Strongest Chil Woo

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

• Eric Mun, 에릭 as Kang Chilru / Choi Chilru, 칠우 (Sergeant, 나장 at the Uigeumbu 의금부 in Seoul)
  • Choi Su-han, 최수한 as young Chilru (Son of Muryundang leader Kang Sanha)
• Jeon No-min, 전노민 as Min Seungguk, 민승국 (Historiographer of the Court)
• Lee Eon, 이언 as Jaja, 자자 (The man with the ax, former bodyguard of Crown Prince Sohyeon, his last performance)
• Im Ha-ryong, 임하룡 as Choi Namdeuk, 최남득 (Chilru's adoptive father)
• Kim Byul, 김별 as Yeondu, 연두 (The girl that drives elephants)
• Jang Jun-yeong, 장준영 as Cheolseok, 철석이 (Introduced as the younger brother of Soyun)

The dark side of the Force

• Yoo Ah-in, 유아인 as Heuksan, 흑산 (Adopted as Kim Hyuk by Chief State Councilor Kim Jaseon)
  • Ku Bon-sun as^[3] young Heuksan (son of Jin Muyang)

That marvelous person

• Ku Hye-sun, 구혜선 as Yun Soyun, 윤소윤 (Now a government slave at Uigeumbu)
  • Lee Han-na, 이한나 as young Soyun (Daughter of Vice-Minister Yun, 윤참판)

Extended cast

Traduttore, traditore

• Najang is a low ranking officer, something like a sergeant. Not a commanding officer, and surely not "a War Leader".
• Osib Bujang 오십부장 is a commander of 50, i.e. something like an OF-1 Lieutenant. Not the "50th Division chief".
• Uigeumbu Dosa is a heading guy, something like an OF-4 Colonel. Actor Jeong Won-jung impersonates one of them, and Heuksan becomes another one. Not "an expert lawyer".
• Uigeumbu Dojejo wears a red robe and ranks just after the Chief State Councilor. He is the Commissioner of the Uigeumbu, not "an apprentice lawyer".

Ratings

Source: TNS Media Korea

References

External links

• http://www.kbs.co.kr/drama/chilwoo/ (Korean)