that side. Juyoung is a selfish monster who made him happy and then came to haunt him. I get it.

And for Juyoung, Dohoe was a sunshine in rain, the little snowflake of happiness in the middle of a shitty life and abandonment. They shared first kisses and thrills, hiding from everyone, dreaming of running away to Seoul together, dreaming about the entire future together - that's how he was able to bear and withstand every beating, every shitty day and neverending insults. His parents got rid of him in hopes he'll stop being a sinner, and Juyeoung couldn't do it, but he found Dohoe – but wait, Dohoe disappeared and left him too. Without explanations, without giving hope (until the message was found years later). Everyone left him, so Juyeoung latched at the monster who beat him up because he felt the similar loneliness. Of course, this will always hurt, of course, he won't be able to move on, of course 12 years time gap feels like one long day because the questions were never answered, because hope was never properly torn out of him. And him seeing Dohoe living a 'better' and more rich life, saying he's finally free but obviously living a lie, still, like he used to -- again, more unanswered questions, and Juyoung deserves answers!

I think language barrier is one thing, but I also got an off vibe with their reconciliation, not in Korean but more like how fast it happened. How not enough information or discussion was provided - but then the episode proved that Dohoe deliberately avoids talking about it, and Juyeoung doesn't call him out, so I think the 'reconciliation' is also a deliberately shown lie. Like a fake snow that is only a surrogate of real happiness.

We're not supposed to be satisfied with them yet. They aren't. Like you said, something isn't quite right and I also think that's exactly what is being told to us. Hohyeon is another guy who's stuck in the past and this curse, but he deserves his own post xD But yes, to me it feels like very deliberate. Happy reunion isn't happy at all.

I'm not sure we'll ever be happy for them, unless both of them let free the curse, once and for all.