Kim Jae-won goes up against Cha Seung-won in MBC's Hwajeong

32 January 30, 2015April 8, 2017

Kim Jae-won goes up against Cha Seung-won in MBC’s Hwajeong

by girlfriday

This historical epic is assembling a pretty epic cast: MBC’s new sweeping sageuk Hwajeong (short for Splendid Politics) already has the likes of Cha Seung-won, Lee Sung-min, and Lee Yeon-hee onboard, and now Kim Jae-won (Scandal) is joining them to play Cha Seung-won’s rival. I know, who in his right mind would rival Cha Seung-won? But you can’t have a political drama without heirs battling for the throne and coups mounting in the wings, now can you?

The 50-episode saga takes place in the turbulent era of Gwanghaegun’s reign, in the early 17th century. Cha Seung-won stars as Prince Gwanghae, and in this drama’s interpretation, he’s a villain who usurped the throne from the direct bloodline (while he’s the son of a concubine, and a secondary heir because of it). He has his father’s favored legitimate son executed and ascends.

Lee Yeon-hee is the heroine of the story — she plays Gwanghae’s half-sister Princess Jeongmyeong, who survives her brother’s death but gets cast out of the palace with her mother Queen Inmok, where she’s forced to live as a commoner. She’ll have a loveline with Seo Kang-joon (What’s With This Family), a nobleman and the son of a very prominent family.

Kim Jae-won has been cast as King Injo, the man who will eventually usurp the throne from Gwanghae. Despite the successful coup, Injo is considered a terrible king by all accounts (he’s the weak and paranoid king in Three Musketeers, for one example). He’s Gwanghae’s nephew, the eldest son of one of his many half-brothers, and he happens to be chosen by the faction that wants to tear Gwanghae down and install a new ruler. And even after coming into power, he wants Princess Jeongmyeong killed in case it threatens his position. Yup, paranoid.

He’s described as greedy for power, though truth be told, this is an era where kings don’t have nearly the kind of power that the political factions do. It’s also an era plagued by multiple invasions, which should give the drama plenty of conflict to draw from (as if the family bloodshed weren’t enough).

Kim Jae-won will be reuniting with PD Kim Sang-ho, who helmed Can You Hear My Heart?, and writing is Kim Yi-young of Horse Doctor, Dong-yi, and Yi San. Hwajeong follows Shine or Go Crazy on Mondays and Tuesdays beginning in April.

Via Ten Asia

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1 kanz

January 30, 2015 at 3:05 AM

Jaewon Oppa is back!! I literally screaming when see his name being cast!
Now this drama becomes must-watch for me! :D

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jg

January 30, 2015 at 1:11 PM

me too! i LOVE CSW, but YJW, too?! :D

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jg

January 30, 2015 at 1:12 PM

oops, make that KJW. haha

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2 ChelseaS

January 30, 2015 at 3:29 AM

Yay! Must watch for me, too. Was already convinced with Cha Seung Won and Lee Sung Min, then they added Kim Jae Won!

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3 john

January 30, 2015 at 3:33 AM

Wow, what a cast. I hope it's good. They have the acting talent, so I hope the writer and director to get this right.

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4 Daisy

January 30, 2015 at 4:16 AM

I'm happy he's back with a drama but sad that he's not first lead LOL! Still looking forward to this drama though still a bit shocked that Seo Kang Joon gets the girl...

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5 Quiet Thought

January 30, 2015 at 4:17 AM

One advantage Kdrama has is plenty of historical melodrama for source material. If someone did a historical drama over the struggle to succeed to the throne of Chester Arthur after the tragic assassination of James Garfield, eventually leading to the epic confrontation between Benjamin Harrison and Grover Cleveland, it would be a real snore.

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Chandler

January 30, 2015 at 4:32 AM

PFFFFFT. I don't know what you mean. That sounds riveting.

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Canuckgirl

January 30, 2015 at 12:07 PM

LOL, exactly. There are a lot of fascinating stories within the Western world, all the way from Greece to America

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6 Teletabz

January 30, 2015 at 4:41 AM

oh my... 50 episodes, i thought it was going to be 24 or so =.=
Now i'm having second thoughts if i will watch this even though i love the cast...

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7 ellenelle

January 30, 2015 at 4:57 AM

Yep, I'm in! So happy multiple historicals have been coming out since the end of last year. There wasn't that many in 2014. Hope it's good!

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8 grace

January 30, 2015 at 5:07 AM

Jaewon oppa is back... Super excited.. They have a great casting.. Hope the story is good too..

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9 CaroleMcDonnell

January 30, 2015 at 5:10 AM

ooh I hope Seo Kang-joon can pull off a sajeuk!

