Confusion about Finger Chopper (Spoilers)
I understand that Tae-goo was the "Finger Chopper" back in Korea and moved away to escape that life, but what was the nature of the incident that result in Tae-Goo mutilating Chiang-Yi?
When Do-Won tells the story early on about the time in Wonson when the true Finger Chopper went round and brutalised an imposter he mistakenly believes the it was Chiang-Yi going round to cut up some random joker.
The reveal at the end then seems to suggest that Tae-goo was the one who went to brutalise some imposters and that Chiang Yi was the imposter, but in Chiang Yi's flashback Chiang Yi is shown as having killed a whole bunch of people himself, he's not portrayed as a victim, so I'm confused as to the exact scenario. Can anyone confirm it as being any of the following:
a) Tae-Goo is the true, original "Finger Chopper" and Chiang Yi claims to be THAT "Finger Chopper", so Tae-Goo seeks him out and cuts off his finger. In this case, is the fight that precedes:
1) Chiang-Yi killing Tae-Goo's men (Problem: Tae-Goo not portrayed as
having a gang, also looks like Chiang-Yi is the interloper in
Tae-Goo's haunt and if Tae-Goo brought the men why was he sitting at
a table?)
2) Tae-Goo killing Chiang-Yi's men (this implies that Do-Won's
recollection is entirely false, but in Chiang Yi's flashback I think
it's clearly implied that he's just done the killing)
b) Tae-Goo was the "Finger Chopper". Chiang-Yi was not imitating or claiming to be Tae-Goo's "Finger Chopper" but was younger and using a similar trade mark and wished to be the ONLY "Finger Chopper" so sought out Tae-Goo, killed his gang, but then was bested by Tae-Goo and has his own finger cut off. This explains his hang up about being bested AND about which of them is the best or the true legend. My problem with this is that the weight the film puts behind the reveal of the Finger Chopper seems to want us to see Chiang-Yi as more of a victim and his bitterness seems to be at the simple act of having been mutilated NOT over the irony.
c) As above, but Chiang-Yi was directly imitating Tae-Goo for an identity.
d) Chiang-Yi was the original "Finger Chopper" and Tae-Goo claims the title and when Chiang-Yi goes round to sort it out he's beaten. Problem with this is that it makes Tae-Goo's dark past a lot vaguer and carries less weight.
e) Tae-Goo was never a "Finger Chopper" but Chiang-Yi always was and during one of his rampages Tae-Goo taught him a lesson by mutilating him with his own trademark, thus Chiang-Yi is incredibly bitter and calls him "Finger Chopper". Problem with this is that although this still gives him a bit of a dark past it negates Do-Won's reaction in the standoff.
f) Tae-Goo was the "Finger Chopper" and Chiang-Yi fell victim to him after an evening's (unrelated) murder. This negates Do-Won's entire story.
g)Chiang-Yi is the original "Finger Chopper" and a boss of Tae-Goo's then gang is the imposter. When Chiang Yi goes round to sort them out, Tae-Goo, as a lieutenant, betters him.
My personal opinion lies with b)/c) but my problem with it is that it doesn't quite match up with Chiang-Yi's bitterness over JUST losing a finger, as opposed to the whole history between them and doesn't increase sympathy for Chiang-Yi at ALL.
Sorry for the length, but this has me very confused. All opinions welcome.