TV-Series
Description
Na Bongchim is an elderly man who appears as a member of the elite group known as The Six. His physical appearance is marked by long, tied-back hair, a long beard, and notably long eyebrows. A defining characteristic is his missing right arm, which he lost in a battle against the powerful fighter Jin Taejin seventeen years before the main story begins. Another striking feature is the presence of acupuncture needles sticking out of various parts of his body, a testament to his unique fighting style and medical background.
His personality is a blend of calm, clear-minded focus and a long-held grudge. Despite being a martial artist who has reached the pinnacle of human ability, he was deeply humbled and enraged by his defeat at the hands of Jin Taejin, who tore off his arm. He holds a significant grudge against Taejin for this act. However, his character is not purely driven by revenge. He shows a degree of magnanimity and practicality, as he ultimately agrees to train Jin Mori, the grandson of his enemy, recognizing the boy's immense potential. He shares a common ground with his old rival, Jin Taejin, in their mutual disdain for users of Borrowed Power, viewing such external power as a weakness that makes a fighter fragile.
Na Bongchim's primary motivation throughout the story evolves from personal revenge to a broader sense of duty and self-perfection. Initially, his goal was to surpass Jin Taejin, leading him to undergo extreme closed-door training to master his body and mind. His aim was to consume the Sage Pill, a legendary item that grants immense power but is lethal to those unprepared, in order to gain the strength needed for a rematch. After being freed and taking Mori as an apprentice, his motivations shift towards dealing with the larger threats facing the world, such as the organization Nox, and attempting to reassemble The Six to face these dangers. His later actions show a desire to settle his old score with Jin Taejin and to protect others, using his skills as a physician and a warrior.
In the story, Bongchim serves several crucial roles. He first appears as a prisoner, locked away by his former comrade Park Mubong at his own request. He is freed by Jin Mori, who stumbles upon his prison. Upon learning Mori is Taejin's grandson, he attempts to kill the boy but spares him after seeing his talent. Following this, he becomes Mori's reluctant teacher, introducing him to the Nabong Needle Ryu martial art. Beyond being a mentor, he acts as a powerful ally and a key figure in the background, using his medical expertise to heal fatal wounds that modern technology cannot and providing a link to the past generation of powerful fighters.
His key relationships are defined by his connections to the other legendary fighters of his generation. His most significant relationship is with Jin Taejin, the man who defeated him and took his arm. This rivalry is central to his past and influences his initial hostility towards Jin Mori. His relationship with Park Mubong is complex; they are former teammates in The Six who share a history and a mutual respect, but Bongchim also holds a grudge against Mubong for imprisoning him for seventeen years, leading to a fierce fight between them. He also has a past connection with Kim Oong-Nyuh, whom he proposed to as a young man and was harshly rejected by.
Na Bongchim undergoes significant development. He begins as a proud and arrogant fighter who believed he had reached the pinnacle, only to have his worldview shattered by Jin Taejin. His seventeen years of self-imposed imprisonment were a journey to overcome his limitations and master himself. Over the course of the story, he moves past his single-minded desire for revenge, taking on the role of a teacher and protector. He accepts disciples, such as Lee Hyangdan and Gogamdo, and shows a softer side by using his fortune to pay for a rival's funeral. His final battles demonstrate a willingness to sacrifice himself, allowing his allies to land decisive blows, showing a growth from a self-centered fighter to a selfless one.
His notable abilities are centered on his self-created martial art, the Nabong Needle Ryu. This style is a unique fusion of acupuncture and combat. Using needles or even just his fingers, he can target pressure points to achieve a variety of effects. Offensively, he can stop blood flow to cause limbs to swell and explode, induce paralysis, or cause instantaneous death by striking the heart. Defensively and supportively, he is a peerless healer, capable of treating wounds considered fatal and beyond the help of advanced nanotechnology. His most famous technique is the Jeahbongchim, or Limiter Removal, where he strikes a pressure point in the brain to remove the body's natural limiters, resulting in a massive, temporary increase in power and speed. He can also use a technique called Painlessness to remove the sensation of pain, allowing him to fight beyond normal physical limits, though this carries the risk of death. After completing his training and consuming the Sage Pill, his power increases to the point where he can fight on par with Jin Taejin himself, showing that his martial arts mastery places him among the absolute strongest in the world.