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10 Ella

January 30, 2015 at 5:15 AM

I love him! This cast is pretty awesome. Ugh, but why is Lee Yeon Hee paired with Seo Kang Joon who can barely act? Bleh. I'll be tuning into this for everything but the romance.

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11 Luv_KimRaeWon

January 30, 2015 at 5:56 AM

News about Lee Min Ki and Kim Jae Won in the same week, days after wondering about them; Oh the K-Ent Gods have been kind to me this week.

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12 korfan

January 30, 2015 at 6:17 AM

The cast sounds great and the addition of Kim Jae-won is welcome news.

Hope this drama turns out fantastic.

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13 rinoak

January 30, 2015 at 6:42 AM

Aww, I love him, but wish he was playing a good guy role instead of this. Still, the cast is great so I'll give it a try.

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14 Mandy

January 30, 2015 at 8:09 AM

Don't know about politics but it's surely a splendid cast! The production is attracting some pretty big names so the script must be impressive. At least that's what I'm hoping for.

It's also one of the rarest dramas where the romance would be the last thing in my mind. Lee Yeon-hee? No thanks. I hope there's more of CSW-KJW-LSM throughout the 50 episodes.

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15 Kaybee

January 30, 2015 at 8:25 AM

OMG... Kim Jae Won...the ultimate cute guy... oiiii...what happened...how did he become the second lead after being a heartthrob the last time I knew before he went to the army. He deserves some good romantic dramas with that chocolate boy-the cute guy next door looks of his.

Wishing him all the luck.
I may not watch this since I keep away from very long historical dramas... still will watch out for him and the reviews.

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16 museofmanymasks

January 30, 2015 at 9:39 AM

Who knows, this may be good enough for me to watch my second 50 episode drama.

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17 Newbie

January 30, 2015 at 9:40 AM

The writer of Horse Doctor?! Oh oh.

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18 fab

January 30, 2015 at 10:32 AM

Errrr that's long.
But i am not completely devastated as I am about to see CSW's Man On High Heels in the theatre! :D

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19 Bunny123

January 30, 2015 at 11:11 AM

I loved Kim Jae Won so much in My Love, Patji... I don't usually watch Sageuks, but Cha Seung Won AND Kim Jae Won?? Has the makings of being truly top notch!

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20 buckdawna

January 30, 2015 at 2:21 PM

Bluuuuuuuuurg! 50 episodes? I was pretty excited until I saw that. I can't make that kind of commitment.

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21 Beanfan

January 30, 2015 at 4:08 PM

Hmm, I've been watching Hwang Jin Yi on and off lately, and haven't been too impressed with Kim Jae-Won in it. He's good-looking and all, and isn't bad in his role, but I haven't been terribly moved by his performance. Not sure I'd count him as being in the league of "epic" actors.

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celest4

January 30, 2015 at 6:36 PM

I actually agree with you. I'm a huge KJW fan but he's never stood out as an A-lister. Way back when, I was obsessed with KJW for appearing in light-hearted, romantic fluff roles.

But now look at him. He's being given better roles starting with Can You Hear My Heart, he's come a long way. Yay! This drama can be such a meaty role that will hopefully widen his range as an actor.

Also a double down with CSW? Heck yea I'm in,

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22 Thandy

January 30, 2015 at 9:23 PM

I can barely commit to 35 episodes much less 50, I want to watch but...

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23 yayabean

January 30, 2015 at 9:42 PM

Woo-hoo! I can't get enough of gorgeous-hot (and talented) Cha Seung-won!
...Must. Survive. Finals.?

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24 Ananta

January 31, 2015 at 11:16 AM

I love sageuks but the recent ones focus so much on politics, which is boring for me. I'd rather watch sageuks with personal storys or about some commoners.

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25 salina

January 31, 2015 at 4:53 PM

i love me some KIM JAE WON, and i've watched several dramas i wouldn't have just to see his face. but damn, i don't think i will be able to watch this. why can't he do a simple 16 episode drama for once?! argh...

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26 Raquella

February 13, 2015 at 3:15 PM

Any drama for Kim Jae Won is a big THANK YOU. I admit I am Kim Jae Won addict right now. Like Kang San said "If you fall for me, there's no way out". Looking forward for this new drama. Searched about King Injo already. So i got a clue what kind of personality would our Jae Won would portray. Now I have just to wait for April. Why are the days so long. lol

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27 Vicki

April 22, 2015 at 8:59 PM

He is a handsome and talented actor. I loved him in Can You Hear My Heart. Too bad he would not get the loveline in this drama HwaJung. It is ok he is married now with child so let his wife have him all. LOL Looking forward to his new drama. He is always great!

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Hwajeong