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yangban. marquess.
thirty years old, the 'fake' nobleman.
faceclaim: woo dohwan.
padlet link ✩

officially - seol, house of the tiger.
current head of the family: duke seol of gangeung, the left state councillor.
a yangban clan from gangeung in the gangwon region, the seols were known for their long line of famous generals, admirals, swordsmen, and political neutrality. this changed when a false accusation nearly annihilated the family. for the sake of survival and revenge, duke seol clawed his way to become the left state councillor. now fueled by greed and power, he strives to spread and continue his influence in every corner of the court through his grandchildren at all costs.

previously - goo, house of the moon rabbit.
they were a yangban clan from changwon in the south gyeongsang region, the goo family were known for their intellect as many were government officials and scholars at sungkyunkwan. a number of these men were also previous kings' personal advisors and tutors. towards the end of the family's lineage, they did not bear many children, thus the miracle of twins. the last generation of the family was said to be arrested and thrown in a japanese military camp. the goo clan is considered to be wiped out entirely.

about him.
young juhwan, born into a prestigious yangban family, led a life of immense privilege. his father, a respected interpreter and ambassador, often traveled to be a middleman between joseon and japan. however, tragedy struck when his father was framed for collaborating with a corrupt government official involved in the assassination of a daimyo (feudal lord). the entire family found themselves imprisoned in japan. the boys and their mother were victims to unfortunate timing as they were only in japan to spend quality time together overseas. their once-mighty status reduced to that of common criminals. juhwan's mother, through the influence of their powerful grandfather, a duke with significant sway in the kingdom, managed to secure her release. but juhwan, his father, and his younger brother remained captives in a foreign land. life in the military camp was harsh, and juhwan's father, weathered and broken by the ordeal, was continually tortured. over the years of imprisonment, the brothers devised an escape plan. the once-proud yangban family now sought freedom as fugitives. however, their father, dismembered and weakened by the torment of imprisonment, knew he would be a burden to his sons on the journey back to joseon. with a heavy heart, he pleaded with his boys to end his life so as to end his decade long misery. his brother, unable to move out of fear, could not do it. in the stillness of the night, juhwan granted his father's final wish. he bore the responsibility and ended his father's life with a dagger to the heart. 

as they left the camp, the brothers set it ablaze to create a diversion. they dug up their family pendants and ran off into the night. the flames glowed in the darkness, marking the end of one life and the beginning of the journey back to their homeland. for a year, juhwan and his brother crossed the sea and navigated the treacherous roads back to gangeung. stripped of their yangban privileges, they survived as beggars, masking their true identity. they faced hardships, hunger, and uncertainty, but the thought of being in their mother's arms again had fueled their will to live. finally, they arrived in gangeung. juhwan, who was burdened by the weight of his father's sacrifice, carried the legacy of their once-proud family. juhwan and his brother clutched the pendants given to those born with seol blood in their veins. there were four held in the hands of the two young boys: mother, father, juhwan, and taejoon. the return was not without its challenges; their grandfather had denied them of their existence until juhwan threw the pendants at the older man's feet. he and his brother did not travel this far to be turned away. the brothers pleaded passionately, but it was their mother who became the deciding factor. in a crazed state due to the traumatizing event of losing her family, she could only faintly recall their voices. the teenaged boys watched as their mother scrambled around the property looking for her sons, searching for where little juhwan and little taejoon had been hiding.

after realizing the children's ability and to spread his influence, their grandfather orchestrated a strategic move. they were given new identities. no longer recognized as their mother's sons, they were presented as the grandfather's illegitimate children who had recently returned to the family fold. the brothers adapted to hanseong's elite circles, donning the facade of noblemen despite rumors questioning the authenticity of their lineage. the seol family name, once nearly wiped from the face of the earth, now had two young men becoming pawns to rebuild the family's reputation. their grandfather carefully watched over them as they navigated society. the brothers, relied heavily on each other while embracing their roles. juhwan, carrying the weight of his father's sacrifice, sought to make his father proud. as juhwan came of age, he took the government examination, determined to secure a role that would pave the way for his ascent. a once quiet and reserved individual, juhwan's early challenges forced him to grow up quickly. returning home provided him with comfort, gradually coaxing him out of his shell. over the years, juhwan evolved into someone more open, driven by a desire for personal growth and societal impact. his goal was clear: to attain power within the government, not for personal gain, but to wield influence responsibly. the hardships he faced instilled in him a commitment to resist the temptations of greed and the hunger for power that often accompanied authority.

connections i'm looking for.
(title tbd)
likely yangban or jungin. similar age. female.
fc suggestions: lim jiyeon, ahn eunjin, jung eunchae, kim jiwon, bona
when juhwan emerged as one of the two illegitimate sons of duke seol, the rumors set him apart from the ton and few sought to befriend him. however, muse b, hailing from an influential family, was different. she chose to know juhwan beyond the rumors. he initially maintained a cautious distance, wary of exposing the secrets that shrouded his past. however, muse b's genuine curiosity and compassionate nature gradually broke down his barriers, which allowed them to become good friends. as time went on, muse b found herself developing feelings for juhwan, hoping he would see her as more than just a friend. despite her patience and unwavering affection, juhwan's heart remained tethered to another. still, muse b perseveres, waiting in the hope that one day he will realize her worth and reciprocate the feelings she holds for him.

an unlikely bond
any class. similar age. no gender preference.
in their late teen years, juhwan and muse b found themselves in a constant clash of competitiveness. they were like two opposing forces, often challenging each other at every turn as they were driven by a natural inclination to outdo one another. as time went on, they discovered a ‘surprising’ revelation. beneath the competitive banter between the two, they found unexpected similarities that drew them closer. the years that passed had softened their rivalry and paved the way for a close friendship.

