Into the Vortex of History!! <Black-Haired US Generalissimo>
Today's featured work is a regression & alternate history story
where you can experience being in the very heart of the vortex of
modern world history, extending far beyond Korea.
Currently enjoying huge popularity on KakaoPage,
<Black-Haired US Generalissimo> is a turbulent chronicle
that begins when Kim Eugene, a Korean company commander
who lost his life saving a child from a rolling Retona,
regresses to the year 1911 as a Korean American
living in the United States.
In the early 20th century, an era rife with racism, the protagonist,
armed with future knowledge, chooses the path of a soldier over becoming a chaebol,
entering the West Point Military Academy
with a grand ambition to change history.
Facing historical figures as his classmates,
such as future president Eisenhower,
his march toward the massive vortex of World War I and II
allows readers to experience more than just simple vicarious satisfaction,
but the thrilling turning points of altered history.
Let's begin the review.
December 1905, San Francisco.
"You filthy yellow monkey bastards!"
"How dare you strut down the street with your heads held high?!"
In a secluded shadow of a limestone building, an Asian boy
is being beaten by other children amidst racist slurs.
Despite the kicks raining down on his head, the Asian boy's eyes
were shining vibrantly.
Such a defiant look from the boy
certainly wouldn't sit well with the Western boys his age.
Just then, dodging a heavy boot aimed right at his head,
the Asian boy grabs the owner of the foot and slams him
into the ground.
"Monkey-monkey punch, you son of a b*tch."
Instantly turning the tables, the boy starts throwing
punches, but taking on multiple kids all by himself
was a fight with an inevitable outcome.
In the end, only after beating him until his face was completely swollen
did the Western boys finally leave,
leaving behind three miserably beaten Asian boys
in that spot.
'Cowardly Yankee bastards.
What kind of land of the free is this?
It's just a land of filthy white racists.'
Criticizing the world with his swollen face, the boy checks
on the other boys sprawling on the ground nearby.
"Hey. Japs, you alive?"
Looking back, he sees the other two Asian boys
glaring right at him with sparks flying from their eyes.
"You damn Josenjing bastard!!"
"It's because of a Josenjing like you
that we're all getting lumped together and looked down on!!"
It is now the early 1900s.
On top of the racism against Asians in the West,
our Korean-born protagonist even faces discrimination
from Japanese-born children.
Suddenly lunging at him and venting their anger, blaming him for today's incident,
the Japanese boys turn around and leave,
accusing him of cheating to get his good test scores
and threatening to gather more kids next time
to teach him a lesson.
The protagonist is left all alone.
"Status window."
But nothing happens.
Finally snapping, the protagonist unleashes a barrage of curses.
"If you're going to reincarnate me in an era like this,
at least give me a decent Status Window perk!!
My second life f*cking sucks!!"
Starting his second life in such a harsh era.
What exactly happened?
Born in 1893, Kim Eugene.
That was the starting point of the protagonist's second life.
His parents, who crossed the ocean to learn modern studies,
became a couple by chance in this land of America,
which was endlessly cold to these 'yellow monkeys.' As a result,
the protagonist, once a company commander nearing discharge,
starts his new life right here.
He became aware of his past life around the age of six.
At first, he thought about using his future knowledge to make a fortune
and become a big shot ruling the 20th century.
However, the 20th-century reality where he started his new life
was far more ruthless than he had imagined.
Instead of the dream of becoming a chaebol, he harbors another ambition.
With his memories and knowledge from his past life
as a Republic of Korea Army officer who graduated from Hankuk University,
he decides to use the upcoming historical events
to pave his own path to success.
World War I, which will break out in less than 10 years.
World War II, about 30 years later.
Followed by the attack on Pearl Harbor and the Pacific War.
The protagonist resolves to use these massive wars,
deeply engraved in world history, as opportunities to pave his way forward.
January 1911.
At the age of 17, Kim Eugene tells his father
that he wants to become a soldier.
Looking like a complete mess, as if he had just been in another nasty fight.
He says he fought against a gang of Japanese students who ganged up on him again.
When Eugene declares his intent to walk the path of a soldier,
his father tries to dissuade him.
In an era where discrimination is rampant, his hair and
skin color could undoubtedly become stumbling blocks in his future.
Deep in thought, Eugene's father exhales a long trail
of cigarette smoke.
"If you said you were joining as an enlisted soldier,
I wouldn't be saying this.
But becoming an officer is a completely different story."
"It means you are going to face this country,
this white man's world, head-on."
Eugene's father was someone who willingly endured the humiliation of discrimination
in exchange for building a family in a distant foreign land.
As one of the first 20 Koreans to settle in San Francisco,
his concerns were words that only someone who had barely secured
a livelihood after countless struggles could say.
"I'll be fine.
After all, look whose son I am."
Despite his father's worries, Eugene shows confidence.
Seeing his son's unwavering determination, his father
feels reassured.
"Right. This is how my son should be.
I figured you wanted to become an officer anyway,
so I've been making my own preparations."
Eugene's father tells him to get ready to head out.
"Go change your clothes.
We have somewhere to stop by."
As if he had been planning this for a long time,
Eugene's father takes his son and heads somewhere.
Taking the sharply dressed Eugene with him,
the place he headed to was the 'Korean National Association.'
"To become an officer, you need to go to the military academy, don't you?
Ultimately, your admission is bound to become a political and social issue.
So, we might as well pull out all the stops
and give it our best shot."
Opening the door with familiarity, his father introduces him
to the figures of the 'Korean National Association.'
Among them, the first person Eugene greeted
was a man named Useong Park Yong-min, who would later leave his mark
in history as an independence activist.
With his father's help, Eugene sets foot in the very foundation
of the Korean American independence movement.
From there, utilizing his clear knowledge of the world's flow,
Eugene will surely move forward, ever further.
With Eugene's every step, the history we know so well
might just be shaken to its core.
Currently serializing on KakaoPage,
it's <Black-Haired US Generalissimo>.