Yeom Jang

Yeom Jang (Korean: 염장) was a Shilla General under Kim Yang who went on the quest to kill Jang Bogo, a great Shilla General too. He was once punished by Jang Bogo for selling people. He was once under Jang Bogo but he went to Kim Yang and went on a quest to kill Jang Bogo. He pretends that Kim Yang is following after him to kill him. They drink wine that night and Yeom Jang waits for Jang Bogo to be drunk (of course, he does not drink. He only pretends to drink). When he finally is, Yeom kills him. He is also known as Yeom Moon.

Drama portrayal

In the famous South Korean drama depicted life of Jang Bogo, Emperor of the Sea, he is portrayed as a brave man, well fought and royal unlike portrayed in the book (he is portrayed evil). He loves Lady Jung Hwa although he failed to get her love back and it turned out to be one-sided love, unanswered love. He taught her to merchant. He also taught Jang Bogo to handle the sword. But he ends up killing Jang Bogo in the argument where he says to make peace with Kim Yang but Jang Bogo refuses. Yeom Moon ends up killing him with no choice (he was brought to a quest to kill Jang Bogo or make him agree that he will keep quite). (although he shows great remorse. he didn't want to do it). But it turns out to be a lie for Kim Yang and Yeom Moon realizes that he had been tricked and regrets it. He later is killed with many arrows struck, sent by Kim Yang, when he goes to protect Lady Jung Hwa (when Cheong Hae Jin is in ruin. Yeom Moon looks up at Jung Hwa until the last moment he dies).

Note: Although his character is an evil one, he was made thoroughly and many netizens said that "he is an evil that you can't hate" and most of the netizens said that Yeom Jang is their favorite character, including the fellow actresses working for Hae-Shin Drama. In addition, most of the people said that Yeom Jang is a character with charisma and showed that love can be showed without saying (to Lady Jung-Hwa. Many wishes for Jung-Hwa and Yeom Jang since Jang Bogo went with Lady Chae Ryung).

Relationship with Jang Bogo

He was Jang Bogo's childhood friend and taught Jang Bogo how to handle the sword. For pay, he says to give the map made with every detail, about where Jang lives. When they grow up, they eventually meet up in the Madame Jami's Contest. Throughout the drama, it is showed that they are friends but is separated because of their followers, Jang's follower is Seol Pyeong Daesa and Yeom's follower is Lee Da In. They become enemy when Yi Dain and Seol Pyeong Daesa bet who gets to the place first of sending the things. Yeom Jang sets up a trap for Jang and only Jang and Yeon survives with very few soldiers. From than, their rival relationship begins. Jang Bogo is also Yeom Jang's love rival. Yeom Jang saves Jang Bogo's life many times although Jang didn't save Yeom Jang's life, maybe only once or twice.

Relationship with Lady Jung-Hwa

Yeom Jang fell in love with Lady Jung-Hwa at the first sight. It is said by him that Jung-Hwa's movement and talks were similar of Yeom Jang's imagination of his mother. He also teaches Jung-Hwa how to merchant. But he is too skittish and shy; he cannot show her feelings to her. But Jung-Hwa realizes it and is saddened because she loves only Jang Bogo. As the drama forwards, it is showed that Jung-Hwa is not changing her mind still even Jang Bogo goes with Lady Chae-Ryung. Worse, she is treating Yeom Jang colder than usual (the netizens said maybe to hide her feelings and not to let her lover change.) Once, Yeom Jang hold Jang Bogo captive but Jung Hwa comes to him to save him and she will be the his woman. Than Yeom Jang makes a line that caught many of the netizen's mind. (Stand up. How more will you distress me! If were told that you will be my woman, did you think that I will be happy. There is no space in your mind that I can go...what is the use if you will be mine. Did you think that I wanted that...All right...If I can't have your mind, I won't let your body go. Until the day I die, I will never let you go. I will never send you to Jang General. 일어나세요. 저를 얼마나 더 비참하게 만드실 작정입니까! 제 여자가 된다 하시면 저가 기뻐하실 줄 아셨습니까. 아가씨 맘속에 제가 들어갈 틈이 없는데...제 여자가 된다한들 무슨 소용입니까. 그것이 제가 원하는 것인줄 알았습니까...좋습니다. 아가씨의 마음이라도 가질 수 없다면 아가씨 몸이라도 보내지 않겠습니다. 제가 죽는 날까지, 절대로 아가씨를 보내지 않겠습니다. 절대로 장대관님께 아가씨를 보내지 않겠습니다.) But Yeom Jang saves Jang Bogo and Jung Hwa keeps her promise but Yeom Jang says her to go and himself goes to War. But soon after, Jung Hwa goes back to Jang Bogo and from than, Jung Hwa completely almost ignores him and treats him in cold way even he saves her life (episode 33 and 48}. For example, in episode 33, when Yeom Jang saves her life, she says coldly, "대행수님?" 그리고 "한때..대행수님을 가엾다여긴적이 있었습니다. 이대인을 거역할 수 없는 대행수님의 운명이.. 애처롭다 여겼습니다. 허나이젠 대행수님을 이해할수가 없습니다. 두번다신 대면하고 싶지 않습니다" ) In addition, when Yeom Jang saves Jung Hwa's life in episode 48, her attitude is much nicer but her words itself is very cold. (Because of this, Jung Hwa's character got many critics on fans). When he saves Jung Hwa's life, Jung Hwa keep saying, "I know that I was in your mind for a long time but I only have Dae Jang Gun. Forget about me and be happy" or "I beg you one more time...Forget all about me and be happy." "대행수님이 저를 오랬동안 마음에 두고 있으셨다는 것을 오래 부터 알았지만...이제 저를 잊으십시요. 그리고 행복하십시요" 아니면 "다시 한번... 청하겠습니다. 이제 그만 나와의 인연을 잊고 대행수님도 행복하셨으면 좋겠습니다" (but it is obvious that Yeom Jang can't be happy). So once, Yeom Jang says, "You said me to be happy? Forget all about our ties we had together? It pains and troubles me but it pains me more to forget you...that's what I'm troubling about...maybe...I will not forget you until the moment I die...I will be happy when my life of loving you dies out, not when I forget about you. 제가 행복해 지길 바란다고 하셨지요? 아가씨와의 인연을 잊으라고 하셨지요? 아가씨를 마음에 두고 사는 것이 괴롭지만 아가씨를 잊는 것이 더 고통스러워서... 그것이 두려워서....아마도... 제가 죽는 순간까지... 아가씨를 잊지 못할 듯 싶습니다. 제가 행복해지는 것은 아가씨를 잊는 것이 아니라 아가씨를 사모한 제 운명이 다하는 그 순간 일겁니다 But throughout, Jung Hwa shows no interest in him, treating him colder and colder. But Yeom Jang dies by saving Jung Hwa. Although Yeom Jang is very cold person, he gets weakened in front of his loved ones. Throughout the whole drama, the netizens wished for Jung Hwa and Yeom Jang together but the drama does not fulfill this. At the end of the drama, it is also showed that Jung Hwa still only loves Jang Bogo, even Yeom Jang saved Jung Hwa's life by sacrificing his life.

Note: He is always in sad face when Jung Hwa meets Jang Bogo (he is always there when Jang Bogo and Jung Hwa is meeting).

ee also

*Jang Bogo
*Silla
*History of Korea