Gukja Yang

* Current
* Pre-Time Skip

**Gukja Yang (*양국자 Yang Guk-ja*)** is a major supporting character in *Questism*. He is Suhyeon Kim's best friend and the current No. 2 of West Gangbuk High.

## History

Kuja`s mother, Keiko Yamazaki, is a member of the Yamazaki Clan, a major Japanese crime syndicate. This was revealed in Episode 61, when Keiko stated that Kuja was related to the 'White Ghost', Gun Park (Park Jong-Geon in Korean), a major character in Lookism, and also Kuja is just related to Gun not a cousin or brother.

## Stats

* Initial
* After Buff by Suhyeon
* Awakened
* After Time Skip

 Speed
 Potential
 Intelligence
 Endurance

 Speed
 Potential
 Intelligence
 Endurance

 Speed
 Potential
 Intelligence
 Endurance

 Speed
 Potential
 Intelligence
 Endurance

 Speed
 Potential
 Intelligence
 Endurance

## Appearance

At the beginning of Questism, Gukja had a very unflattering appearance, being visibly heavyset and sporting a goatee. This look was so unflattering, that many characters questioned whether he was young enough to be a high schooler.

After the time skip, his appearance changes considerably as he grows four inches taller and drops a quarter of his weight. At this time, he is designed to be quite attractive having a strong square-shaped jawline, a redesigned buzz cut, and a pair of 70s-style aviator glasses.

## Fighting Prowess

#### Overall

Initially, Gukja was very weak and constantly bullied in West Gangbuk alongside Suhyeon.

However, after Suhyeon used his cards to buff Gukja's stats, the latter was able to take down thugs and low-level fighters without much difficulty, making his face known as El-Diablo and becoming strong in his own right.

Despite becoming much stronger, Gukja didn't fare well with higher ranked fighters of East and South Gangbuk High, as he was effortlessly defeated and severed by Hakjin Ju (Previously No. 8 in South Gangbuk High). Geon Park (No. 5 in East Gangbuk High) also effortlessly overpowered him and even broke his hand for his own amusement.

However, when Kuja'a potential awakened, he effortlessly took out Geon Park alongside Daeseong Hwang (No. 14 in East) and Dohyeok Kang (No. 13 in East).

After awakening, Kuja was able to easily beat an unawakened Seok Kang with the help of Diablo, only to lose when Seok awakened. However, after Kuja used Diablo again after Suhyeon restored his energy alongside the rest of his crew, he managed to temporarily overpower Seok and claimed that he wasn't fighting seriously before.

During the war with East Gangbuk, Gukja faced off against Changung Yeom (No. 2 in East Gangbuk), who had easily defeated Yugeom Na prior to his arrival.

With the help of Diablo and Kyokushin Karate, he managed to overpower Changung Yeom and win without much difficulty. However, after Changung Yeom's potential awakened, the latter fighter easily got the upper hand on Gukja and started to overpower him until Yugeom managed to defeat him due to his special card after his potential awakened.

After the timeskip, Gukja saves Changung Yeom from Song Jeongu(No. 19 of North Gangbuk) and manages to defeat the latter fighter without much difficulty, shocking Changung Yeom and North Gangbuk High School.

#### Abilities

##### Pre-Awakening

1. Systema - After being buffed by Suhyeon, Gukja started using systema. He was easily able to take out lower-level thugs using this ability. However, it didn't work on higher ranked fighters such as Geon Park, who easily endured the systema and overpowered him right after. He likely still has this ability after awakening, but it is unknown whether he uses it anymore or not.

##### Post-Awakening

1. Yamazaki Style: Kyokushin Karate - After awakening, Gukja can now use Kyokushin karate in his fighting style. This ability allowed him to effortlessly overpower Geon Park, Dohyeok Kang, and Daeseong Hwang, (No. 5, 13, 14 of East Gangbuk High respectively). He has used this fighting style to win against multiple fighters including Seok Kang, and even Changung Yeom (Seok and Changung unawakened). He often uses this ability in conjunction with El Diablo.
2. El Diablo - Using this ability, Kuja can lower the stats of his enemies. He often uses this ability in conjunction with Kyokushin Karate. This ability has helped him win against multiple fighters, most notably Seok Kang and Changung Yeom (both unawakened). This ability can also reduce the stats of allies as well, but it hasn't been shown in the manhwa.

## Relationships

#### Suhyeon Kim

Gukja is Suhyeon's best friend and cares greatly about him.

He accepted to be ranked 2nd in West Gangbuk, and often talks with him. He is often seen around Suhyeon and his crew. In the past, Gukja sticked up for Suhyeon when he was bullied, often getting beaten up in the process as well. He protected Suhyeon's sister when one of Suhyeon's bullies asked for her number, getting beat up in the process, and also offering his ipad when Suhyeon's ipad was taken by his bullies, getting beat up as well. Overall, Gukja and Suhyeon care a lot about each other and are best friends.

Their friendship is so big to the point where Suhyeon went on a hunt and brutally beat up Hakjin Ju for what he did to Gukja, also defeating the number 13 and 15 fighters alongside a lot of other fighters as well.

#### Jihyeon Lee

Jihyeon is Kuja's current love interest.

When they first met, Jihyeon didn't think of him as anything, letting Hakjin Ju beat him up, though she later berated the latter for it, since he went too harsh.

Later, when Kuja was escaping South Gangbuk, Jihyeon intercepted him and was about to finish him off, until it was revealed that she had a fear of cats, which Kuja used as an advantage to escape.

When Jihyeon was about to be finished by Geon Park (No. 5 in East Gangbuk), Kuja saved her. Initially thinking that Gukja came to ridicule her, Jihyeon lashes out, saying that nobody could ever love her. However, the two eventually set aside their differences and worked together by defeating the lower-level fighters. However, after Geon, Dohyeok Kang, and Daeseong Hwang took charge, the pair got at a disadvantage, with Geon easily defeating Gukja and Daeseong and Dohyeok attacking Jihyeon.

When Jihyeon was about to be finished off by the trio, Gukja finally awakened and saved Jihyeon by using Kyokushin Karate to effortlessly overpower the three fighters. Gukja promised her that he would beat Seok Kang for her and offered for her to join West Gangbuk. Jihyeon accepts the offer and joins West Gangbuk, effectively declining the East's offer.

Afterwards, while the crew was vacationing in North Gangbuk, Jihyeon told Kuja the reason why she has her sword - she was betrayed greatly in the past, finding solace in the sword. She then warns him to keep his distance from her and that she doesn't trust anyone. However, Kuja proceeds to shield her from a wave of water and says that he will earn her trust, surprising her in the process. However, she smacks him and asks what he's talking about, with Kuja laughing in response.

Currently, it's unknown whether she reciprocates Gukja's feelings for her or not.

## Trivia

* According to a livestream held by the authors, Gukja is the easiest character to draw.

## References

1. ↑ https://www.webtoons.com/en/fantasy/questism/ep-61-there-is-something-writhing-inside-of-me/viewer?title\_no=3767&episode\_no=61
2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dndq-GuKR-s