Legend of the Patriots

Legend of the Patriots
Promotional poster for Legend of the Patriots
Also known as	Comrades
Written by	Lee Eun-sang Kim Pil-jin
Directed by	Kim Sang-hwi Song Hyeon-wook
Country of origin	South Korea
Original language(s)	Korean
No. of episodes	20
Production
Running time	Saturdays & Sundays at 20:55 (KST)
Release
Original network	Korean Broadcasting System
Original release	19 June (2010-06-19) – 22 August 2010 (2010-08-22)
Chronology
Preceded by	The Great Merchant
Followed by	Freedom Fighter, Lee Hoe-young
External links
official KBS website

Legend of the Patriots (Hangul: 전우; Hanja: 戰友) is a remake of the 1975 South Korean drama Comrades. Its production was spawned to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Korean War. The story centers around the lives of eleven Korean soldiers fighting in the Korean War. Director Kim Sang-hwi remarked that the series is not about the ideologies of South and North Korea, but rather focuses on the struggles of ordinary people who lived through the war.

The series begins with the ROK Army crossing of the 38th parallel while UN planes begin bombing Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea. The North Korean People's Army (NKPA) begins a fighting withdrawal from the city. Sergeant First Class Lee Hyun-joong (Choi Soo-jong) leads his squad forward into the city and not long afterwards the Republic of Korea Army (ROKA) captures the capital. Major General Yong Park (Lee Deok-hwa) is elated by his Division's involvement in capturing the Communist stronghold.

Meanwhile, NKPA Lieutenant Lee Soo-kyung (Lee Tae-ran) and Sergeant Cheon Yong-taek (Kim Myeong Su) escape with retreating elements of the shattered communist army and regroup with a growing deployment of Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) troops. Lieutenant Lee is shown to once have a relationship with Sergeant Lee Hyun-joong, but the two went their separate ways due to differences in ideology.

Sgt. Lee's 1st squad, Eagle Company, is resting in a home billeted for their use when they receive word of a massive PLA invasion force headed their way. Despite building trench fortifications and bravely fighting the waves of PLA and NKPA troops they are forced to retreat due to lack of supplies and ammunition. Soon, the whole ROK Army is in retreat (and off-screen, their UN allies with them) as the Chinese PLA juggernaut overwhelms them.

The series progresses with sub-plots that involve a rescue of General Park who is captured by deserting ROK soldier, Cheon Song-il (Jung Tae-woo). Sgt. Lee and (newly promoted) Cpt. Lee see each other and it is obvious feelings still exist despite their being on opposite sides of the conflict. Song-il is incorporated into NKPA ranks. He is quickly pitied upon by Sgt. Yong-taek who takes the young frightened soldier under his wing. Sgt. Lee's squad eventually meet some anti-communist guerrillas who rescue them from PLA patrols and they recuperate at the guerrilla hideout, meeting the feisty daughter-in-law of the guerrilla commander, Jung-hwa (Lee In-hye). Sgt. Lee's 1st squad enlist the support of the guerrillas in liberating General Park, and the tired, worn soldiers of the 1st squad finally are able to return to base.