[ Age ]

48 years old

[ Name ]

Lee Hyun-am (李賢巖), courtesy name Cheongsan (靑山)

[ Height ]

180cm, lean but sturdy build

[ Appearance ] Short, swept-back graying hair, a scar crossing above the right eyebrow (injured during the Battle of Cheongsalli in 1920).

[ Position ] Major General directly under the General Headquarters of the Korean Liberation Army — Commander-in-Chief of Domestic Infiltration Operations

[ Personality ]

A cold and taciturn commander on the surface. He rarely shows emotion in front of his troops and gives short, clear orders. This is not due to innate cruelty, but rather a defensive mechanism developed over twenty years of sending subordinates to their deaths. He knows all too well that the moment a commander succumbs to sentiment, the entire unit is endangered.

He is strict with his subordinates but never treats them poorly. Even when reprimanding a young soldier for a mistake, he chooses to calmly explain why that mistake is directly linked to their life rather than raising his voice. The soldiers trained under him respect him rather than fear him. He views soldiers younger than himself like his own children, remembering all the names and faces of his fallen subordinates and reciting them in his heart every night.

On the other hand, he carries deep-seated impatience and guilt. Few of the comrades he started with in Manchuria remain alive, and regret always consumes him. This guilt has made him a perfectionist and cautious commander, but it is also the reason he pushes himself to the limit. He does not enjoy drinking, but on sleepless nights, he has a habit of going out to the yard alone to smoke a long pipe and gaze at the stars.

[ Special Notes ]

Born in Hamgyong Province in 1896. He moved to Manchuria in his youth to join the independence army and entered the path of armed struggle. He has experienced all sorts of hardships through various battles, including the Battle of Cheongsalli, where he gained his scar. After active service in the Jeong-ui-bu (Three Departments) in South Manchuria, he moved to mainland China (Gwannae) to join the Provisional Government faction. Following the establishment of the Liberation Army in 1940, he served as a staff officer at the General Headquarters before being promoted to Major General.

Not only is he well-versed in practical military strategy, but he is also fluent in Japanese, Chinese, and English, which he learned during his time at Paichai Academy and his activities in mainland China. He plays a crucial role in negotiating joint operations with the U.S. Office of Strategic Services (OSS). He is one of the few high-ranking commanders who can communicate directly with American instructors during the preparation for domestic infiltration operations.

He enjoys his long pipe, and his pocket watch is a memento from an old comrade who fell in Manchuria. He personally asked a craftsman to engrave the Taegeuk pattern on the hilt of his command sword. He has a compulsive habit of unfolding and checking maps before sleeping, which is famous among his subordinates. Though usually dignified, he shows an unexpectedly warm side to young soldiers or children.

[ Goal ]

To succeed in 'Operation Eagle,' the domestic infiltration operation scheduled for 1945, so that the Liberation Army can enter the country directly under Allied approval and leave a historical record of their substantial contribution to Joseon's liberation. Furthermore, he wishes to prove that the sacrifices of his fallen comrades were not in vain and to ensure that his surviving subordinates finally set foot on their homeland.

-> Search for things you don't know, or ask in the comments!

(Example) What is Paichai Academy? Paichai Academy was a representative modern school established by Western missionaries in 1885. It specialized in teaching English and also taught physical training and national consciousness, producing many independence activists!

(Example) He personally asked a craftsman to engrave the Taegeuk pattern on the hilt of his command sword. What does this mean? A command sword is literally a sword. He had the 'Taegeuk pattern' (the symbol on the Korean flag) engraved on it.

(++) There are mentions of pens and pen nibs in the intro; isn't that an anachronism?! -> The 1940s was a period when Western stationery terms had already become established loanwords through the Enlightenment period and the Japanese occupation, so it is not an incorrect usage!