There is an expression that cannot be omitted when talking about the webtoon 'Denma', which I have enjoyed since 15 years ago.

"Yongdu-sami."

It means that it started grandly and intricately like a dragon's head, but ended with a limp conclusion like a snake's tail.

In fact, readers who have consistently followed Denma nod in agreement with this expression.

In 2010, when 'Denma' began serialization on Naver Webtoon, many readers cheered, saying, "This is something different."

Unique settings like Quen, Quantum Tribe, Glenda, Now, and Prophet began to appear one by one, and it dealt with philosophical themes, religion and power, and free will, making it feel like the 'Matrix of the webtoon world'.

The characters also had distinct personalities and backstories, like heroes in a role-playing game.

Among them, the protagonist 'Denma' added charm with a tragic past behind his light and quirky actions.

The initial reader response was enthusiastic.

Praises like "Yang Young-soon finally released a crazy work" and "This marks a milestone in Korean SF" poured in.

However, at some point, it began to feel trapped in a maze.

The problem was the 'vastness of the settings', which was both a strength and a poison for Denma.

Initially, the appropriately revealed settings blended smoothly into the narrative, but as the serialization progressed, these settings expanded to an uncontrollable level.

No one knew what Quen was, why Blackstone was important, or how the timelines got tangled.

Among readers, distrust arose with comments like, "Did the author write down all the settings?" and some even remarked, "A comic that requires a separate wiki to understand its universe is a problem."

To put it metaphorically, it was like this.

At first, there was a ramen shop that people lined up for, claiming it was a great place, but the broth was rich while the noodles started to be undercooked, and soon toppings like raw chestnuts, jelly, and mint chocolate began to appear.

In front of customers shouting, "Where did that initial taste go?", the chef laughed and said, "I'll explain that in the next season."

The later developments of Denma were truly a rollercoaster.

Beyond the feeling that "the story is wrapping up too quickly", there were shocks like, "Why did that character exit like that?" that kept coming.

Characters that were treated importantly vanished as if they were erased, and some were simply noted as "dead" in a single line narration.

As beloved characters exited abruptly like being thrown out of a car, cynical comments flooded the reader boards.

The final epilogue of Denma summarized previous events and briefly showed the fates of the characters.

However, readers evaluated it as closer to 'stitching up' than 'summarizing'.

With unresolved plot threads piling up, it felt as if the owner had given up on organizing their belongings while moving and just covered everything with a blanket.

The central setting of the world of 'Quen' was still not properly explained, and the conflicts between the Quantum Tribe and the Prophet, Now's identity, and Denma's past and future were hurriedly covered up like pulling down a blind.

Later, Yang Young-soon hinted at a new season, but it did not resonate with readers who had already lost interest.

Why did it become Yongdu-sami?

The reason Denma became Yongdu-sami is not simple.

Excessively vast settings, the author's physical limitations, irregular serialization, communication breakdown with fans, narrative overcrowding, and a rushed conclusion.

All these elements intertwined, reducing a masterpiece that once flourished in an era to a mere, "Oh that? The ending was a bit off."

Nevertheless, Denma still left behind numerous memorable scenes and impressive lines.

"I have transcended death",
"He did not heal me."
These lines still linger in the minds of fans.

Someone said.

"Denma is the webtoon version of . It's interesting while watching, but after it's over, you wonder, 'What did I just watch?'"

Indeed. Denma is a webtoon that held our expectations in one hand and ultimately let go.

Yet, the splendid memories of its early days will remain long.

Like a romance that was once truly cherished.

Even if the end was unsatisfactory, the beginning was truly passionate.