Why Fans of Strong Girl Nam-soon Believed Villain Shi-oh Deserved More
Despite being the antagonist in Strong Girl Nam-soon, Shi-oh's character evoked sympathy from K-drama fans throughout the series, leading to a bittersweet farewell in front of Nam-soon
K-drama fans were left in turmoil over the fate of central villain Shi-oh in the JTBC and Netflix series Strong Girl Nam-soon, as his final on-screen moments led to an unexpected surge of sympathy from viewers. Despite Shi-oh's obvious villainous actions in developing a heinous drug, plotting to harm Nam-soon's family, and committing multiple murders, fans found themselves inexplicably drawn to the character due to his tragic backstory of being an orphan taken in by Pavel, a criminal organization.
The culmination of the storyline left fans deeply engrossed in Shi-oh's increasing affection for Nam-soon, oblivious to her true identity as the daughter of his adversary. Despite his brooding demeanor, he exuded joy and lightheartedness only in her presence, signifying her role as his ray of hope.
Although viewers of K-dramas are aware that the heroine never ends up with the antagonist, many secretly wished for it. However, the conclusion of Strong Girl Nam-soon left fans stunned and moved, shedding tears for Shi-oh and the harsh reality of his existence.
Shi-oh says his goodbyes in front of Nam-soon
After discovering Nam-soon's true identity, sustaining injuries in their confrontation, and realizing that his childhood friend returned to eliminate him, Shi-oh chooses to die with honor and succumbs to a fatal gunshot wound to the head.
While at the boxing gym, Shi-oh encounters Binbin, who he knew from their time at the orphanage. A flashback reveals that they were taken in by Pavel as children, but Binbin was trained in Hungary and is now tasked with killing Shi-oh. Binbin confesses that they were betrayed and abandoned on the day they were taken in by Pavel.
Reflecting on his past, Shi-oh shares, "I've been abandoned three times. Once by my birth parents, once by the woman I trusted, and once more by the only friend I've ever missed. I hope to leave this world having only been betrayed twice."
As the police arrive, Binbin gives Shi-oh the gun. Shi-oh chooses to end his life with dignity, and tragically takes his own life with the gun. Shi-oh's heartbreaking death in Strong Girl Nam-soon left fans in tears, just as he had been. Some Russian fans expressed that his monologue was even sadder than intended due to a mistranslation, as it had him claiming he was betrayed by the woman he loved.
A tweet on X (Twitter) read, "The tear from his eye after… goodbye. MY MAN DESVERED BETTER IDC. Namsoon knew his backstory and she could have helped him to see the light and change for the better. She even said later on that he must have been lonely…"
Another commented, “You know what more f**ked up There is not a single person in this world who has ever or will ever care about if Shioh lived or died F**K THIS WORLD.”
“We did not support Rye Shioh because of his looks. Shioh was abandoned by his birth parents and shipped as a child slave to the Russian mafia, where he was abused and made to do horrible things in order to survive as a 5-year-old. He was a victim of abuse,” said another.
Check out more K-drama news, Season 3 plans, and the teaser for Strong Girl Season 3 here! One fan expressed their agreement, stating, "Strong Girl Nam-Soon created a villain who was driven to wrongdoing from a young age, yet also loved and missed his only friend. We can empathize with his actions."
Editor's P/S
As a fan of Strong Girl Nam-soon, I have mixed feelings about the character Shi-oh. On the one hand, I understand why he turned out the way he did. He was abandoned by his birth parents, taken in by a criminal organization, and forced to do terrible things in order to survive. On the other hand, I can't condone his actions. He developed a heinous drug, plotted to harm Nam-soon's family, and committed multiple murders.
Despite his villainous actions, I couldn't help but feel sympathy for Shi-oh. His backstory was tragic, and it was clear that he was deeply troubled. I think the writers did a great job of making him a complex and relatable character.
Overall, I think Shi-oh's character was a fascinating addition to Strong Girl Nam-soon. He was a complex and well-developed villain who evoked a wide range of emotions from viewers. I'm glad that the writers gave him a chance to redeem himself in the end, even though it was ultimately too late.
