PART 2B
LEE JOON GI
THE
UNDISPUTED
KING
OF
KOREAN ENTERTAINMENT
AND
GLOBAL
CULTURAL ICON
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The 2023 TVN's epic television series, a Mythological-War-Action Epic, The Sword of Aramun, is an exceptional masterpiece not only because it’s a work of grandeur, but also because of how it expands K-drama storytelling into something rare, unique, ambitious, painterly and romantic. The Sword of Aramun, which is written by talented duo, Kim Young Hyun and Park Sang Yeon, is helmed by genius director Kim Kwang Sik and assisted by master cinematographer, Choi Chan Min. All are highly-respected creative and visionary award-winning artists.
EPIC WORLDBUILDING
Most K-dramas are rooted in modern romance or tight historical sagas. Sword of Aramun dares to construct a mythic civilization with its own gods, prophecies, clans, politics, and battles. It belongs beside The Iliad or The Mahabharata - vast, bloody, poetic, and timeless.
Sweeping battlefields, ancient costumes, invented languages, lavish sets rival Hollywood epics. The visual language is painterly, often resembling murals or tapestries of ancient heroes. Some scenes remind you of works of art. The Sword of Aramun is unquestionably a work of art - a rare masterpiece. Professor Moon Hyunseon of Sejong University proclaims that The Sword of Aramun is 'an epic, a Mythological epic.' Kazuka Takayama, a Japanese writer, supports Professor Moon's argument that The Sword of Aramun is an epic. The writer further adds that it 'is a magnificent epic that has never been seen in Korean dramas' and 'there is nothing else like it'. Agreed, it is a magnificent and unique epic which id different from the storytelling of the first season. What they mean is The Sword of Aramun is like the literary long narrative poem, telling the deeds of heroes, often with gods, wars and journeys. It is vast in scope and speaks of heroism, divine intervention, moral struggles and legacy, and also, the grand sweeping production with huge battles and characters that are larger than life, sweeping landscapes and a story that feels timeless, legendary and full of spectacle like the furious burning of the forests. But, some may add that it is also amazing, legendary and unforgettable. So, it is a timeless epic Epic. Drama critic, Jeong Deok Hyeon says, 'The Sword of Aramun is a work that treads a path no one has ever taken before, making it a work of profound significance and value.' Undeniable. It is unique as it is an epic Mythological-War-Action Epic. One writer also stresses that it is 'a masterpiece of all time.' The Sword of Aramun is more than a story, it is a legend unfolding before the eyes of the global audience. It is an epic Epic, a timeless masterpiece where action and war are elevated to poetry and storytellying elevated to myth. The scale of the war must be highlighted - armies shake the earth, landscapes like the seas, forests and mountains feel alive or eternal, and battles staged like living paintings. The mythology of gods, curses, supernatural powers, divine prophecies are woven seamlessly into mortal politics and wars. The action choreography especially involving Lee Joon Gi, feels both brutal and beautiful. Lee is poetry in motion. The heroes, anti-heroes, vilainous king and queen, trickesters are interesting and unique characters. The tone is painterly, thunderous and every frame seems like an art piece or a page out of a divine poem. This series feels like it should be chanted around fires and remembered across generations. The Sword of Aramun is the epic of epics, where gods and mortals collide. https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=088&aid=0000839959
Elodie Leroy, a French critic from Stellar Sisters emphasizes that 'The Sword of Aramun surpasses the previous season and owes its scope to its rich universe, its classy production and its charismatic characters portrayed by a solid cast.' There are many artistic scenes that make our imagination go into
overdrive. They remind us of certain famous artworks.
At the end of the series, the audience sees Aramun in deep thought. He is thinking either about personal matters or the bigger problems of life. Most likely, he is thinking about Tanya who has fallen into a deep coma and wonders when she would wake up. Aramun's pose is like that of The Thinker, the celebrated sculpture by French sculptor Auguste Rodin. Rodin envisioned The Thinker not just as a specific character but as a symbol of humanity, a powerful thinking creator. Likewise, Aramun is a symbol of humanity, who is inspired to create a New World without oppression where the question of Race, Religion and Royalty work in harmony with each other. But The Thinker is fully naked! The Director and Cinematographer are truly naughty! In one war scene, it seems that the army of Aramun, the leader of
the Ago Coalition was in a losing battle on the plains with the trained and well-equipped
army of the king of Arthdal.