His personality is a blend of calm, clear-minded focus and a long-held grudge. Despite being a martial artist who has reached the pinnacle of human ability, he was deeply humbled and enraged by his defeat at the hands of Jin Taejin, who tore off his arm. He holds a significant grudge against Taejin for this act. However, his character is not purely driven by revenge. He shows a degree of magnanimity and practicality, as he ultimately agrees to train Jin Mori, the grandson of his enemy, recognizing the boy's immense potential. He shares a common ground with his old rival, Jin Taejin, in their mutual disdain for users of Borrowed Power, viewing such external power as a weakness that makes a fighter fragile.
Na Bongchim's primary motivation throughout the story evolves from personal revenge to a broader sense of duty and self-perfection. Initially, his goal was to surpass Jin Taejin, leading him to undergo extreme closed-door training to master his body and mind. His aim was to consume the Sage Pill, a legendary item that grants immense power but is lethal to those unprepared, in order to gain the strength needed for a rematch. After being freed and taking Mori as an apprentice, his motivations shift towards dealing with the larger threats facing the world, such as the organization Nox, and attempting to reassemble The Six to face these dangers. His later actions show a desire to settle his old score with Jin Taejin and to protect others, using his skills as a physician and a warrior.
In the story, Bongchim serves several crucial roles. He first appears as a prisoner, locked away by his former comrade Park Mubong at his own request. He is freed by Jin Mori, who stumbles upon his prison. Upon learning Mori is Taejin's grandson, he attempts to kill the boy but spares him after seeing his talent. Following this, he becomes Mori's reluctant teacher, introducing him to the Nabong Needle Ryu martial art. Beyond being a mentor, he acts as a powerful ally and a key figure in the background, using his medical expertise to heal fatal wounds that modern technology cannot and providing a link to the past generation of powerful fighters.
His key relationships are defined by his connections to the other legendary fighters of his generation. His most significant relationship is with Jin Taejin, the man who defeated him and took his arm. This rivalry is central to his past and influences his initial hostility towards Jin Mori. His relationship with Park Mubong is complex; they are former teammates in The Six who share a history and a mutual respect, but Bongchim also holds a grudge against Mubong for imprisoning him for seventeen years, leading to a fierce fight between them. He also has a past connection with Kim Oong-Nyuh, whom he proposed to as a young man and was harshly rejected by.
Na Bongchim undergoes significant development. He begins as a proud and arrogant fighter who believed he had reached the pinnacle, only to have his worldview shattered by Jin Taejin. His seventeen years of self-imposed imprisonment were a journey to overcome his limitations and master himself. Over the course of the story, he moves past his single-minded desire for revenge, taking on the role of a teacher and protector. He accepts disciples, such as Lee Hyangdan and Gogamdo, and shows a softer side by using his fortune to pay for a rival's funeral. His final battles demonstrate a willingness to sacrifice himself, allowing his allies to land decisive blows, showing a growth from a self-centered fighter to a selfless one.
His notable abilities are centered on his self-created martial art, the Nabong Needle Ryu. This style is a unique fusion of acupuncture and combat. Using needles or even just his fingers, he can target pressure points to achieve a variety of effects. Offensively, he can stop blood flow to cause limbs to swell and explode, induce paralysis, or cause instantaneous death by striking the heart. Defensively and supportively, he is a peerless healer, capable of treating wounds considered fatal and beyond the help of advanced nanotechnology. His most famous technique is the Jeahbongchim, or Limiter Removal, where he strikes a pressure point in the brain to remove the body's natural limiters, resulting in a massive, temporary increase in power and speed. He can also use a technique called Painlessness to remove the sensation of pain, allowing him to fight beyond normal physical limits, though this carries the risk of death. After completing his training and consuming the Sage Pill, his power increases to the point where he can fight on par with Jin Taejin himself, showing that his martial arts mastery places him among the absolute strongest in the world.