“You look terrified, and I really like that.” – this statement by Mumyeong Heo is enough to get a taste of what you are about to read. You might have read several thrillers or psychological webtoons, but The Gwichon Village Mystery will surpass your threshold at every step. Dark, eerie, gory, you name it, this webtoon is full of it, and hence, we feel obliged to warn you – The Gwichon Village Mystery is for adult readers. Let’s delve into this thriller webtoon featuring likely the darkest character of the year.
About The Gwichon Village Mystery Webtoon
If you have been craving a new mind-boggling webtoon, look no further. LINE app’s recent thriller webtoon, The Gwichon Village Mystery, is likely the darkest thriller webtoon of 2024. With the first episode localized on August 11, 2024, readers quickly become gripped by the titular village and its central character. Although it’s been only over 3 weeks, the webtoon has already amassed nearly half a million views on the Webtoon platform.
Without any context and names, the webtoon begins with a character scrubbing an apartment floor using baking soda, vinegar, and oxygenated water. Following that, the character goes straight to the bathroom to wash the scrubber and glances at two dead men sitting on a pool of blood in the bathtub – “Don’t worry, I’ll clean the two of you now” – setting the stage for loads of questions about the character. Is he a murderer? If so, why has he killed these two men? Is it a revenge story, or is he a psychopath? Well, you will not get an answer to any of that. Instead, an investigation of the murder will continue in the background while the webtoon will delve deeper into Gwichon Village and the central character – Mumyeong Heo.
Gwichon Village Sets the Stage for Horror
Entering Gwichon Village, Mumyeong Heo meets a strange man who wants to know his identity and violently asks him to leave this place. While the protagonist seems unbothered by the fuss, Ga-eun comes running, looking for her father, and apologizes, explaining that he is mentally unstable. Ga-eun plays a significant role in The Gwichon Village Mystery as she stays beside the protagonist at every step, warning him to be careful. Upon asking, Mumyeong reveals that his grandmother, Jeongja Kim, lives here. Perplexed, Ga-eun exclaims that his granny is dead, and she doesn’t recall seeing him at the funeral. He jokes, saying he had no idea, showing his lack of empathy.
It is to be noted that the residents of the Gwichon Village are resolutely superstitious as a part of an enigmatic cult to “mother”. We will find out more about this mysterious mother as the story unfolds. Except for our antihero protagonist, everyone in the village believes that everything happens because of the “mother.” This strange superstition, possessed villagers, search for salvation, and more will keep you engaged throughout this eerie thriller webtoon.
A Horrific Welcome At Granny Jeongja’s Home
“The house is all cleaned up as well…As if someone lives here” – Jeongja Kim died three years ago, so the spotless home creates the ambiance of horror. Soon, the banging noise of the door interrupts Mumyeong, introducing new characters to the webtoon – Seokdae No, the chief of the Gwichon Village Association, Hyeonseop, Seokho, and others, who have come to interrogate him.
Seeing Mumyeong misbehaving with the chief, Hyeonseop charged at him, but with a grin on his face, Mumyeong hit him, making him fall to the ground. This action doesn’t seem to bother the other villagers, again portraying the eeriness of the village. Before leaving, Seokdae ends the mystery by explaining that the villagers keep the house clean to console her spirit. Sounds perfectly understandable, right? Well, NO!
Hyeonseop asks the chief if he is going to let Mumyeong live there. With a smirk, he replies, “Take a look on the roof. Don’t you see how it’s dancing in delight?” We see a horrifying illustration of a black shadowy thing dancing with a grin on its face, making it clear that The Gwichon Village Mystery is more than just about murder and investigation. Is it a ghost? How come they all can see it? Why aren’t they scared of it?
Following their departure, Ga-eun comes sprinting, asking why the chief let him stay in the house. With a clenched fist, Ga-eun says, “I swear you’re gonna regret this,” creating more suspense. Later, she brings him pillows and a blanket since he didn’t bring anything. However, behind this kind gesture, there was a motive – she hid a talisman inside the pillow – but why?
Flashback of Mumyeong Heo
In episode 5, we witness Mumyeong having a nightmare about his tragic childhood. During a cheerful ride, little Mumyeong is in the backseat with his mother while his father is in the driving seat. His father expresses that he wants to become a policeman like his father but wishes Mumyeong would do something else. While he also wants to follow the same path and protect his parents, his father suggests that if he wants to do justice, then he should be a prosecutor. This content moment of Mumyeong’s family doesn’t last long as their cars gets intentionally crashed by a truck.
In the next scene, the goons come out to check if they have died or not. While his father was dead, Mumyeong and his mother were still alive, but not for long. With helplessness and teary eyes, he begs them to spare his mother, but they don’t hear his begging and kill his mother with a shovel in front of his eyes. Although this flashback doesn’t offer much about him, it evokes a sense of sympathy among the readers. The contrast between this tragic childhood and the present Mumyeong portrays him as a morally gray character.
Why is Mumyeong Heo the Darkest Character?
If the protagonist, especially an antihero, is not handsome, there’s no point in the visuals and illustrations – Agreed? Mumyeong Heo is a charming dark antihero and a quintessential gray character. He clears his evidence while tying his sleek black hair and, with a cigarette in his mouth, portraying a careless but psychopathic attitude.
Although everyone fears the chief, Mumyeong doesn’t hesitate to express that he isn’t obliged to listen to him. For instance, when the chief suggests him to do some patrol duties, he cockily replies, “No, I won’t. I left the city to take a break, okay?”
In another episode, Mumyeong saves terrified Ga-eun from possessed Seongsik with powerful punches and kicks, showing the main character’s energy. But, after saving her from Seongsik, he finds him in the forest and brutally murders him while wearing a constant smirk on his face. While Seongsik believes the chief has sent him to kill, Mumyeong denies saying, “It so happens that this is something I enjoy,” illustrating him as the darkest character.
In the latest episode, Seongsik’s wife arrives at Mumyeong’s place looking for her husband. Mumyeong confidently shuns the questions. But, the chapter ends with her exclaiming, “Wait a minute, why do you have that smirk on your face?” setting the stage for a fascinating next episode. What would be his reply? How will the villagers react? More importantly – Who will be Mumyeong’s next victim?
Stay in touch with Animemangatoon because we will get deeper into the roots of all the questions and anticipations surrounding the darkest webtoon character of the year. Let us know your opinions on this thriller webtoon and its central character in the comments below.
