Yi Ko and Che Won

[Eowyn]

Since I discovered AOW after many episodes had already passed, I wanted to know if someone could describe Yi Ko and Che Won for me. What did they do, look like, and what were their distinguishing characteristics, and weapons, and how did they die?
Also, if possible, can you describe any highlights from the show up to around episode 45 or so (when I started watching). Maybe a quick outline. I know that is a large task, but I'll take any scrap of info.
Thank You!

[skinz]

Well from what I remember, Yi Ko and Che Won were the sworn brothers of Yi Ui Bang. All three of them pledge to clean the regime for the so called "great cause".

Yi Ko was my favorite character because he didn't take no bull. I say his character was a little like Yi Ui Min right now. He planned to destroy the imperial house with his private army but got caught everytime and was killed. Also he had a major grudge against Yi Ui Bang girl Muby. I didn't see the episode how he died but someone told me that Yi Ui Bang killed him. He was a little short and had two swords.

Che Won is like Zhang Fei from Romance of the three Kingdom. He was a little naive and could easily be Manipulated. After Yi Ui Bang killed Yi Ko, Che Won blamed everything on Muby for breaking them apart from each other and kidnapped her and her kid. Yi Ui Bang then invited Che Won for a talk but was set up by the military and was killed in the best death scene IMO.

Both of these guys were great characters and were major in the development of Yi Ui Bang character. Its a shame you didn't get to see them.

[mikey]

I was writing up a summary and then discovered that Skinz beat me to it. But here it is anyway, though I may be repeating some of what Skinz has already said.

I wrote a brief summary of the beginning of AOW for the Philly crowd (who began running AOW several months after AOW started in Chicago) so I’ll start out by inserting it here:

*****
In the year 1170 A.D. (250 years after Wang Guhn established Koryo) the empire’s once-proud generals rose up in rebellion against Koryo’s corrupt and decedent civil officials. In the massacre that followed, Koryo’s generals immediately established themselves as the power to be reckoned with within the empire.

Three young generals led the rebellion: Chief Imperial Convoy Yi Ui-bang (portrayed by actor Suh In Suk, who also appeared as the King of Bekjae in “The Emperor Wang Guhn”) and his sworn brothers, Yi Ko, and Che Won. Reluctantly assisting in the rebellion was Koryo’s Superior General Chung Jung-boo, who soon finds himself in opposition to the three ambitious young generals. But it isn’t long before the young generals themselves begin eyeing each other suspiciously as they each pursue greater positions of power.

Thus begins “The Age of Warriors,” a particularly violent time in Korea’s history as the now-powerless emperor watches helplessly as his generals openly maneuver for ever greater political power – including, perhaps, even his own throne.

*****

Some additional notes: The previous emperor, frankly, didn’t seem like that bad a guy – but he had surrounded himself with a royal court and advisors who were exceedingly corrupt, and who held the military in complete contempt. The once-honored high generals finally had enough of living like animals, and one bloody day they pretty much wiped out all the Emperor’s cronies.

Yi Ui-bang (the iron club guy) was strong, forceful, smart, and a born leader. He effectively assumed the leadership role among the three sworn brothers. He outlived his two sworn brothers, until he was finally killed by Chung Kyun’s private army.

Che Won was a big, bearded, rather chunky-looking guy. He was fiercely loyal to his sworn brothers, but he was (frankly) not particularly bright. Sometimes, he was openly manipulated by both Ui-bang and Ko. Che Won preferred a huge, Chinese-style, curved blade sword.

Yi Ko was shorter, and a bit leaner-looking than his other sworn brothers. He was pretty intelligent, but *terribly* hot-tempered. His favorite armaments were a pair of straight-bladed swords carried (crosswise) behind his back. Yi Ko got into trouble when some monks prophesized that somebody named “Yi” would assume the throne, and these monks assured him that it was he (and not the other Yi, Ui-bang) who was destined for this greatness (interesting how that was not far different from the situation right now with the Archfiend, except that the Archfiend has a completely different group assuring him that *he’s* destined for the throne). Yi Ko became suspicious of Ui-bang’s association with Muby (whom Ko despised) and he ultimately turned against his sworn brother in a failed coup attempt.

Interesting how the monks assured Yi Ko that the prophecy foretold a “Yi” coming to the throne. The only Yi’s in contention back then were Ui-bang and Ko. At the time, the Archfiend (Yi Ui-min) was merely a low-ranking officer (fiercely loyal to Ui-bang) and nobody even considered the possibility that he’d someday rise into a position of great power. There’s no longer any specific discussion of a “Yi” ascending to the throne, but it now looks like the Archfiend could be on that road, as the “Golden Dragon.”

