Mated To An Enemy

Will it have a canon ending

Tell me you remember this wrong 🤬. Omg the top reviewer was right then, man I only at 300 some, wow. Y would he take that long?

Goong is a Shoujo, Romantic, Comedy, Drama that revisits the familiar concept of arranged marriage but sets it against the unique backdrop of a Korean monarchy. Expect the typical shoujo romance to take center stage, but with political intrigue, betrayal, and power struggles simmering in the background.

First off, let me say this: Goong is an incredible manhwa where the author poses an intriguing question for its narrative—what if the Korean monarchy wasn't just a relic of history but still an active part of society? This premise allows for the exploration of various issues rarely tackled in shoujo manhwa, such as social hierarchy, the ascension to the throne, and the true influence of the monarchy. That said, Goong remains akin to most Rom/Coms, focusing on a regular girl named Chae-Kyung, who is thrust into a relationship she never sought and into the royal family. The romantic elements of this manhwa are engaging, yet they suffer from unnecessary delays, where minor obstacles prevent romantic development, leading to a "back to square one" syndrome.

Just as the story incorporates numerous stereotypes, some characters also fit into common shoujo tropes. Consider the three main characters: the heroine Chae-Kyung, who is somewhat naive and follows the 'hates him but falls in love with him' archetype; the male protagonists, Shin, who delights in teasing our heroine, and Yul, who lavishes affection on her, forming the classic (and often contentious) love triangle. However, unlike many manga, the author skillfully uses these stereotypes to enhance comedic aspects and adds depth to the characters. Unfortunately, despite the relevance of the supporting cast, some eventually shift from being essential to being irritating, with the Eunuch serving as a prime example.

On the bright side, the artwork is nearly flawless. A glance at any page reveals the time and effort the author invested in research to authentically capture the essence of the Korean monarchy. From hairpins to robes, everything appears exquisite, and the characters are well-designed to complement this aesthetic. The sole reason this doesn't achieve a perfect score is the stark contrast between the beautiful visuals and the comedic style.

Overall, Goong is a remarkable manhwa that skillfully balances typical shoujo romance with the unconventional monarchy storyline. It successfully integrates all the royal customs and etiquette of the Korean monarchy. However, both the scanlated version and the official Yen Press release can be challenging to read due to the abundance of Korean terminology. While this doesn't spoil the experience, what does is the gratuitous comedy and random shounen-ai moments inserted to satisfy fangirls. In the end, fangirls will adore this, but even if you're not part of that demographic (like me), approaching it with an open mind will likely yield something worthwhile.

I feel genuinely conflicted about writing this review because, by most standards, I should be giving this manhwa a solid 9 or 10. Looking back at what I've just read, all the elements that usually draw me to a story were present. Plus, the artwork was outstanding. So why do I harbor a subtle yet persistent dislike for it? Honestly, I'm not entirely sure.

ART:
Let's agree that regardless of whether you loved or disliked this manhwa, the art was nothing short of spectacular. It was stunning—so much so that there were times when I paused on a page just to admire it. It was truly exceptional. I can't find a single flaw in it.

STORY:
This is where the manhwa lost significant points with me. I believe the author could have trimmed 25% to 40% of the plot, and the story would have been significantly better. There were too many instances where characters were about to say something life-changing, only to be interrupted, leading to awkward situations where they refused to speak. I found it unbearable. Too many events seemed to occur without any real reason. Issues that could have been resolved with just a few words were dragged out over chapters. Characters got angry without cause and failed to react appropriately when they should have. There was excessive crying and whining, and far too little logical decision-making. This made me frustrated while reading, which I don't think was the intended effect.

CHARACTERS:
Initially, the characters had immense potential. The main leads were quirky and funny—traits I appreciate in characters. However, gradually—though I'm still unsure how—I ended up disliking every single one of them. I don't mind if characters make mistakes occasionally; that's acceptable. I also don't mind when they make poor decisions sometimes. What bothers me is when they repeatedly make the same mistakes and poor decisions. It seemed like every other chapter included a scene where a character lamented their errors with exaggerated sobbing and whining, vowing to worsen the situation further. By the end, I no longer cared whether the two leads got together or decided to part ways. Additionally, the secondary characters were mostly obnoxious, seemingly included solely to irritate at different times for variety. I tried to like them, but you can't expect me to force affection that doesn't exist.

OVERALL:
Despite everything I've mentioned, I did finish it, which speaks volumes. I completed it after watching the drama (which omits 80% of the manhwa and alters roughly 10%), and I actually enjoyed it. I felt almost obligated to finish the manhwa to stay true to the drama experience.

If there's anything positive left to say, it's this: the comedy was decent. I appreciated the humor injected into the story, much of which made me laugh out loud. When the characters weren't indulging in self-inflicted love dramas and were actually interacting naturally, their scenes were quite charming. The angst was intense—if that's your thing, you'll likely adore this. It was a complex story with many redeeming qualities; it just wasn't suited to my taste.

*SPOILER-FREE*  

I think the main reason this manhwa failed was due to its poorly developed characters, repetitive plot structure, and an excessively prolonged narrative that quickly grew dull.  