Aramun and Tagon were engaged in a fantastical and thrilling
fight in their face-to-face confrontation. Tagon thought that he was
entitled to ride on Kanmoreu (Helper) since he considered himself to be the
reincarnation of Aramun Haesulla. However, he was thrown off. Since the divine
horse belongs to Aramun, he could easily mount and ride Kanmoureu
(Helper).
The victorious image of Aramun on his rearing horse can be
compared to the famous painting of Napolean crossing the Alps at the St Bernard
Pass by Jacques-Louis David. Like Napolean who successfully crossed the great
St Bernard Pass to launch a surprise attack on the Austrians to regain control
of Italy, Aramun also launched a surprise attack on Tagon's army on the plains.
Tagon was confident of an easy victory in the battle on the plains, the
weakness of the Ago Coalition. The near defeat of the Ago infantry was averted
by the sudden appearance of the Ago cavalry led by Aramun. Another snippet of information about Aramun and his rearing horse is Aramun himself is a phallic symbol, so is his horse and his sword, The Sword of Aramun. THE STRADDLING POSE
Not every horse in The Sword of Aramun is a phallic symbol. The image of the hero, the Reincarnation of Aramun, who mounts and straddles his powerful stallion, carries strong sexual symbolism. Straddling the horse implies sexual positioning. In the ending part of the television series, upon ascension to
the the throne of Arthdal, Aramun raises his right hand clutching his divine
Aramun Sword to symbolise his willingness to welcome and accept all people in
his kingdom. He resembles The Statue of Liberty. The Statue of Liberty has come to symbolise freedom and
opportunity for all immigrants.
FIVE IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT LIBERTY 1. The statue represents a Roman goddess, Libertas, a Roman
goddess. 2. The Crown's spikes symbolise the 7 oceans and 7 continents,
emphasizing her message of welcome, inclusiveness and freedom. 3. Liberty is struck by lightning 600 times every year. 4. The official name of Lady Liberty, who holds a torch, is
'Liberty Enlightening The World'. 5. The statue was conceived in part to celebrate the emancipation
of enslaved people in the United States.
FIVE IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT ARAMUN
1. Aramun is the Reincarnation of Aramun Haesulla, the god
of Arthal and God of Reunification. 2. Aramun, in his message upon being enthroned, also emphasizes
welcome, inclusiveness and freedom of all people of the Arth continent
- Saram, Igutu and Neanthal. 3. Aramun was struck by lightning once. 4. Aramun holds a sword, The Sword of Aramun. The sword has many
meanings - power, authority, legitimacy, courage, justice, strength, spiritual
enlightenment, the triumph of good over evil, and the warrior spirit. 5. Aramun also proclaims that the slaves of Arthdal are free
citizens. Unlike Aramun, Saya, his identical twin brother, is not athletic. But when one looks at his sexy pose at the end of the television series, one's mind wonders. Saya's sensual look and pose is similar to that of The American Athlete by Auguste Rodin. There are two versions, one very muscular and the other less exaggerated. Lee Joon Gi captures the essence of the sculputure - the seated, relaxed, yet powerful pose, with a natural unforced quality. One imagines what he would look like without those sexy tight-fitting clothes when compared to the sculpture. Scandalous! Saya, who had impersonated Inaishingi, the very capable leader of the Ago Coalition, proved to be hopeless as a leader. He had unwittingly led some Ago warriors into a trap set by the Arthdal troops. When fleeing for his life in the forest, he had hesitated, unsure about the direction in which he should take. He chose one. It made all the difference. Like the poem, The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost, it was Autumn, as indicated by the thick layer of leaves on the ground. Saya was confronted by Inaishingi, his twin brother and a fierce argument ensued. In the end, he decided to collaborate with his brother. This decision made all the difference to his life and to the trajectory of story. One of the boldest moves of the director, was to include the
phallic image of The Great Gochiju Rock. Queen Taealha and Saya, the twin brother of Aramun, who is also portrayed by Lee Joon Gi, discuss their plan to destroy Tagon. Taealha also confides that Mihol, her father; Sanung, Tagon’s father; and also, Tagon are cruel, domineering male figures. They are brutal male chauvinists and domineering tyrants who oppress and take advantage of the helpless women in their lives. Mihol, the ambitious hard-hearted head of the Hae tribe, treated
her like his chattel. He had not only compelled her to spy on King Sanung,
Tagon's despotic father, but also forced her to provide Sanung with sexual
favours. The tyrannical and ruthless Tagon also took advantage of her before he
turned against her.
