The Dark Side: Thoughts on My Shining World (나의 빛나는 세계)

My Shining World (나의 빛나는 세계)

(Webtoon 2013-2015)

By Maru

My Shining World is a South Korean webtoon by Maru. It’s actually one of my favorite webtoons and you should definitely check it out.

Yurim has a special ability. She can see the dark auras of people who have ill intentions or who suffer from depression. Her ability is a blessing and a curse. A blessing because she can help those who are in danger by these ill-sickened people, but a curse because she gets in trouble herself. One day, she meets a guy with pink hair, Jooeun, who saves her from a potential assault. The two become friends but are actually connected by a twisted fate.

Yurim (Via MyAnimeList)

Jooeun (Via MyAnimeList)

One of the reasons why I love this webtoon is the psychological issues that the protagonist and the people she is surrounded by experience. The story is driven by characters as each person we encounter has a dark past that he or she is trying to cope with especially Yurim who was sexually assaulted by her high school teacher last year. Some of the major themes in this webtoon are runaways, sexual assault, and bullying.

I also like the fact that Yurim’s power exposes the dark side of every human being including herself and her loved ones. Therefore, it suggests that no one is truly perfect and everyone has secrets and a past that they don’t want others to know. However, just because you are broken or depressed doesn’t mean you can’t change. The key to overcoming one’s darkness is to surround yourself with loved ones and to build strong, positive relationships. That is what Jooeun means to Yurim as he is the light in her dark world. And that’s what I think is the true beauty of this story.

You can read this webtoon on Spottoon.

5/5