99 problems 
yangban. similar age. male.
muse b, known for his charming personality and player (rake) tendencies, is one of juhwan's few close friends. one day, muse b finds himself entangled with a woman who proves to be more than he bargains for. the repercussions reach a new level when the woman's furious father, a reputable duke, berates muse b for his reckless behavior. in a quick and desperate attempt to deflect the blame, muse b turns the tables on juhwan, claiming that it was his friend who spent the ill-fated night with her. caught off guard, juhwan, known for his reserved and disciplined demeanor, finds himself entangled in these lies. he reluctantly plays along to protect his friend and becomes the scapegoat in muse b's charade.

brothers-in-arms
yangban or jungin, male younger than him.
friendship.
their bond was born of mutual respect, trust, and the shared understanding that they could rely on one another, no matter the trials that lay ahead.

yangban.
twenty-three years old, the eldest son and heir to the jin clan.
faceclaim: moon sangmin.
padlet link ✩

jin, house of the haetae.
current head of the family: duke jin of ganghwa, the right state councillor.
a yangban clan from ganghwa, they can trace their family’s power from the early days of the goryeo era. with old money originating from maritime trade with china, they had little trouble establishing themselves as nobility when ushering in the joseon dynasty. while most members of the jin clan have served for the nation, others have succeed in other fields such as arts and sciences. the family prides itself in its established history, morals, and intellect. despite their wealth and power, the jins have been known to not openly abuse their influence until now. however, the family has been rumored to be cursed because of the duke and his ex-wife.

about him.
from the moment jaeyong was born, the complicated connection between his mother and her true love had fueled a seed of doubt that rooted deeply in his father’s mind. the boy's unruly nature only amplified the whispers of suspicion that circulated among the jin family's inner circle. as the years went by, his reputation as both a troublemaker and a social magnet only grew stronger. his days were marked by laughter, parties, and the thrill of bending rules to his will. yet, beneath his devil-may-care attitude, there simmered an inner turmoil, a sense of not truly belonging that occasionally pierced through the facade he had carefully crafted. although jaeha provided for jaeyong’s lavish lifestyle, he struggled to bridge the emotional gap that seemed to widen with each passing year. he joined the army at age 17, mainly to infuriate his father who wanted his eldest son to go into politics and rise up the ranks, just like he did.

connections i'm looking for.
brothers-in-arms
yangban or jungin, male same age as jaeyong.
friendship.
their bond was born of mutual respect, trust, and the shared understanding that they could rely on one another, no matter the trials that lay ahead.

the community at ilhwa are all incredibly welcoming, friendly, and active. it's been SIX months since the place officially opened yet the activity here is still booming and the writers here are *chefs kiss* elite. the admins have taken the time out of their day to create cheat sheets to inform the writers of the history the place is set in, titles so no one gets mixed up, and so much more. it's all well organized under the info block. ilhwapedia (under the ton block) is also a new map created and added by the admins to give a clear view of how all the characters here are connected to each other. if you ever get confused, you can freely ask in the writers room or queen min!
i highly suggest giving this place a try. 

quick links ✩
lore
etiquette handbook
family seals
class system 101
political roles
the season's court
plots and connections
guidebook

wishes
(women) MEN IN ILHWA WILLING TO FIGHT A RABID BEAR WITH THEIR BARE HANDS AND BUILD A HOUSE FROM SCRATCH FOR: kim jaekyung, kim jiwon, cha jooyoung, chae soobin, lim jiyeon, yoo shiah, park gyuri, lee elijah, nam yujeong, jang heejin, han yeseul, jung eunchae, kim hyunjung, seo joohyun, shin minah, song hyekyo, seo hyunjin, kim ahyoung, kwon eunbi, kim hyuna, seo yeji, lee jooyoung, jeon somin (kard), kim soyeon, kim jisoo, kim jiho, lee chaerin, kang mina, im nayeon, park jihyo, lee saerom, seol inah, ahn eunjin, oh yeonseo, lee hyori, cheetah, honey lee, fromis_9, wjsn, snsd, t-ara, kara, rv, bbgirls, dreamcatcher, eugene, bada, kim soyeon

(men) WOMEN IN ILHWA ARE BEGGING TO BE BAREFOOT IN THE KITCHEN MAKING A SANDWICH FOR: lee jehoon, lee soohyuk, ji changwook, noh sanghyun, seo kangjoon, park jinyoung, jung jinyoung, mark lee, choi hyunwook, lee junho, bae hyunsuk, kim soohyun, kang haneul, yoo insoo, seo inguk, jung haein, ju jihoon, go kyungpyo, park haesoo, jung ilwoo, lee seunghyub, yoo yeonseok, kim youngkyun, lee hoseok, chae hyungwon, lee jongsuk, lee hyunwoo, lee do hyun, choi seungcheol, lee sangyi, lee taesun, choi wooshik, kim jaewook, im jaebeom, kim yugyeom, ahn bohyun, woo dohwan, bae inhyuk, jo insung, lee hongki, lee joon, hwang inyeop, kim woobin, sf9, mx, svt

* if you're not interested in creating your own family, be sure to check out the family seals room for existing families that have spots open.