There are 47 or 48 dol hareubang or volcanic rock statues on Jeju Island. Some
foreign visitors have compared the dol hareubang to a phallic figure. Unlike
the Great Gochiju Rock, the dol hareubang, which has a benign name, 'Stone
Grandfather', is a symbol of power and protection to the local
people. In one scene in the throne room, Aramun is seated in front of a huge circular design which looks like a round eye. It is probably a symbol of protection of the king and his throne. The circular design reminds one of The Greek Evil Eye (Mati). The Greek Evil Eye is 'the belief that a malicious gaze, often born from envy, can bring misfortune, illness or harm to a person or possessions. To protect against this, Greeks use the Mati Charm, a talisman featuring a blue eye symbol, which deflects the harmful glance and offers good luck. This ancient superstition is found in jewellery, home decorations and even on ships.' There is an important scene involving King Tagon and Yeolson, the father of Tanya which looks like The Creation of Adam by Michaelangelo. Yeolson threatened to jump off the wall of Arthdal if Tagon did not free his daughter, Tanya, whom Tagon threatens to push off from another part of the Arthdal wall. King Tagon seemingly offered a conciliatory hand to Yeolson and when the older man reached out to him, he pushed the old man to his death. The central focus of Michaelangelo's The Creation of Adam is the almost touching fingers of God and Adam, representing the transmission of the spark of life. Unlike the famous fresco on the Sistine Chapel, the image of King Tagon and his valuable minister or lackey tells a different story. It seems as if Tagon who is in a superior position is giving Yeolson 'the spark of life' but in fact, he is cruel and had, in the very first place, no intention of saving Yeolson. Chojaha, Tagon's loyal righthand man, was in a quarrel with the king over the latter's violent behaviour. When Chojaha ran outof the meeting room, he was in pain. His ear had supposedly been sliced by Tagon in his anger. Chojaha resembled the painting of Vincent Van Gogh with his bandaged ear. Van Gogh had a quarrel with his friend, Paul Gauguin, a fellow painter, and Van Gogh cut off most of his left ear after the heated argument. One marvellous cinematic image by the cinematographer is the image of Karika, the Momo tribe leader flying from the sky to the earth. She was the half-sister of Karat. The downward twisty movement of Karika's body looks like Chinese / Korean / Japanese ink wash painting. Tanya brought Inaishingi (Eun Seom) to a cave in Arthdal and reminds him of their destiny, particularly his phophesised role of Aramun Haesulla, the god of war and reunification. There, Inaishingi, with all his divine strength, prises open the tomb of Aramun Haesulla. They see the skull of a ram and purple-stained articles. The ram symbolizes leadership, guidance and protection. Its 2 curling horns (twins) resemble crowns which meant sovereignity. The picture reminds one of the Ram-headed Sphinx at the entrance of the Karnak Temple. Many critics and writers have lauded Lee Joon Gi's acting - action - allure performance. Jeong Deok Hyeong, a South Korean critic, is convinced that Lee Joon Gi is 'an amazing actor' and he is 'drawn to The Sword of Aramun because of Lee Joon Gi'. The drama critics from France, Elodie Leroy asserts that 'The Sword of Aramun is superior to the previous season in every way' and 'Lee Joon Gi is the series asset'. She further drives home the fact that he 'stands out as one of the seroes' strong points, to the point of almost making us forget his predecessor Song Joong Ki.' She also praises Lee Joon Gi’s performance, who ‘……. perfectly masters the register of costume dramas’.
According to Lee Yoo Min of Kyung Hyang, Lee Joon Gi proves to be ‘WORLD CLASS’. Very few actors can carry one mythic hero - Lee Joon-gi carries two legends in one body. Lee Joon Gi balances Shakespearean tragedy with cinematic spectacle, making the saga feel like a living myth.
His dual performance elevates The Sword of Aramun into a true masterpiece of acting, allure, and action. Few actors can command both the respect of critics and the media, and the adoration of audiences worldwide. Lee Joon Gi is one of them.
Lee Joon Gi’s performance is a masterclass in duality. He portrays two mythic brothers, the prophesied Aramun, and Saya, his shadow-twin.
