I didn't read the novel but in the actual situation of the drama, the romance can't be, a romance between a 47 years old grown men and a highschool student would be just so weird, so i kinda understand why they removed the bl part (though this wasn't for sure the only reason, korea isn't a very open minded country and have more homophobia than occident countries) So yes, this is queerbainting in a way because if the original plot was that Yi Heon was bullied for being gay, it makes it a more lot insightful and deep than the drama plot and also for the behaviour of Se Kyung's father, he wouldn't want his son to be with be friend with a gay person bcs he would fear that his own son could be too. If in the original story, they're a romance when the gangster is still in Yi Heon body it's so weird and unhealthy, but if before the suicidal attempt of YI Heon, Yi heon was in love with CSK, it makes sense and if se kyung is in love with the mc, it also make sense.
Even if it is queerbainting, we can still enjoy the drama for what it is actualy, good plot, good acting, important topics... But as a gay people, i do think it's a shame that, whithout the drama being a bl, they removed COMPLETLY the lgbt part, like it would've been so complete, we don't specialy need a romance, we don't want a old men to be in love with a teenager, but just want to have representation with realistic lgbt characters, and the drama haved so much potential in this with the orginial Yi Heon and CSK. Old grown men (forgot his name tbh) would figure out they were silly gay teenagers and would've protect both of the people he can see, in a way ,as his kids from homophobia before returning the body to Yi Heon (that's just a theory, dont get me wrong) . That's my vision of things, i still love the show sm but that's a point i can't pass out
So yes, this is queerbainting in a way because if the original plot was that Yi Heon was bullied for being gay, it makes it a more lot insightful and deep than the drama plot and also for the behaviour of Se Kyung's father, he wouldn't want his son to be with be friend with a gay person bcs he would fear that his own son could be too. If in the original story, they're a romance when the gangster is still in Yi Heon body it's so weird and unhealthy, but if before the suicidal attempt of YI Heon, Yi heon was in love with CSK, it makes sense and if se kyung is in love with the mc, it also make sense.
Even if it is queerbainting, we can still enjoy the drama for what it is actualy, good plot, good acting, important topics... But as a gay people, i do think it's a shame that, whithout the drama being a bl, they removed COMPLETLY the lgbt part, like it would've been so complete, we don't specialy need a romance, we don't want a old men to be in love with a teenager, but just want to have representation with realistic lgbt characters, and the drama haved so much potential in this with the orginial Yi Heon and CSK. Old grown men (forgot his name tbh) would figure out they were silly gay teenagers and would've protect both of the people he can see, in a way ,as his kids from homophobia before returning the body to Yi Heon (that's just a theory, dont get me wrong)
. That's my vision of things, i still love the show sm but that's a point i can't pass out