The King in Love () is a 2017 South Korean historical drama directed by Kim Sang-hyeop with screenplay by Song Ji-na, Park Chan-kyung and No Sun-jae, based on the novel of the same name by Kim Yi-ryung. It starred Im Si-wan, Im Yoon-ah and Hong Jong-hyun. The pre-produced drama aired on MBC from July 17 to September 19, 2017, on Mondays and Tuesdays at 22:00 (KST).
Synopsis Set in the Goryeo dynasty, it tells the story of a young and ambitious monarch named Wang Won (Im Si-wan) with a desire to conquer, and two people who shape his destiny; childhood friend Wang Rin (Hong Jong-hyun) and a beautiful young woman named Eun San (Im Yoon-ah). These three get to know each other and become the closest of friends but feelings of affection and love arise between these three. The young Crown Prince, falls in love with the young woman Eun San and would do anything to save her. He comes to love her more than himself. But on the other hand, his childhood friend Wang Rin also fell in love with Eun San at first sight. Even though he loves her so much, he still hid his affection for her because of his duty to his Crown Prince and because he doesn't want to hurt his best friend's feelings. But the time came when Eun San realizes her feelings for Rin and vice versa.
Cast Main Im Si-wan as Crown Prince Wang Won Nam Da-reum as young Wang Won Moon Woo-jin as child Wang Won Song Min-jae as child Wang Won The crown prince of Goryeo; Korea's first royalty of mixed heritage; grandson of Kublai Khan. Im Yoon-ah as Eun San, Princess Hyeonae / So-hwa Lee Seo-yeon as young Eun-san The strong-willed daughter of a wealthy nobleman, who possesses striking beauty and deadly charm. She hides her identity in order to survive. She started to return Wang Rin's feelings. Hong Jong-hyun as Wang Rin Yoon Chan-young as young Wang Rin, Marquess Sujeong Won's childhood friend; an elegant and refined man with an upright nature. He started to fall in love with Eun-san. Oh Min-suk as Song In
Supporting Royal Family Jeong Bo-seok as King Chungnyeol, 25th king of Goryeo, Wang Won's father Jang Young-nam as Princess Wonseong (Qutlugh Kelmysh Beki), Kublai Khan's daughter; Chungnyeol's wife & Wang Won's mother Kim Bo-ra as young Princess Wonseong Kim Byung-chun as Choi Se-yeon, Princess Wonseong's eunuch Kim Jae-woon as In-hu / Hulatai Min Young-won as Court Lady Jo, Princess Wonseong's court lady Baek Song-yi as Princess Wonseong's female bodyguard
Wang Won's side Kim Jeong-wook as Eunuch Kim, Wang Won's attending eunuch Bang Jae-ho as Jin-kwan, Wang Won's bodyguard Ki Do-hoon as Jang Ui, Wang Won's bodyguard
Wang Rin's side Kim Ho-jin as Wang Young, Marquess Seowon; Wang Rin's father Park Hwan-hee as Wang-Dan, Wang Rin's younger sister who has a crush on Wang Won Yoon Jong-hoon as Wang Jeon, Marquess Seoheung; Wang Rin's elder brother
Eun San's side Lee Ki-young as Eun Young-baek, Eun San's father Um Hyo-sup as Lee Seung-hyu, Eun San's teacher Park Ji-hyun as Bi-Yeon, Eun San's personal maid Song Soo-hyun as young Bi-yeon Kim Jung-hak as Goo Hyung
Song In's side Choi Jong-hwan as Song Bang-young, Song In's cousin. Choo Soo-hyun as Shi Moo-bi / Ok Boo-yong, a doctor who is also Song In's girlfriend who spies the king after seducing him. Park Young-woon as Moo-suk, the man with the snake tattoo.