Lee’s acting-action-allure Oscar-worthy performance, places him in a League of Legends. He doesn’t just act Aramun (Inaishingi) and Saya - he transforms. His duality (ruthless vs compassionate, power-mad vs visionary) elevates the series into something unforgettable. His presence makes the series operatic: his voice, movements, and gazes feel mythic, as though he’s stepping out of legend.
Star Today’s Jin Hyang Hee states, ‘Lee Joon Gi’s Sword of Aramun...The scale and passionate acting were outstanding.’….. ‘The grand scale and the magnificient music played a part in making it fun to watch.’ Columnist Jeong Deok Hyun spotlights the fact that Lee Joon Gi, 'erased Song Joong Ki after the first episode' and that he 'was a smart choice by the production team of The Sword of Aramun.' Lee Joon Gi doesn’t just “play” a role in the mythological series - he inhabits it with full-bodied intensity. His dual roles feel larger than life because he injects a mythic energy into it. His eyes alone perform entire dialogues: shifting from tenderness to ‘madness’, from vulnerability to menace. He’s fearless with duality; he is able to be tragically broken one moment and terrifyingly charismatic the next. His physicality changes (the way he walks, breathes, fights). His voice shifts (sharp for Saya, weighted for Aramun) and even his eyes tell different stories. Yeo Hwi Seon of Osen exclaims, ‘Sword of Aramun’ Lee Joon Gi, I knew he was good at using his body, but I never thought it would be to this extent.’ ‘TO THIS EXTENT’ is a great compliment Unlike many actors who treat action as stunt work, Lee Joon Gi, as Aramun, turns it into storytelling in motion. His martial arts background gives him precision, fluidity, and control – poetry in motion but what makes him exceptional is how he fuses emotion into combat. A kick can radiate fury. Seated in a galloping horse, he is like destiny in motion. He moves like a dancer, yet strikes like a warrior - action with soul. Aramun embodies both a tribal warrior and a mythic saviour - strong, but vulnerable, torn by doubt yet driven by purpose. https://www.instagram.com/p/CxEywT1tgUo/?hl=en ALLURE & PRESENCE Lee Joon Gi is magnetic in a way that transcends beauty. It’s not just how he looks, but how he embodies mystery, danger, and seduction at once. His allure is fluid: sometimes almost ethereal, sometimes darkly demented, sometimes explosively sexy. Few actors can command the screen with a single glance or half-smile or a savage face the way he can; his presence lingers even when he’s offscreen. As Saya, he is dangerously beautiful, a dark flame impossible to resist. As Aramun, he is achingly human, a leader who inspires devotion. Lee Joon-gi is that rare actor who unites the cerebral (layered acting, complex psychology), the physical (martial arts, fight choreography), the mythical (larger-than-life aura, legendary roles), and the seductive (allure that captivates across genders and cultures). He is not just performing - he is painting unforgettable myths with his body, voice, and soul. Saya is a creature of cunning, charisma, and cruelty. Lee infuses him with a Machiavellian dark allure - every gesture is calculated to deceive or conceal and every smile edged with venom. His desire for power, including his drive to murder his twin brother, is seductive: he’s beautiful and terrifying at once, a figure who draws you in even as you fear him. Through Saya, Lee shows how ambition without conscience becomes tragic. When conscience is absent, ambition can become a tragic flaw, distorting judgment and consuming the individual, as seen when Saya commands his bodyguard to murder Inaisinghi in order prevent others know of his twin. Where Saya seduces with intellect and manipulation, Aramun inspires with sincerity and resilience. What makes Lee Joon Gi’s performance extraordinary is how he makes the audience forget it’s one actor.
When Saya and Inaisinghi / Aramun share the screen, it feels like two living souls locked in eternal opposition.
Byung-chul Yoo, of wowtv.co.korea proclaims, ‘Sword of Aramun Lee Joon Gi opens a new horizon in acting in dual roles… Unrivaled emotion & action acting’ Sports Q says, Sword of Aramun is also Lee Joon Gi, meaning Lee is the face of The Sword of Aramun. There are too many praises and accolades for Lee Joon Gi, the cast and crew of The Sword of Aramun and it's impossible to mention them here. https://www.sportsq.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=456520 The accolades and praises from the critics and the media are overwhelming. It is nothing short of scandalous that The Sword of Aramun received no honours for its cast and crew, except for an award for Kim Ok Vin. What more must a leading actor do than embody two living legends in one body? What more must a director do than carve a civilization into existence? What more must a cinematographer do than paint every frame as timeless art? What about the other members of the cast and crew? The silence of the award committees is not neutrality - it is not only negligence but dereliction of duty.