The start of the series was actually quite promising. While there are countless tales about forced royal marriages, I initially found myself drawn to this one. I saw immense potential, and given the large number of chapters, I anticipated a compelling storyline with significant character growth. However, I was mistaken. By the midpoint of the story, I realized I was becoming increasingly frustrated and irritated while reading it. I couldn't pinpoint the cause at first, so I pressed on. Eventually, I understood that I had started to despise every single character. All of them were whiny, spineless individuals who repeatedly made the same atrocious mistakes over and over again. This wouldn't have been as problematic if it had only applied to one or two characters, but it encompassed the entire cast. Special mention must go to Hyo-rin, who became the most detestable character I've ever encountered. Despite these terrible characters, the series still had a chance to succeed. If it had been limited to 50 chapters, the manhwa might have been enjoyable. Instead, the plot dragged on, recycling the same ideas until I no longer wanted to continue reading. As the story progressed, my hatred for the series intensified until I reached the conclusion, which I found utterly disappointing.  

This manhwa was a major letdown, and I genuinely regret spending time on it. I would not recommend it to any reader, regardless of their preferences.  

Story - 5  
Art - 8  
Characters - 1  
Enjoyment - 6  
Overall - 5

If you've seen the drama, don't pass up on this manhwa. It's quite distinct and boasts its own unique appeal.

That said, having viewed the drama first, I was struck by how different Shin appears in the original source material. Here, he’s your typical arrogant and pampered rich kid—unlike in the drama where he comes across as colder, more composed, and rather restrained.

Chae-Gyung, however, remains the standard, relatable heroine with whom it's easy to empathize. Her life drastically altered, I can genuinely feel her loneliness and misery within the confines of the palace. Moreover, compared to the drama, the royal household in the manhwa is exceedingly strict and far more stifling.

Anyway, I'll stop comparing it to the drama and focus on the manhwa itself.

One aspect deserving praise is its originality. It's no small feat to imagine plausible scenarios set in an alternate universe version of Korea, and it's truly remarkable how the author brings these "what-ifs" to life.

The artwork here is stunning and only gets better with each volume. I appreciate the intricate details of the scenery and costumes. The characters also grow more appealing, particularly Shin and Yul.

As for the plot and characters, what I admire most about the manhwa is witnessing how the protagonists fall in love. It unfolds slowly and gradually but feels incredibly convincing.

Raised in such an environment, Shin initially appears as a self-centered jerk incapable of caring for others. As he and Chae-Gyung are forced to coexist, he begins to experience unfamiliar emotions and eventually realizes what he's been missing in his life.

Similarly, Chae-Gyung, once a lively and cheerful girl thrust into an unwanted marriage, grows closer to Shin. The more time she spends with him, the more she understands and pities him, which eventually evolves into love.

Their relationship took me on an emotional rollercoaster: I laughed, got angry, and cried alongside them and their predicaments. Although the story did drag at times, I didn't mind too much because I thoroughly enjoyed the journey, flaws and all.

The only letdown was the ending. It was left open-ended with some unresolved plot points. However, given the manhwa's extensive character and relationship development, one can reasonably assume a positive conclusion.

Additionally, I found it amusing that the author pokes fun at shoujo/drama/romance novel tropes. Even Hana Yori Dango gets a mention!

In summary, the author skillfully balances comedy, drama, and romance. Highly recommended!

In spite of having so many chapters and reaching 27 volumes, this manhwa continues to capture my attention. Although I sometimes feel weary due to its length, the conflict remains compelling, urging me to keep reading.  

There is only one overarching conflict in this manhwa that persists until the very end, and it makes me appreciate it even more because the conflict feels genuine. Even after the main character (MC) and love interest (ML) finally come together, a new conflict arises that separates them, yet it never bores me. I can clearly see the growth of each character, especially the male lead (Shin), who starts off as cold and prideful but gradually softens into a genuinely caring person.  

Overall, I thoroughly enjoy reading this manga and highly recommend it to fans of shoujo romance.  
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I began my journey with "Goong" by watching the live-action drama, quickly falling in love with the story and feeling compelled to read it until the very end. The concept is truly fantastic, a common theme in K-dramas and manhwas, revolving around a fictional monarchy. This particular tale focuses on a girl who becomes a princess, paired with a prince who couldn't be more different from her, as her free-spirited nature clashes with the confines of palace etiquette. Additionally, the story delves into the love triangles that emerge, leading to scandal, death, and plenty of apologies.

I greatly appreciated the character designs in this manhwa, particularly the attention to detail in the eyes and lips. While the architecture was decent, the depictions of people and their clothing were truly exceptional.

As I mentioned earlier, I became deeply invested in the story and the evolution of its characters. However, I felt the author unnecessarily prolonged the narrative. It could have concluded a volume or two earlier. Certain parts were rather dull and stagnant, with the overarching theme remaining unchanged for about five volumes. The side stories seemed largely inconsequential, and the author even admitted to wasting pages in the second-to-last volume. Due to the drawn-out pacing without significant new developments, I believe the ending was rushed, leaving it unsatisfactory. In 2010, this was one of my favorite reads, easily deserving a 9, but the poor conclusion brings it down to an 8.

Nevertheless, I still recommend it, because who wouldn't dream of their parents secretly betrothing them to a HOT prince?

Enjoy.