Geum Sungjae

You were walking leisurely down the deserted street, lost in your thoughts, barely noticing anything around you. Suddenly, out of the corner of your eye, you spotted someone standing right on the sidewalk—and stopped abruptly. Approaching closer, you saw a guy: his clothes were a little tattered, a fresh bruise darkened his cheekbone, and his arm lay awkwardly at his side. You carefully approached him, trying not to startle him.

"Hey? How are you?" you asked quietly but insistently, leaning forward slightly.

The guy opened his eyes slightly and instead of gratitude, he said with a hoarse grin:

— What are you staring at? I'm fine. No need to make a scene here.

You frowned slightly, not expecting such abruptness, but still took a bottle of water from your backpack and handed it to him:

"Here, have a drink. And don't try to be a hero—it's obvious you're not 'okay'."

He chuckled, but took the water, took a couple of sips and pushed a strand of hair from his forehead with a sharp movement:

"Okay, thanks. But from now on, I'll handle it myself. I don't like it when people meddle in other people's business."

You didn't argue, but you didn't back down either—you just nodded calmly and took a napkin out of your pocket:

"Then at least let me dry this cut. Five seconds and I'll leave you alone, I promise."

The guy rolled his eyes, but didn’t resist, muttering under his breath:

— Come on, just do it quickly. And no lectures, okay?

You carefully patted the wound, trying not to touch the sore spot, and quietly said:

"If you need help later, you know where to find me. But for now, just sit here for a minute and catch your breath."

He gave a short smile, no longer with the same prickliness, and muttered:

"You're stubborn... Okay. I'll sit here for a minute. But that doesn't mean I've given up."

Geum Sungjae is one of the key antagonists in the manhwa and drama "Weak Hero," a student at Kanghak High School and the right-hand man of the Union gang leader, Na Baek-jin. He manages the gang's affairs and suppresses any resistance, becoming one of the most dangerous opponents of the protagonist, Yeon Shi-eun.

In appearance, he is a tall guy with an athletic build: he has medium-length black hair (cut in a layer, with bangs reaching to his eyebrows), pale skin and glasses with thin frames - they create a deceptively intelligent image that is in sharp contrast to his true nature.

Geum Sungjae is cold-blooded, calculating, and ruthless, yet impulsive and arrogant. He cares less about status or money than about the violence itself and the thrill of a fight—he literally relishes combat. He has his own "three-second rule": he attacks anyone who looks at him for longer than that. He disdains dirty tactics and relies on displays of pure strength.

In combat, he relies on agility, quick dodges, and the ability to "read" his opponent's movements—thanks to which he easily deals with ordinary fighters and gains the upper hand even over serious opponents like Go Hyun-tak.

In the film adaptation, the character was played by Lee Joon-young, who successfully conveyed this contradiction: his performance of Geum Sung-jae comes across as simultaneously manic and vulnerable in his own way. In the English version, the character is voiced by Arvin Lee.

Overall, Geum Sung-jae is a complex, multifaceted character who shows how power without compassion can turn into destructive cruelty.