https://www.asiatime.co.kr/article/20230906500034#_enliple https://www.koreaboo.com/lists/k-dramas-10-best-2023-according-70000-fan-votes/ https://magazine.hankyung.com/money/article/202311028152c https://www.instagram.com/p/CyRdjQpJumv/?hl=en&img_=&img_index=1 https://www.mk.co.kr/star/hot-issues/view/2023/09/687113/ https://tenasia.hankyung.com/tv-drama/article/2023091068864
https://www.nme.com/en_asia/reviews/tv-reviews/arthdal-chronicles-the-sword-of-aramun-review-3500285 https://www.instagram.com/p/CxctauAO2w0/?hl=en&img_index=1 https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=311&aid=0001640999
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“ARTHDAL CHRONICLES FIGHTING” [cup sleeve] (아스달 연대기 화이팅)
On 6.12.22, IU (Lee Ji Eun) sent coffee and buffet-style food support to the set of Arthdal Chronicles Season 2 to cheer up Lee Joon Gi, her 2016 Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo co-star; Shin Sae Kyeong, her labelmate; and the rest of the team of the television series. It is now winter in South Korea.
SBS' Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heat Ryeo is a phenomenal success and there have been rumours of a second season or a reunion. Lee Joon Gi and IU have remained good friends. He has always supported her projects. He was her companion when she was invited to JTBC’s Knowing Brothers in 2018 and he also agreed to a cameo appearance in her television series, Hotel Del Luna in 2019. He never misses her concerts.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1623969002656612352 https://twitter.com/i/status/1623969002656612352 https://twitter.com/jg_k_drama_417/status/1623969002656612352 https://www.instagram.com/p/CoebYEtvZLX/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D https://twitter.com/leejoongiexclu1 https://twitter.com/jg_k_drama_417/status/1601525742231498752/video/2
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THE HUGE BOUQUET OF BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS WITH THE MESSAGE ‘MERRY CHRISTMAS’ THE CAKES AND
CLAY DOLLS
MINI VERSIONS OF EUN SEOM AND SA YA
THE COFFEE TRUCK 10 DECEMBER 2022
FRAGRANT COFFEE AND DELICIOUS SNACKS
WELCOME TO TRIBES CAFÉ THE GIFT SETS For LEE JOON GI AND JG TEAM
JG Christmas Lager Christmas Cookies Arthdal Chronicles 2 EUN SEOM and SA YA T-Shirt THE ROAD MAP The Journey Is THE Reward THE POLAROID HANDHELD FRAME
THE MASTERPIECE DRAMA OF 2023 THE GAME THE SIGNATURE JG MONOPOLY
ANOTHER PERSONALISED GAME THE SIGNATURE JOONGI JENGA Jenga, derived from the Swahili word Kujenga meaning “to build”, represents more than just a tower of building blocks. After all, over the course of our lives as human beings, we find ourselves building many things. THE PERSONALISED JG BLANKET THE LATEST HARDBACK BOOK 2022 A BIOGRAPHY LEE JOON GI CHRONICLES TIMELINE OF SUCCESS VIDEO CLIPS LEE JOON GI EXCLUSIVE PROJECTS PARTICIPANTS THE BEST IS YET TO COME WHISPERS OF LOVE (MESSAGE BOOK) FOR LEE JOON GI https://www.facebook.com/LJGTW/ https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=761672795318736&set=pb.100044280676965.-2207520000.
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Shin Ju-hwan plays Dal-sae in the Arthdal Chronicles series
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INTERVIEW IN
PAUL ANDERSON AND MILLA JOVOVICH DISCUSS LEE JOON GI AND HIS PERFORMANCE INTERVIEW IN RUSSIA
MILLA JOVOVICH DISCUSS LEE JOON GI AND HIS PERFORMANCE https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3101635/flower-evil-star-lee-joon-gi-get-know-south-korean-dramas?utm_source=chatgpt.com
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FLOWER OF EVIL (2020) AGAIN MY LIFE (2022) MOON LOVERS - SCARLET HEART RYEO (2016) AGAIN MY LIFE (2022) LAWLESS LAWYER AGAIN MY LIFE
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