Strongest Chil Woo

Strongest Chil Woo

Promotional poster for Strongest Chil Woo
Also known as Chilwu the Mighty
Genre Historical drama
Action
Written by Baek Wun-cheol
Directed by Park Man-yeong
Starring Eric Mun
Ku Hye-sun
Yoo Ah-in
Lee Eon
Kim Byul
Country of origin South Korea
Original language(s) Korean
No. of episodes 20
Production
Running time Mondays and Tuesdays at 21:55
Broadcast
Original channel KBS2
Picture format 480i (SDTV)
1080i (HDTV)
Original run 17 June 2008 – 19 August 2008
Chronology
Preceded by Formidable Rivals
Followed by Love Marriage
External links
official KBS website
Strongest Chil Woo
Hangul
Hanja
Revised Romanization Choegang Chilwo
McCune–Reischauer Ch‘oegang Ch‘iru

Strongest Chil Woo (Hangul: 최강칠우; hanja: 最強七迂; RR: Choi Kang Chil U; also known as Chilwu the Mighty) is a 2008 South Korean historical drama that aired on KBS2. The titular hero is similar to a Zorro during the Joseon period.[1]

Synopsis

The series starts by stating that :"Rather than being a person born in chaotic times, better be reborn as a dog in peaceful times. However, there are some people who are born as dogs in chaotic times. This is their story."

Apart from a terrific description of the Joseon yangban class as a nothing goes entity, this series is also a fun drama full of swagger and hysterical over-the-top scenes (drag queens, crazy elephant, horse acrobatics, magic, etc.). The result is an unconventional historical drama, where the lead character Eric Mun wears a black mask, has long hair, and rides off on his horse brandishing a whip under the moonlight.

The series has 20 episodes and occurs during the reign (1623–1649) of King Injo, the 16th ruler of Joseon. Injo was the son of Prince Jeongwon, who himself was the 7th son of King Seonjo, the 14th ruler of Joseon with Royal Noble Consort In of the Suwon Gim clan. The 15th ruler, King Gwanghaegun, was the 3rd son of Seonjo with RNC Gong of the Gimhae Gim clan and therefore the Injo's uncle. In 1623, Gwanghaegun was ousted of power by a political plot from the Western faction, that puts Injo on the throne. The turmoil of the civil war was thereafter increased by the Mandchu invasions of 1627 and 1636.

Two events are the cornerstones of the series and are stepwise described during numerous flashbacks. Both of them were instigated by the conservative Western faction. One of them is the bloody extermination of the "Rising Sun Utopia" (Muryun Dang), occurring during the year of the Snake (gisa year, 1629, Injo '6), and the other is the assassination of Crown Prince Sohyeon by his father in 1645 (Injo '22). The main action is situated circa 1648. While elements of these former plots are re-emerging from the past despite a series of murders, a group of mysterious assassins is avenging the sadness of the poor people.

Episodes

The action is not linear, as many flash-backs are occurring. Nevertheless, we have the following synopsis [2]

  1. A sister to avenge
  2. The zealous murderer of his daughter-in-law
  3. Random murders at Naksu Bridge
  4. Manchu varlet takes a riding lesson
  5. Last love song of a betrayed poetess
  6. A thief behind an elephant at Inseong-gun
  7. The murder of the Unggi's leader
  8. Eight years ago
  9. Fake maebungu, true rapists
  10. Russian attack at Qing's border
  11. A broken sword
  12. Headbands from the past
  13. Malaria
  14. Encounter at Muryun Dang
  15. Legacy of Crown Prince Sohyeon
  16. The Secret Record disappears
  17. Prince's son presentation
  18. A cursed twist of fate
  19. A treacherous king
  20. Bad guys are dying, too.

