“The Pirates” (director Lee Seok-hun) is picking up speed in the box office race, drawing the audience to the cinema with its entertaining storyline. “The Pirates” is an action-packed comic blockbuster set in the founding era of Joseon. When the royal seal is lost at sea, pirates, mountain bandits and government officials clash in the deep waters to retrieve the lost seal. 

Although the movie is set in the past, it is not a traditional history movie. The historical background has been added just for dramatic effect. However, “The Pirates” was clever not to define itself as a fusion action movie. The movie begins with the conflict between the pirate leader Soma (Lee Kyung-young) and second-leader Yeo-wol (Son Ye-jin). When Soma attempts to kill his lesser gang members as a pact with high officials, Yeo-wol intervenes and defeats her leader. She becomes the new leader of the gang.

Real pirates were not bound by the rigid rules that governed naval groups. As Yeo-wol told Soma, the members were like brothers. It was when this brotherhood was broken that Yeo-wol stood up to Soma.

Sailors and seamen who could no longer tolerate low wages and strict regulations chose to become pirates. Pirates enjoyed equal rights, voted for their leader, and shared all the booty equally. Yeo-wol treats the rest as equals because she believes that every pirate is a free individual. A leader of such group had to possess a powerful charisma that would help the gang win a battle at sea. Although a leader was elected by the gang members, there would be discontent in the group if the leader could not win their trust.  

That is why pirates resolved problems through face-offs. Whoever made the opponent bleed first would be claimed the winner. Yeo-wol stood up to Soma when the leader was acting against the interests of the gang.

Pirates were somewhat similar to the bandits on land, but there was one fundamental difference. While bandits were initially farmers who were forced into the mountain when they were robbed of their land, many pirates came from all walks of life, choosing the sea in search of freedom.