Emperor of the Sea

- Season 1

(2004)

As a slave boy, Koongbuk, hides on a ship headed to Dang Dynasty. Koongbuk pledges to learn how to use a sword to survive. When he meets Yumjang who has excellent sword skills, he begs him to teach him.

Koongbuk helps his father, Du-man, with work on a ship but later realizes that it is a pirate ship, and that they have been schemed. Du-man loses his life while trying to save his son, and Koongbuk and Jung-ryun get caught by soldiers.

Koongbuk attempts to try out for a sword contest held by Lady Jami, aiming for the first prize, which will guarantee his freedom to break away from his slave status. Koongbuk learns his sword skills from Choi Mu-chang.

Just before Koongbuk is able to participate in the sword contest, he is drafted as a solider. Meanwhile, Yumjang succeeds as a merchant in Dang Dynasty. Jung-ryun becomes Lady Jami's private soldier with the help of Yumjang.

Koongbuk reencounters with Jung-hwa, and the two confirm their love for each other. Yumjang is heartbroken when he sees how deeply Jung-hwa feels for Koongbuk. Lady Jami plans to send Jung-hwa as a concubine of an old nobleman.

Koongbuk tries to persuade Jung-hwa to elope with him, but she refuses in an attempt to revive her fallen family and brother, Chan-kyum. Meanwhile, Yumjang hides in the nobleman's house.

Choi Mu-chang is severely injured, and Koongbuk and Jung-ryun become imprisoned by Lady Jami. Lady Jami sends Koongbuk and Jung-ryun as slaves, when Jung-hwa begs her with tears to save their lives.

Jung-hwa pledges to devote her life to Lady Jami for saving Koongbuk's life. When Lady Jami realizes Jung-hwa's hidden talent as a merchant, she appoints her as a clerk. Meanwhile, tired of their lives as slaves, Koongbuk and Jung-ryun get into a fight, and Koongbuk kills Ryusa, who was known as the best swordsman.

When the Major General finds out that Koongbuk defeated Ryusa, he secretly takes him in to train him as a swordsman. Koongbuk undergoes intensive training.

After intensive sword training, Koongbuk and Jung-ryun excel, and Koongbuk participates in a sword contest. When Koongbuk takes off his mask after the final victory, Lady Jami is shocked to see him still alive.

Koongbuk kills Yupo in the sword contest and wins the final victory. When Koongbuk sees Lady Jami in the audience, he immediately thinks that Jung-hwa would be in Yangju as well.

In an attempt to save the imprisoned Jung-hwa, Koongbuk participates in a sword contest once again, risking his life.

Jung-hwa nurses the unconscious Koongbuk, and Yumjang watches her with an aching heart. Both of them leave just before Koongbuk wakes up from his long unconsciousness.

Jangbogo (Koongbuk) and Jung-ryun are sent to prison after getting involved in a fight with Joong-dal on the street. The worried Chae-ryung does everything in her power to release him.

Upon finding out that Lee Do-hyung was behind the incident with the pirates, Jangbogo (Koongbuk) shivers with anger at how his life has changed upside down and how his father was killed in that incident.

Seolpyung appoints Koongbuk as n high-ranking official, giving him the new name of Jangbogo. Meanwhile, Yumjang gives Jung-hwa rare gems, and pledges to her that he will devote the rest of his life for her.

After Jangbogo leaves Wonhang to bring back the lost dignity of Seolpyung, words soon spread that he has been killed. Jung-hwa, unable to control her grief, jumps into the sea to kill herself, but Yumjang saves her.

After Jung-hwa makes up her mind to marry Yumjang, she is startled to find that Jangbogo has returned home. Meanwhile, Jung-hwa discovers that the person who attempted to kill Jangbogo was in fact Yumjang.

Jangbogo and Yumjang have a final showdown. Jangbogo finds out by Jung-hwa that the person who saved his own life from poison arrow was none other than Yumjang.

Jung-hwa takes off to Mujinjo at Lady Jami's request, completely unaware that Yumjang is hiding in the carriage. Yumjang is heartbroken as he watches in secret Jangbogo and Jung-hwa speaking to each other with so much affection.

While Jangbogo and his troops head for Leesado's camp, Leesado orders his men to capture Jangbogo alive. Yumjang sends Joongdal and his men to kidnap Chaeryung. Meanwhile, when Jangbogo hears that Chaeryung has been kidnapped, he risks his own life by stepping into Leesado's camp.

Jangbogo safely returns to Yangju, but is furious after finding out that Junghwa has made up her mind to marry Yumjang in exchange for his life. Jungryun tries to bring Lady Jami down by exposing that she has aligned with Leesado, but Jangbogo makes a deal with her to bring Junghwa to Yangju.

Jangbogo's troops and Yumjang's troops have their final showdown. Although Jangbogo's troops are greatly outnumbered by Yumjang's soldiers, he manages to defeat Yumjang and safely brings Wangjiheung back.

Yumjang leads his troops to save Junghwa, and Jangbogo leaves immediately after hearing the news that Yumjang is within his territory. Yumjang comes face-to-face with Jangbogo after saving Junghwa.

Yumjang betrays Leesado to save Junghwa, and sets Leesado's camp on fire. While being saved by Yumjang, Junghwa's eyes catch those of Jangbogo's for a brief moment. Yumjang ignores Junghwa's teary eyes and takes her away from the chaotic war scene.

Two years later? Lady Jami who has lost all of her wealth over the past 2 years makes a lavish comeback as a successful merchant who holds the key to trading with Shilla. Her unexpected offer to give the key to trading with Shilla to anyone who offers the cheapest price for silk makes the merchants? hearts waver.