Cast

Main cast

The six avengers

The dark side of the Force

That marvelous person

Extended cast

Actor Character More details[4]
Kim Young-ok, 김영옥 Woman from Mungdung, 뭉둥네 Chilru's adoptive grandmother
Choi Ran, 최란 Woman from Chungju, 충주댁 Chilru's adoptive mother
Im Hyuk, 임혁 Chief State Councilor Kim Jaseon 김자선, cf Kim Jajeom Yeonguijeong
Choi Jung-woo, 최정우 King Injo, 왕인조 King of Joseon, 1595-1623-1649
Song Yong-tae, 송용태 Uigeumbu Commissioner Uigeumbu Dojejo, 의금부 도제조
Jeong Won-jung, 정원중 Uigeumbu Captain Dosa, 의금부 도사
Son Kwang-eob, 손광업 Osib Bujang, 오십부장 Lieutenant at Uigeumbu
Jeong Jin, 정진 Sergeant Sa, 사 나장 Sa Jeongoh
Sin Seung-hwan, 신승환 Sergeant Oh, 오 나장 Oh Sajeong
Park Jun-seo, 박준서 Sergeant Jeong, 정 나장 Jeong Ohsa
Kim Ji-seok, 김지석 Petitioner Victim of a yangban usurer, and condemned for having sounded the Shinmun Drum
Park Yong-gi, 박용기 Heo Wondo, 허원도 Murderer of Uyeong
Im Ho, 임호 Crown Prince Sohyeon, 소현세자
Yang So-min, 양소민 Kang Bin, 강빈
Lee Ji-eun-I, 이지은 Song Juhui, 주희 Little girl from Inseong-gun. Her father has been killed, Ep06
Lee Seung-hyo, 이승효 Maebungu 매분구 Alleged peddler, Ep09
Jeon Yeong-bin, 전영빈 Mak Su 막수 Leader of Heuksan's militia
Kang In Duk boss Eung Gi Ep07
Kang Jae Jo Anjung The random murderer, son of Prince Jinsang
Jinsanggun Prince Jinsang, moniker Baekmaehwa, man of virtue, covering his sibling
Oh Man-seok, 오만석 Kang Sanha Chil Woo's birth father, Ep01
Park Bo-young, 박보영 Kim/Kang Uyeong, 우영 Chilru's younger sister
Kim Hong-pyo, 김홍표 Kim Joheyon Cheating student, thereafter trying to kill his substitute
Kim Kyu-chul, 김규철 Choe Wonsik 최원식, Shi Kang-won's management, 시강원 관리
Nam Seong-jin, 남성진 Jo Seongdu 조성두 Shi Kang-won's management, 시강원 관리
Nam Il-wu, 남일우 Kim Hongjo Caretaker of royal orders 예문관 신입관리 김홍조 / Uyeong's adoptive father / teacher of Min Seungguk
Lee Seung-hyung, 이승형 Yusaeng 유생 A spy who Kim Jaseon sends to regain power 김자선이 반정 세력에 심어놓은 첩자 유생
Oh Ji-young, 오지영 Han Yajun's daughter-in-law
Kim Marjung The Manchu interpreter
Ok-Bong Famous woman poet Seok Hyeong / in love with Kim Joheyon
Nam Myung Ryul, 남명렬 Jin Muyang, Father of Heuksan and master of arms of Kang Chilru
Im-Jihyon Min Eunhee Min Seungguk's sister, Ep10, Ep20
Kim Ju-yon Yong Goldae Qing general, visiting tributary Joseon
Cha Jae Dol 2002
Yoon Young-ah Ep03
Heo Tae-hee, 허태희
Kim Byeong-chan, 김병찬
Kwon Hyeok, 권혁
Lee Ho Seong, 이호성
Lee Yun Sung
Min Ji-wu-I, 민지오
Park Hyo Bin, 박효빈
Son Il-kwon, 손일권

Traduttore, traditore

Ratings

Date Episode Nationwide Seoul
2008-06-17 1 11.5% (7th) 11.3% (8th)
2008-06-17 2 9.1% (14th) 8.9% (15th)
2008-06-23 3 10.5% (10th) 10.1% (12th)
2008-06-24 4 11.3% (9th) 10.6% (8th)
2008-06-30 5 9.9% (11th) 9.3% (11th)
2008-07-01 6 10.5% (9th) 10.2% (8th)
2008-07-07 7 9.4% (13th) 9.0% (14th)
2008-07-08 8 10.6% (9th) 10.5% (8th)
2008-07-14 9 10.5% (9th) 10.0% (8th)
2008-07-15 10 9.8% (9th) 9.4% (10th)
2008-07-21 11 9.5% (10th) 9.2% (11th)
2008-07-22 12 10.6% (8th) 10.0% (9th)
2008-07-28 13 9.4% (12th) 8.7% (13th)
2008-07-29 14 9.4% (10th) 8.9% (11th)
2008-08-04 15 9.2% (13th) 8.9% (15th)
2008-08-05 16 9.3% (11th) 9.0% (11th)
2008-08-11 17 9.9% 12.9%
2008-08-12 18 13.5% (17th) 14.0% (16th)
2008-08-18 19 10.9% (12th) 11.1% (13th)
2008-08-19 20 13.4% (7th) 13.4% (7th)
Average 10.4% -

Source: TNS Media Korea

References

External links