[Limelight] The 'Ui' of the Surrendered Japanese General... Speaking Chaos Through His Eyes

Movie 'Hansan: The Emergence of the Dragon' Actor Kim Seonggyu as Junsa
The Transformation of Hangyae Identity as a Process of Finding 'Ui'...

In the Joseon Dynasty, Japanese who surrendered were called Hangwae (降倭). Their numbers increased significantly during the Imjin War. They were recognized as allies to fight against the Japanese army, and many of them stayed in Joseon to continue their lives.

Last October, the academic journal published an article titled "The Imjin War and the Expansion of Ethnic Members." The author, Professor Heo Jun of Yonsei University's Global Korean Studies Institute, wrote, "The process of Hangwae settling in Joseon can serve as a representative example of how a community responds to and accepts the influx of 'others,' making it an important subject for understanding premodern societies and the self-identity of their members." Conversely, the absorption of external members into a new community, thereby strengthening solidarity, can also be said to hold similar value.

The surrender of Hangwae is difficult to view simply as a deviation born out of hatred for war. Most of them expressed their willingness to participate in combat again. It is also insufficient to see it merely as a result of external factors such as unfavorable war conditions. In the case of the representative figure Sayaga, he surrendered to Park Jin, the magistrate of Miryang, when the Joseon army was at a disadvantage. This was a unique type of return to allegiance, distinct from surrenders in other wars. Director Kim Han-min of the film highlighted this point while focusing on the Battle of Hansan Island. He redefined the nature of the war by treating the change of identity as a process of seeking 'Ui (義, righteousness).'

The heavy responsibility is borne by the character Junsa, portrayed by actor Kim Sung-kyu. He plays a role who becomes a prisoner after being defeated by the Joseon navy in Sacheon. He consistently shows a resolute attitude, unafraid of death. Yi Sun-sin (played by Park Hae-il) spares his life, saying, "Do not take your life. There must be another meaning behind this." Junsa asks bitterly, "What exactly is this war?" "It is a fight between righteousness and unrighteousness," comes the reply.

The dictionary definition of Ui (義) is the right principle that a person must uphold and practice, or the moral loyalty that a person ought to keep and act upon. Kim Sung-kyu expresses with a weary voice that Junsa was originally a person far from unrighteousness. It is so concise and symbolic that there is no need to recount the prehistory. When his subordinates see him being dragged by his leg and imprisoned, they worry and remember him as a person who valued genuine human relationships.

What does Ui mean to Junsa? Kim Sung-kyu, who met with Asia Economy, said, "When I read the script, I first thought about human death." "Even if joining the war was his own choice, most would have been swept up in the excited atmosphere. In that context, I questioned and pondered what Junsa was fighting so desperately for. I thought that by finding the answer, I could reach Ui."

Junsa is a character with a clear purpose but structurally difficult to express. He moves between both camps but has few lines and only a handful of highlighted scenes. The film shows the Imjin War situation through Junsa’s perspective, emphasizing the delivery of universal justice. Kim Sung-kyu places weight on his words and safely lands on the righteous path that must be followed. He revealed, "Although there are not many conversations with Yi Sun-sin, I believed that Junsa’s maturing could connect to another Yi Sun-sin."

"It is said that there were quite a few Hangwae at the time. Each of them must have lived carrying countless deaths during the war. If I act while engraving that feeling in my heart, the emphasis on righteousness would be tied together with the tragic scenes."

The source of his confidence is his unique gaze, shaded with shadows. In dramas like and films like , his eyes flashed like a beast’s but also emitted an uneasy aura as if nothing had happened. Thus, even with relatively less spotlight, he portrayed his roles three-dimensionally. In this film, he pointed to the theme of the movie in the same way. On the surface, it passes smoothly, but structurally, the process of strengthening solidarity is omitted, which is somewhat regrettable. Kim Sung-kyu seemed aware of this.

"I keep being placed in precarious situations, and the responsibility seems to grow. I need to study and refine more, but I hope to have more opportunities to express myself. Surely, other aspects of Junsa will also be worth attention."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.