Warning: SPOILERS for Tiger Division #2Marvel's new Korean version of Captain America may be a symbol of the nation, but he also had a very different past than Steve Rogers. America's most patriotic superhero is known for being a righteous person as well as a superhero; in comics and the MCU, Steve rarely if ever swears, drinks, or loses his temper. But Tiger Division #2 reveals that Tae-Won, the leader of the titular group, was far from perfect, and was indeed a criminal before he became a hero.
Steve Rogers may not have the powers of Superman, but he certainly has the incorruptible moral center. Captain America is the person whom nearly every superhero in the world looks up to in times of crisis, and even rebelling against the government in Civil War brought people to his side. Even antiheroes will follow Captain America, such as the Punisher; Frank Castle is not just a Captain America fan, he is a follower first and foremost, so much so that he absolutely refused to fight back against Rogers during Civil War.
In Tiger Division #2, written by Emily Kim with art by Creees Lee, the Tiger Division, Korea's new superhero Avengers-like team, fights off robots before their leader, Tae-Won, realizes that the attack has a connection to his past. The issue flashes back to the aftermath of the Korean War, in which a young Tae-Won surprisingly ran around the streets as a young criminal. Unfortunately, because of this, he is forced to leave home after his sister realizes the truth of his actions.
The Korean Version of Captain America Was A Criminal
In some respects, it is easy to understand why Tae-Won became a young street thief with a gang of his own. Korea in the 50s and 60s was in a perilous state, and the threat from the North Korean regime was ever-present. It must be noted that while Tae-Won was growing up, the Captain America books were rebranded as Captain America: Commie Smasher!, but this was short-lived (and the person wearing the costume was later revealed to be a man masquerading as Steve Rogers while the real one was still frozen in ice).
The end of the issue reveals a surprising development: Tae-Won's partner and friend from their past as criminals is actually alive and well, and seemingly behind the robot attack. This mirrors the events of Captain America: Winter Soldier, in which Steve Rogers discovered Bucky Barnes had never perished during World War II and was actually a brainwashed enemy. While the leader of the Tiger Division and Captain America have their differences, especially when it came to growing up, they are both fearless leaders of their respective teams