Others
Ahn Se-ha as Gae-won Moon Won-joo as Senior guard Shik Kim Kyung-jin as Yum-bok Moon Jung-soo as Dol-bae Kang Ye-sol as Princess Jeonghwa, King Chungnyeol's first wife Kim Sung-jae as Duke Gangyang Yoon Yoo-sun as Lady Kim Cha-yeop as Byung-soo Kang-hee as Sung-jae Oh Ki-hwan as Kwan-gun Lee Dae-seung as Jang-in Kim-Young as Hak-ja Park Jong-hyun as General Im Ha-min as Ahn San-daek Park Won-ho as Chul-koo Seo Beom-sik Jeon Heon-tae Yeom Jae-wook Kim Hwa-yeon Lee Han-wi Yeom Jae-wook Jeong Ji-hoon Kim Ki-tak Park Hye-jin
Production The series is one of a handful of youth sageuk set in production after the success of Love in the Moonlight (2016) starring Park Bo-gum and Kim Yoo-jung. Its first script reading took place on December 21, 2016 at MBC in Sangam, Seoul, South Korea. Filming commenced in late 2016 and concluded in June 2017. It is invested by Chinese company Tencent.
Original soundtrack
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Ratings Original broadcast date Average audience share Nielsen Korea TNmS Nationwide Seoul Nationwide Seoul 1 July 17, 2017 7.8% 9.0% 8.0% 9.2% 2 3 July 18, 2017 6.0% 6.4% 4 6.0% 6.3% 6.5% 6.8% 5 July 24, 2017 6.2% 6.9% 6.9% 7.6% 6 7.0% 7.3% 7.0% 7.2% 7 July 25, 2017 7.0% 7.5% 6.9% 7.4% 8 7.2% 7.6% 7.6% 8.0% 9 July 31, 2017 5.9% 6.1% 6.5% 6.7% 10 6.8% 7.3% 7.3% 7.8% 11 August 1, 2017 6.3% 6.1% 6.5% 6.7% 12 6.9% 7.1% 6.7% 6.9% 13 August 7, 2017 5.6% 5.7% 6.6% 6.7% 14 6.3% 6.9% 7.0% 7.6% 15 August 8, 2017 6.2% 6.4% 7.0% 7.2% 16 7.2% 7.5% 7.5% 7.8% 17 August 14, 2017 6.5% 6.6% 7.0% 7.1% 18 6.6% 6.7% 7.0% 7.2% 19 August 15, 2017 6.5% 7.3% 6.6% 7.4% 20 7.4% 7.5% 6.5% 6.6% 21 August 21, 2017 6.2% 6.8% 6.5% 7.1% 22 7.0% 7.4% 7.1% 7.5% 23 August 22, 2017 7.2% 7.1% 7.5% 7.6% 24 7.7% 7.6% 8.1% 8.2% 25 August 28, 2017 6.4% 6.5% 6.4% 6.5% 26 6.4% 6.6% 6.3% 6.4% 27 August 29, 2017 6.9% 6.9% 7.3% 7.0% 28 7.1% 7.2% 7.4% 6.9% 29 September 4, 2017 5.7% 6.4% 6.3% 7.0% 30 6.0% 6.7% 6.3% 31 September 5, 2017 6.6% 6.8% 5.7% 5.9% 32 7.3% 7.7% 6.3% 6.6% 33 September 11, 2017 5.8% 6.0% 34 6.4% 6.8% 6.3% 6.7% 35 September 12, 2017 6.6% 7.0% 6.6% 6.9% 36 7.2% 7.4% 6.2% 6.3% 37September 18, 2017 5.8% 6.6% 6.1% 6.9% 38 6.8% 6.9% 6.2% 6.3% 39 September 19, 2017 7.2% 7.4% 7.3% 7.5% 40 7.6% 7.7% 7.6% 7.8% Average
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Recipient Result Ref. 2017 10th Korea Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actress Im Yoon-ah MBC Drama Awards Popularity Award, Actress Drama of the Year The King in Love Golden Acting Award, Actor in a Special Project Drama Jeong Bo-seok Best Young Actor Nam Da-reum Yoon Chan-young Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Monday-Tuesday Drama Im Si-wan Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Monday-Tuesday Drama Im Yoon-ah Excellence Award, Actor in a Monday-Tuesday Drama Hong Jong-hyun Oh Min-suk Excellence Award, Actress in a Monday-Tuesday Drama Jang Young-nam
Notes
References
External links
The King in Love at Daum