Yonggary is the titular main antagonist of the 1967 South Korean kaiju film Yongary: Monster from the Deep, and a major antagonist in its 1999 reimagining Yonggary (also known in some countries as Reptilian).
In the 1967 film, Yonggary was portrayed by Cho Kyoung-min.
Design[]
In the 1967 film, Yonggary is a large bipedal reptilian creature that stands on his hind legs. His head points out with yellow eyes and a long spiked horn on his snout. Dorsal spines can be seen on his back that run down to his tail.
In Reptilian, Yonggary has a similar appearance, only with a bulkier body and sturdy scales on his chest, arms, and legs that resemble armor. His face and snout horn are smaller. Several horns can be seen growing out from the top of his head.
History[]
Yonggary: Monster from the Deep[]
Yonggary was an ancient reptilian creature who fed on natural gasses and oil before falling into a deep hibernation. He was awakened from his slumber by nuclear bomb testing in the Middle East, which caused an earthquake that ruptured through his underground den. Named after an old Korean fable about a monster connected to earthquakes, Yonggary rampaged through South Korea in search of oil, causing mass damage through Seoul. As the military launches guided missiles, Icho finds Yonggary in the sewer under an oil refinery drinking oil, accidentally aggregating the beast by turning off the main valve. While chasing Icho, Yonggary destroys a tank that covers him in ammonia, causing him to itch and scratch.
Discovering Yonggary's weakness to be ammonia, Il-Woo leads the military to strike Yonggary with missiles full of ammonia. However, Yonggary instead falls asleep, waking up when Icho shines a light from Il-Woo's lab at him. Yonggary does a victory dance before continuing his rampage. Eventually, Il-Woo finalizes his ammonia to react negatively to oil, and has the military lure Yonggary to the Han River by dumping oil into it. As he drinks, a helicopter covers him with Il-Woo's finalized ammonia. Yonggary suffers an excruciating death by bleeding through his rectum after collapsing. While the nation cheers being free from the menace, Icho mourns Yonggary, expressing that he was simply an animal looking for food.
Reptilian[]
In South Korea, American archeologists led by Dr. Campbell discover alien hieroglyphics that lead to an unusually large dinosaur skeleton. Over two years, the skeleton is slowly dug up and dubbed "Yonggary," after the monster of local myth. As the skeleton becomes more unearthed, aliens called the Galaxions fire beams at the fossil, causing waves that kill the paleontologists. Campbell's assistant Holly and associate Hughes warn Campbell that the attacks, Yonggary, and the hieroglyphics were likely connected and order him to stop the excavation, but he refuses.
Once Yonggary's skeleton was fully unearthed, the Galaxion spacecraft fires a beam at the skeleton, making the dinosaur live again. Under the Galaxions' control, Yonggary crushes Campbell under his foot before rampaging throughout South Korea, causing massive destruction and casualties. Despite military assistance from the United States, Yonggary easily overwhelms the army and destroys their forces. The Galaxions then teleport Yonggary to Los Angeles, thus spreading the terror to America.
As Yonggary rampages through the city, the President gives General Murdock five hours to stop Yonggary or else a nuclear bomb will be dropped on the monster. As Yonggary battles Murdock's T-Forces, Hughes and Holly discover that the aliens were controlling Yonggary through a diamond-shaped receptor on his forehead. During the battle, one T-Force soldier crashes into Yonggary's forehead, destroying the diamond and freeing him of the alien's control. Yonggary then saves a group of people trapped in a damaged building by supporting it from collapsing, prompting the UNDA to convince Murdock into calling off the nuclear bomb.
The Galaxions then unleash Cycor to continue Yonggary's rampage. Despite Cycor's ability to expose tentacles from missing limbs (and even his head), Yonggary destroys Cycor by shooting a fireball down his neck stump, forcing the Galaxions into retreat. The following morning, the UNDA transports Yonggary to an island so he can live in peace away from humanity.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- In the West German release of Yongary: Monster from the Deep, Yonggary was mistakenly named Godzilla.
- In Reptilian, Yonggary was originally supposed to be portrayed by an actor in a suit, but was replaced with CGI at the last minute due to budget and time restraints.
- According to screenwriter Marty Poole, the 1999 incarnation of the character is indeed a space monster.