Let Dai Volume 1

Let Dai is no ordinary manhwa. It's not a light-hearted BL romance or a sex romp; Let Dai is a haunting, entirely unique story that, throughout the series, provides as many laughs and sad smiles as it does gasps of horror and pangs of sorrow. The story begins with a chance encounter between the two main characters, Dai and Jaehee, and follows their lives as they spiral out of control and become intertwined in a world of violence and tenderness that is all their own. Every character in this story is complex and multifaceted, and what you see is not always what you get. The story is strongly character-driven, a study of the characters' psyche, but the action rarely lags. One is often left breathless by a turn of events, and you never know what Dai is going to do next and how Jaehee will react to him. I highly recommend Let Dai to anyone looking for a love story that is messy and beautiful. If you're hesitating on buying this because you're worried that you won't like reading a sad, somewhat disturbing story, don't let that stop you. There are plenty of happy moments intermixed with the difficult ones. The story never takes on more pain and depression than it can handle. Go for it; this is one fantastic series.

Let Dai is a powerful and disturbing Manhwa. The first volume is rated 13+ the content is more appropriate for older teenagers and adults (as shown by the following volumes being rated 16+). Although the series is not too graphic, it covers topics such as gang violence, mugging, rape, parental mental abuse, depression, and torture. However, first and foremost this is a shonen-ai story. Sooyeon Won has taken the rule book of typical high school shonen-ai stories and thrown it away. When the nice and ordinary Jaehee rescues a girl from a gang mugging, he finds himself on the revenge list of the gang leader Dai. Dai is the combination of a violent psycopath and charismatic leader. He is equally feared as admired by his gang members due to his complete lack of fear and twisted enjoyment in fighting. However, he eventually shows Jaehee a different side of him. By accepting the hand of friendship that Dai offers, Jaehee slowly lets down his guard - an action that he regrets at the end of volume 1. It becomes clear in future volumes that although Dai shows a kinder and personal side of him to Jaehee, his is a possessive love and he has no intention of sharing Jaehee with anyone. Jaehee meanwhile finds his personality taken over by Dai and despite his fear cannot help but obsessing over him. Their new friendship engulfs their lives and has knock on effects for Jaehee's girlfriend, her sister, Jaehee's friend, and Dai's brother. Although I have portrayed a twisted relationship between Jaehee and Dai, Sooyeon creates a sensitive and fragile bond between them. In later volumes it becomes apparent the cause of Dai's violent nature and insecurity. It also becomes clear that both see in each other an escape from their own worlds. The art work is nicely done and their are some truly beautiful drawings featured throughout the volumes. The story is continuous and sometimes heart-stoppingly addictive. You will find yourself holding your breath more than once in fear and anticipation of what comes next. Rarely has violence and beauty shared the same page so well.

the illustration is AMAZING, the subtle nuances of expression and body language are expertly expressed. i wasn't sure if Let Dai was going to be a love triangle sort of thing when i first saw it, but the girls are mostly plot movers. if you are just reading for the boy x boy relationship, the girls are pretty easily ignored. if you don't mind the 'girl pining for boy' influence, it can be delved into just as easily. i was a bit suprised at how violent dai was towards the main character. however, that is part of what makes the story so gripping. you are trying to figure out what dai is all about. he seems to have an unhindered intrest (obsession?) with the main character, yet he often treats him brutally (like, in front of the gang). this settles down as the story moves on, and you see a new side of dai slowly being revealed. (ps. some of the illustrations are d@mn SEXY) the storytelling is innovative. you are shown events as they unfold, yet you have the main character adding insights, and describing things from his point of view (this book is in the past for him). it has a dynamic that is not typically seen in shounen-ai/yaoi manga, which i found refreshing. stereotypical seme/uke relationships get a bit droll. but *these* characters feel *real* and not flat and lifeless. korean manga is a bit different (and the names seem a bit odd) but you get used to it easily. "Not so Bad" is another Korean title i would wholeheartedly recommend. it sucks you right in. so if these are any indication, i think we can expect korean manga to really take off.

If you are a high schooler or someone who is reminescent of your high school days, get yourself a copy of this book. Some parts of the book seem a bit new because the story is very Korean-specific. But learning about a new culture is fascinating as always and the emotional turmoils that are much too realistic bring back the old memories. The hero of this story is a handsome teenage boy (with a girl friend) who finds himself helplessly falling in love with a cruel gang leader named Dai. This book is definitely worth reading.