AOW Matchups: Kim Ja Kyuk vs Chung Kyun

[seven stars]

Kim Ja Kyuk vs Chung Kyun

Both are trained in martial arts, Kyun because of his position in the Chung clan and Lt. Kim as Kyun Dae Sung's Sabum.

Both had moments in which they appeared formidable, most often in combat for Kim, and in cunning and foresight for Kyun.

The obvious link between the two is KDS. Lt. Kim was overtaken by KDS in martial arts skill at some point prior to their introduction to the AOW audience. Chung Kyun, on the other hand, faced KDS as both of them were in their primes, although he was drunk at the time. During their confrontation CK held his own before resorting to survival tactics, throwing dirt in KDS's eyes, and subsequently running from him, only to meet his death at the hands of Huh Seung.

Who is greater, the guardian of the Kyung Clan's greatest son, or the firstborn of Superior General Chung Jung Bu?

[Maalii]

I'd have to throw in my vote for Kim Ja Kyuk. Kyun showed willingness for combat only once and showed martial prowess only at the beginning of his duel with KDS, after which, finding himself overmatched, he ran for his life. Kim Ja Kyuk never backed down from an armed confrontation and his victory over Huh Seung's Lt. Kim was epic. Kyun spent most his time letting others do the killing for him and he made sure he plenty of folks protecting him when he went after Ui Bang. Kim Ja Kyuk also demonstrated some command of strategy as he orchestrated Huh Seung's fall brilliantly (including his use of infiltrators into the Convoys). In contrast, recall Kyun's inept military campaign where he lead his troops into an obvious ambush against the West Capital rebels and barely escaped in one piece. Perhaps Kyun's best military move was when his minions captured the Empress Dowager's messenger to the Archfiend and he had a substitute false message sent on which lured the Archfiend into a disastrous ambush. Overall, however, most of Kyun's power was a result of his father's work, whereas Lt. Kim was certainly more self made. Kyun certainly tried many schemes, but unlike his father, who tended to temper his schemes with some caution, Kyun reached too far and his impetuous nature resulted in the destruction of his clan. It could be argued that Kim Ja Kyuk's schemes had the same effect, given that he poisoned KDS, but I think the drama as presented put KDS in a position where death was his only alternative (because his goals of helping the people but obeying the emperor were mutually exclusive).