When pirates attack the ships filled with imported goods to Shilla, Jangbogo comes to Shilla to deal with these pirates and asks for Lady Jami's cooperation to have his men come also.

Kim Woojing agrees to Jangbogo to permit his men to come to Shilla and promises to cooperate in any way he can in helping Jangbogo defeat the troubling pirates. Jangbogo orders Jungryun and Paik Hajin to be trained to fight the pirates.

Yumjang's heart aches for his love for Jung-hwa but he is saddened to realize that her heart is directed to Jangbogo. Meanwhile, Lady Jami plans to murder Jangbogo using Yumjang, while prying into how Jung-hwa became such an influential merchant in a short time.

Jangbogo points out Lady Jami as the person behind the assassin and sends his troops to Kim Woo-jing's house. Jung-hwa makes up her mind to cut ties with Jangbogo, and he is saddened by her sudden cold response.

Jung-hwa encounters Jangbogo after some time and quietly tells him to forget all about her as she has about him. Meanwhile, Yumjang and the pirates attack a ship, and when Jung-hwa finds Jangbogo and Yumjang battling, she falls into shock and confusion.

Lady Jami schemes to bring Jangbogo down, and assures Yumjang to not fail in stabbing Jangbogo in the heart. However, Yumjang turns down Lady Jami's offer, saying he will not negotiate over Lee Do-hyun's life.

The injured Seol-pyung continues to be unconscious, and Chae-ryung and Jangbogo watch in great sorrow. Upon waking up, Seol-pyung stops Jangbogo from starting a battle with Yumjang.

Chae-ryung is heartbroken to see how Jung-hwa ran all the way to Yangjoo, despite the danger involved. She realizes that no matter how much time passes, the love between Jung-hwa and Jangbogo will not diminish.

Kim Woo-jing is angered at Lady Jami and pledges to swipe out all the corrupted officials on her side. At this warning, Lady Jami feels greatly threatened.

Jangbogo successfully hides on the island and fights off all pirates. When he points his sword to Lee Do-hyung's throat, he is reminded of how his parents were killed by Lee Do-hyung.

Yumjang pledges to kill Jangbogo to seek revenge for the death of Lee Do-hyung. Meanwhile, as Yumjang is escorted to Hwangdo, Baek-kyung saves him, and Lady Jami offers another proposal to Yumjang.

Jangbogo warns Yumjang that he will feel a pain greater than death itself, and tattoos the word "Thief" on Yumjang's forehead. Instead of killing Yumjang, Jangbogo orders the tattoo on his forehead and orders that he'd live the rest of his life as a slave.

Kim Yang appoints Yumjang, Dae-chi and Baek-kyung as his secret soldiers. Yumjang states to Kim Yang that the only thing he wants is to kill Jangbogo.

When Cho Jang-kil realizes that Jangbogo is delaying his wedding with Chae-ryung because of his undeniable love for Jung-hwa, he meets Jung-hwa and asks her to help Jangbogo give up on her.

Jung-hwa is shocked to see Yumjang walking into Kim Woo-jing's room. Yumjang is just as surprised to see that Jung-hwa has seen him, but quickly tells her that he is no longer living the life he has been leading before.

To earn the trust of Kim Woo-jing, Kim Yang decides to kill Kim Myung, and plans to kill him by using Yumjang. Yumjang, disguised as Hwarang, participates in the Hwarang gathering, and quietly waits for Kim Myung to appear.

Lady Jami tries to escape Hwangdo with the injured Kim Myung, and Kim Yang orders Yumjang to kill Lady Jami. Meanwhile, upon the news that the Emperor has died, Lady Jami feels threatened for her life.

Kim Myung takes Lady Jami's advice and hands over his right as the newly appointed Emperor to Kim Jae-yoong. Meanwhile, in order to kill Kim Woo-jing, Lady Jami volunteers to go to Chunghae to negotiate with Jangbogo.

Jangbogo takes Yumjang and Kim Yang into Chunghae, and Jung-ryung is upset at this decision. Meanwhile, when Lady Jami learns that Yumjang is under Jangbogo now, she asks for a private meeting with him, and hands him a dagger.

Yumjang grows suspicious of Lady Jami and trails her. Despite the risks involved, Yumjang exposes how Lady Jami is conspiring with Chun Sang-kyi, who holds power to the Imperial.

Lady Jami and Jangbogo finally face their final showdown, and the war begins. Meanwhile, when Kim Yang learns that Lady Jami is in Mujinju, he orders Yumjang to go and capture her at once. Lady Jami is shocked to see Yumjang and his men in front of her house as she tries to sneak away.

Lady Jami tries to negotiate with Jangbogo to provide her with troops and Kim Woo-jing at the price of Jung-hwa's life. Jangbogo firmly refuses to make any kind of comprise with her.

Lady Jami acts bold and brave after being captured by Jangbogo's soldiers, but begs Yumjang to spare her life at the price of all of her hidden fortune. Meanwhile, Kim Yang suggests Yumjang to kill Jangbogo, and Yumjang hesitates.

The doctor confesses that he poisoned Kim Woo-jing to death under Kim Yang and Yumjang's order. Meanwhile, Jangbogo is saddened to leave Jung-hwa alone with young Emperor, and asks Yumjang to take good care of her.

Jangbogo pledges war against Kimyang when he learns of Kimyang's scheme to overthrow the King and become the King himself. Despite much opposition, Jangbogo meets Yumjang.