Su-Ae’s initial thoughts on Dohwa:
He's always at the center of school rumors...
But who is Dohwa Baek exactly?
He doesn't do much but he's always in the spotlight.
He's just plain rude.
He doesn't try in school.
He's a good looking guy that likes to hang out with delinquents...
And he's famous for his pretty face.
- Chapter 13
Dohwa Baek is one of the most interesting and dynamic characters in Operation: True Love. Like the heroine of the story, he evolves alongside the plot, and does it in only a handful of chapters in contrast to the male lead Eunhyeok Go.
Dohwa goes from cold to approachable, and he becomes softer and debonair as a result of his interactions with the kind and cheerful Su-Ae. While his face is canonically attractive, his loyalty and longing for Su-Ae makes him an appealing character to study in the context of the collective work of the fictional Webtoon comic.
Dohwa steals our attention because we know he's going to lose in seasons 1 and 2 of the manwha, and yet he is able to give all that he has for the person he loves.
As seasons 1 and 2 progress, he opens up his soul to show his insecurities. He shares his humble home, or the moments when life has beat him to a pulp, and all these moments happen with Su-Ae. He's not afraid to be flustered, to cry in front of Su-Ae, or show that deep rooted longing every time he sees his crush. In that aspect alone, Dohwa is different from his counterpart, Eunhyeok Go, and that is why I find this character the most appealing in Operation: True Love.
Eunhyeok gets flustered by Su-Ae, sure, but as much as he tries, he does not show much vulnerability when he's with Su-Ae. He doesn't tell her what bothers him and makes him feel small. I love that Su-Ae is able to respect those personal boundaries that both Dohwa and Eunhyeok have set, but the male lead happens to have more firm boundaries that have pushed Su-Ae away post-time skip.
But Dohwa is so much different. He is not perfect by any means, but his emotional intelligence is far greater, and a person like Dohwa would make a stable partner in real life. Up to now, Dohwa has been the best, greenest flag in the series. He is far from the cool, calm, and collected trope that most fictional men fall into.
At first, Dohwa is presented as a little mysterious and a little aloof with strangers. He seems impatient and rude with people he does not know. The first impression he gives is that he's a real jerk because his guarded personality is out of necessity rather than choice.
Dohwa is initially portrayed as this glamorous, attractive young man. He's a popular character with stardom quality and countless of talent agencies vying for his attention. However, and as the story progresses, we come to understand that Dohwa feels uncomfortable with the attention he receives. As a result, most of the time he covers his face with hoodies, and face masks, and hats. He has a collection of contact cards from different talent scouts, but he ignores them or throws them away.
Imagine being so attractive that people are constantly whispering, taking pictures, and building an image that is far removed from the harsh reality of daily life. Dohwa lives a lie around his friends, so he is catious about revealing his secrets. This need for secrecy makes Dohwa able do discern when people are objectifying him or trying to use him.
Ra-Im's confession to Dohwa:
Ra-Im: Wanna go out?
Dohwa: Cut the crap. What’s gotten into you all of a sudden?
Ra-im: I thought maybe if I have something good, I won't want what's not mine.
Dohwa: Something good? Am I some kind of object to you?
Ra-Im's haphazard confession in chapter 28 is an overall representation of how people view him in general. Better yet, that's the best representation of how Dohwa feels around others. He's the eye candy girls want to show off -a boost to people's egos. He's the guy that other guys feel jealous about, and he vehemently rejects that fate. He hides from people while working unassuming jobs to make ends meet. He wants to be treated as a person, rather than an object, and so he displays this unapproachable, impassive look with strangers. He looks cold and uncaring at first glance, but get to know Dohwa Baek, and he is the sweetest, most attentive guy.
The difference lies in how our heroine treats Dohwa. Su-Ae is able to see the person rather than the idol. That's why Su-Ae worms her way into his heart - because she feels empathy for his situation. What stems from passing curiosity on Dohwa’s part later blossoms into genuine affection.
As an example, in chapter 39, Su-Ae is able to understand Dohwa sentiment of inadequacy.
Su-Ae: Everyone's looking at you. And talking about you.
Dohwa: I'm use to it.
Su-Ae: You don't look that used to it. You look uncomfortable. Wanna wear your hat?
Dohwa: Yeah. Put it on me.
Su-Ae's Thoughts: Huh. I guess being popular kinda sucks too!
The thing is, Su-Ae is ok with the version of Dohwa that doesn't feel confident and comfortable in his own skin. She lets him hide when he needs to, does not pester him about his private life, and she even helps him when he's trying to hide from others.
Take the arcade scene in chapter 34 when Su-Ae runs interference with a man (later revealed to be Dohwa’s father) who is searching for her friend. She does not hesitate to help him in that karaoke booth, and it later sets the stage for his real confession. It seems Dohwa wants to find someone who can see him without his social mask. He yearns to build a connection that will not judge him unfairly, that is why he takes a risk with Su-Ae and reveals his most guarded secrets, possibly risking his reputation in the process.
Dohwa’s Private Confession:
Dohwa: That was my dad at the arcade that day. And I have three part-time jobs.
Su-Ae's Internal Narration:
I had so many questions. But I didn’t dare ask any of them. And what I eventually said was...
Su-Ae: You don't really look like your dad.
Dohwa After Laughing:
I really wasn't looking for a response. I was just curious what you might say if I told you this. But it's not as bad as I thought it would be.
- Chapter 48
Dohwa, while hesitant, swallows his own pride without reservations, but most importantly, he is able to form a genuine connection with Su-Ae. That heartfelt connection is one of the main reasons why I love Operation: True Love, and why I want to see where the story will end. There are so many human moments that Dohwa brings into the story, and because they tend to be subtle, most readers miss it.
