Released in 2016, Killing Stalking garnered international attention for its graphic content and its controversial marketing, which initially blurred the lines between BL romance and psychological thriller. However, Chapter 1 immediately dismantles any expectation of consensual romance. Instead, it establishes a precise mechanism of horror: the gradual, inexorable transformation of obsession into imprisonment. This paper will focus on three key elements of the first chapter: the establishment of Yoon Bum as an unreliable, obsessive narrator; the subversion of domestic space; and the first explicit act of violence as a narrative anchor.
Bum’s motivation for entering the house is rooted in a desperate, pathological need for connection. He is looking for "love" in the most invasive way possible. Chapter 1 posits that Bum’s vulnerability—his lack of a support system and his fragile mental state—is exactly what makes him the perfect victim for someone like Sangwoo. It sets the stage for a toxic cycle of codependency that defines the rest of the series. killing stalking chapter 1