Well, that’s a start, I guess. Anybody care to add more?

[Eowyn]

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply

[Maalii]

Another thing to add is that Yi Ko and Che Won are also two of the figures on the opening credits. Che Won is the guy who has the bristling mustache and strikes that sort of comically defiant pose. Yi Ko is slashing downward with his sword in another scene.

In addition to Che Won's death, which I regrettably missed, Yi Ko died when Ui Bang crushed his planned rebellion, then gave Yi Ko one last chance. If he could beat Ui Min in one on one combat, he would be allowed to escape. This combat was a no-nosense duel (no flowery martial arts here) that started with passes on horseback and ended with them slashing at each other on the ground. Ui Min himself was cut (not seriously) by Yi Ko's twin swords, but he disabled Yi Ko, whom he then allowed to commit suicide.

[JP Paulus]

mikey said:

*****

Some additional notes: The previous emperor, frankly, didn’t seem like that bad a guy – but he had surrounded himself with a royal court and advisors who were exceedingly corrupt, and who held the military in complete contempt. The once-honored high generals finally had enough of living like animals, and one bloody day they pretty much wiped out all the Emperor’s cronies.

Umm..i don't agree...the previous Emperor as portrayed seemed very self-indulgent, and more interested in having fun than caring about his people.

He helped create the situation that led to his downfall.

Prince So in Dawn of the Empire would never have let that happen -- his "self indulgence" was a plot to cleanse the court.

--jp--

[JP Paulus]

Here's my interpretation (supplementing everyone else's):

Yi-Ko kinda reminds me of a soldier that was better suited for wartime (such as Emperor Wang Guhn's time). He was always itching for a fight, so government reform was ill-suited for him. Defintely an interetsing character, though, as he had issues with his father that he wanted to resolve.

Che Won for much of the series seemed like a joke, comic relief with his excessive grimacing and face-twiching. Picture from Emperor Wang Guhn General Yaesul and Park Sul-hee combined.

Those are just my initial thoughts...

[mikey]

JP said:

Umm..i don't agree...the previous Emperor as portrayed seemed very self-indulgent, and more interested in having fun than caring about his people.

He helped create the situation that led to his downfall.

Well, I can't say you're wrong. My impression (from the very first episode) was that the previous emperor was at least marginally sympathetic to the situation the warriors faced -- much more so than his civilian advisors, who openly mocked and ridiculed the soldiers. But, I agree: I'd hardly characterize him as a benevolent leader, either. He spent way too much of his time indulging in wine to take his ruling responsibilities seriously.

[Maalii]

JP said:

Umm..i don't agree...the previous Emperor as portrayed seemed very self-indulgent, and more interested in having fun than caring about his people.
He helped create the situation that led to his downfall.
Prince So in Dawn of the Empire would never have let that happen -- his "self indulgence" was a plot to cleanse the court.
--jp--

Indeed the former emperor is not portrayed favorably in this drama, for he is shown as addicted to vice and insensitive to his people or the running of his government. A major part of this is Muby, his favorite concubine, and the emperor becomes more decadent partly owing to the her allure (part of her own long range design to put her son by him on the throne). This is the reason that Che Won, Yi Ko and others (such as the Chungs) all detest Muby and blame her for the "downfall" of the emperor. In fact Ui Bang's connection with Muby (as lovers) is ultimately a big part of his downfall as his promise to Muby to put her son on the throne (in return for various political manipulations that Muby initiates) conflicts with his duties as a protector of the throne and gives the Chungs a good excuse to go after him.

[Another achfiend fan]

For me the scene that sums up Che Won happened early in the series. Won had arrested most of the senior generals because he thought they were hiding the royal seal (actuall Yi Ui-Bang had gotten it from Muby). Yi Ui-Bang released the generals and "arrested" Che Won. Actually he hid him away until he could patch things up. Yi Ko was furious but Yi Ui-Bang told him Che Won was only in his quarters. When Yi Ko went to check he found a smiling Che Won devoring a feast of food and wine in a style reminiscent of the Cookie Monster from Sesame Street attacking a bag of Chips Ahoy. Che Won drank, ate, and fought with gusto. He just didn't think very far ahead. Killing him was light putting a loyal but troublesome dog to sleep for eating the furniture.

[TheIceTiger]

=/ i missed these 2 characters too,I watched some parts of early esp but didn't really stick to it until the esp whenChe Won die. And,yep that was one of the best death scen too.