We can often see Joseon kings in many recent Korean history movies.
They are getting younger and more handsome, changing our perceptions about the conventional image of kings. The kings from the movies are all different from tyrants to sincere kings who take great care of the public. Let’s meet the Joseon kings from 4 movies.
<The Fatal Encounter> Hyun Bin plays young Jeongjo
‘The Fatal Encounter’ is a movie about Jeongjo, the 22nd ruler of the Joseon Dynasty. The movie focuses on the events happening in the first year since he came to throne. The motif of the movie is the most mysterious and cruelest murderer case in Joseon’s history, ‘정유역변’. The movie describes the political and fatal circumstances surrounding the king.
Jeongjo was the son of Crown Prince Sado who was put to tragic death by his own father. Jeongjo made various attempts to reform and improve the nation of Joseon by nurturing talented people and abolishing the social discrimination. He is one of the Joseon kings who experienced the most dramatic events. Hyun Bin plays Jeongjo, the smart king, who promotes scholastic research and makes sound judgements. Hyun Bin successfully expressed king Jeongjo who had to protect himself from the constant threats of assassination and conspiracy.
<The Face Reader> Lee Jung-jae, the handsome king with absorbing power.
Lee Jung-jae's exquisite acting skills in the movie ‘The Face Reader’ overwhelmed the audience. Grand Prince Suyang later becomes Joseon’s 7th ruler. After Lee Jung-jae played the role, Grand Prince Suyang was at the center of attention. It may be because the character was attractive enough to draw attention.
Grand Prince Suyang snatched the throne from his young nephew Danjong and became the king strengthening the royal authority.
Considering all the characteristics, Lee Jung-jae, who has never played a baddie, created the attractive bad guy, contributing to the popularity of the movie.
<Masquerade> Lee Byung-hun becomes King Gwanghae from Ha-sun
The movie ‘Masquerade’ is a movie about King Gwanghae, who’s played by Lee Byung-hun. The actor plays the double role of King Gwang-hae and acrobat Ha-sun. In the 8th year of King Gwang-hae when the fight for power and political chaos went extreme, Gwang-hae became more aggressive in fear of being killed and found a double in order to avoid the constant threat of assassination.
A humble acrobat who shouldn’t be a king becomes one of Joseon Dynasty. He then changes into a sincere king who takes care of his people. King Gwang-hae’s leadership that leads the public with love not his authority is well described in the movie.
<I Am a King> Ju Ji-hoon as Choong-nyung before becoming King Sejong
The movie ‘I Am a King’ comically depicts the events happening for the 3 months before Choong-nyung becomes King Sejong, using fictional imagination. Director Jang Kyu-sung says, “The plot is based on the imagination about the events that might have happened before Sejong becomes the king”. Ju Ji-hoon plays the double role of Grand Prince Choong-nyng and beggar Deok-chil.
In fear of becoming a king, Grand Prince Choong-nyung decides to escape the palace and climbs over a wall. The weak prince who can't even take care of himself suddenly becomes a beggar and does forced labor and begs people for food. He even gets the ‘straw mat punishment’, where he is wrapped with a straw mat and hit by others with a bat. He then becomes a great king who can understand the tough lives of the public.
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Written by Han Ji-hee, Translated by Lee Sarah
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