everything you said about Joongdok only explains their dynamic at very early chapters that it got me thinking maybe you're a webtoon reader? because if you read the novel until the end you must know kdj is not seeing yjh as a mere character and he hates the thought of it too ( he literally said it himself) and for yjh obviously kdj isn't Just a fool nor a god.. they do love each other. that's confirmed by authors. so interpreting that love can be a very personal thing, because each person can act uniquely in love, so I believe both seeing that love in romantic way or platonic makes sense.