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The Rehabilitation Project (犯罪者はんざいしゃ更生こうせい指導しどう, lit. "Rehabilitation Guidance for Criminals") is a reoccurring plan executed by Kim Kaphwan in the The King of Fighters series.

Description[]

KOFXIII-TeamKimEnding-2

Kim forcing Chang and Choi (off-screen) to their limits.

The purpose of the Rehabilitation Project is to rehabilitate criminals of their evil ways. This project first started when Kim saw his two first students, Chang Koehan and Choi Bounge, from a prison's surveillance footage in The King of Fighters '94.

History[]

Chang and Choi were once feared and violent criminals in South Korea. One night, Chang easily broke out of prison with Choi by his side, but they were caught and defeated by Kim. After being bested, Chang and Choi were forced by Kim to undergo his "Rehabilitation Project", in hopes of using the criminal's skills not "in the name of evil", but rather "for justice". Since then, the two have attempted to escape from Kim's training with little success, stressed often to the point of comic relief.

Kof2000-teamstory-KimTeam

Jhun's... questionable "training" with Choi.

During The King of Fighters '99, Kim's long time friend and rival, Jhun Hoon appeared to assist him with his program. After seeing Kim's ethics and methods of training, Jhun decided that he would show him a more efficient way of management; Jhun Hoon's methods are much more new-age and strange than Kim's simple harsh exercises, including lots of special equipment and activities, such as attending pop concerts. He continues to challenge Kim on his methods of enforcement and his skills as a fighter, to which they agree to work together during this time. He would continue to acts as a mentor until The King of Fighters 2001, where he got into an accident that injures his neck and back in a street accident (in reality, he was distracted by Athena Asamiya's beauty, and was hit by a car while crossing the street).

SVC Kim Ending3

Kim training Chang and Choi with May Lee "advising" them.

With Jhun out of commission, Kim brings one of his pupils, May Lee Jinju as an advisor. While it is her job to keep an eye on Chang and Choi, she, unlike Kim, doesn't feel the need to physically punish them on a regular basis, which suited Chang and Choi. May Lee would leave the team after the tournament's conclusion, and Jhun picking up where she left off in The King of Fighters 2003.

During The King of Fighters XI, Chang and Choi convince Kim to join Terry Bogard and Duck King, as they wanted him enjoy himself for once. Although he's happy that his disciples have matured, he is forced to play the middle man between his teammates, both of them ragging on each other over trivial grievances. In the team's ending, the team celebrates at Pao Pao Cafe and Kim becomes humorously drunk, advising Terry to find a wife and get married.

KOFXIII-K'Team

Raiden and Hwa scheming to join up with Kim in The King of Fighters XIII.

During The King of Fighters XIII, Kim realizing that his first "Rehabilitation Subjects" have mended their ways, Kim remembers two other villains that have disturbed him in the past, Hwa Jai and Raiden, and summons them to South Town. Kim believes they are still working for Geese Howard and is intent on changing their "criminal ways", stubbornly remaining oblivious to their actual reform. The new team shocks the media, and it becomes a popular subject of gossip with those who hear it. In his team's ending, Hwa Jai and Raiden pretend to be "reformed" by Kim, and the gullible Kim falls for it. After they part ways, Kim thinks he might have been "too soft" on Chang and Choi. To honor his former teammates and the struggles they went through, he intensifies Chang and Choi's strict training.

During The King of Fighters XIV, Kim rewarded Chang and Choi with a week break, but they did not return. Instead, he received a visit from his master Gang-il and the latter's newest lover Luong, the two brought news that both Chang and Choi are seen hanging around with the legendary criminal Xanadu. Kim resolved to enter the tournament with Gang-il and Luong in order to find out what happened to Chang and Choi. During the team's ending, Gang-il and Luong decide to stay with Kim, much to the latter's dismay.

In The King of Fighters XV, Luong left the team to join with Vanessa and Blue Mary, two secret agents, but she continues to accompany his boyfriend, Gang-il and his student Kim in the training in the mountains and after this event. After experiencing the alliance with Xanadu, Chang and Choi decided, on their own, to return to the program. The other students were dismissed and regenerated. Raiden has ditched the heel persona and become Big Bear, a fighter for justice, and Hwa Jai trains alongside his old nemesis, Joe Higashi, to get back into the competitive Muay Thai circle.

Known Members[]

Teachers[]

Here's the members of the Rehabilitation Project (all alive in their respective timelines).

Grandmaster[]

Character
Role
file
Kim Kaphwan
Creator and Founder of the Rehabilitation Project and has overseen all of the students. Started in The King of Fighters '94/Re-Bout, and uses until the current days.

Assistant Teachers[]

Character
Role
file
Jhun Hoon
Assistant professor. Started in The King of Fighters '99, and continued to use to the current days.
file
May Lee Jinju
One of Kim's students, acts like a type of advisor. Only acts in The King of Fighters 2001 (canonically).

Students[]

All the students are dangerous criminals. After passing for the project, some of them mended their ways and becomes good persons.
Character
Role
file
Chang Koehan
Started in The King of Fighters '94/Re-Bout, until The King of Fighters XIII. Left the program for the first time in The King of Fighters XIV, and returned to the program on his own in The King of Fighters XV.
file
Choi Bounge
Started in The King of Fighters '94/Re-Bout, until The King of Fighters XIII. Left the program for the first time in The King of Fighters XIV, and returned to the program on his own in The King of Fighters XV.
file
Raiden
Only joined in The King of Fighters XIII. After his entrance in the program, he left his heel persona and becomes a fighter for justice, under the persona Big Bear.
file
Hwa Jai
Only joined in The King of Fighters XIII. After his entrance in the program, he joins with his old enemy, Joe Higashi, and fights to enter in the Muai Thay competition circle again.
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