Kim Dong-joon takes the throne in KBS’s The Goryeo-Khitan War
by tccolb
More promos have come thundering in for KBS’s grand sageuk The Goryeo-Khitan War, showcasing our soon-to-be king Kim Dong-joon (More Than Friends) as well as the influential general Choi Su-jong (My Only One) in a new group poster and video teaser.
Based on a trilogy novel series by Gil Seung-soo, the historical takes us to the war front of Goryeo during the Khitan invasions. In the teaser we open with the menacing threat of the Khitan (Liao Dynasty) Emperor Shenzong (Yayul Yoong-seo in Sino-Korean) – played by Kim Hyuk (Cruel Palace – War of the Flowers) – as our young Buddhist monk Wang Soon (Kim Dong-joon) pleads for mercy.
But the experience awakens the sleeping dragon within our hero’s heart and the sequence takes us through his transformation as he establishes his reign as Goryeo’s King Hyeonjong. Fun side fact: Hyeonjong descended from both Goryeo and Silla royalty, but he was an illegitimate child, born from a scandalous affair between a queen dowager and her uncle (who was a prince himself as the son of Goryeo’s first king).
Despite Hyeonjong’s brave resolve, the teaser also shows us the weight of his struggles and General Gang Gam-chan (Choi Su-jong) appears by his side to support him, encouraging Hyeonjong to stay strong. In the final sequence, we cut to Hyeonjong’s coronation and as he looks out at the crowds, the teaser closes on the voiceover toasting to his future: “All the people of Goryeo are now Your Majesty’s subjects, Your Majesty’s soldiers. You will become a true king.”
With production co-directed by PD Jeon Woo-sung (Strongest Deliveryman) and PD Kim Han-sol (Imjin War 1592), and scripts penned by Lee Jung-woo (The King of Tears, Lee Bang-won), KBS’s 50th anniversary special The Goryeo-Khitan War will be airing on weekends starting November 11.
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1 OAsia
October 1, 2023 at 2:45 AM
Interesting story, life from being a monk to becoming a king. I've seen other trailers for this drama, and since I'm usually less interested in Asian historical dramas from earlier than the 19th century, this one interested me. I hope that the battle scenes will be well done and there won't be too many scenes of power struggles in the palace. In "My Dearest", the palace scenes are shot more dynamically and not as pompously as is usually the case in dramas, so I hope it will be the same here. Nothing bores me more in historical dramas than long scenes in which several officials speak in crypto-words, wanting to destroy each other and gain more power for themselves at the expense of others.
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2 Kurama
October 1, 2023 at 3:14 AM
This trailer looks better than the last one! I'm more interested now.
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3 Seon-ha
October 1, 2023 at 6:06 AM
Every time I see that beaded royal headwear now I can only think of Junho’s vlog where it is made crystal clear that it’s exactly as annoying to wear as it looks: https://youtu.be/ecLyxN3DMgk!
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Diana Hansen
October 1, 2023 at 7:24 AM
Thank you for that link! He is an adorable man! He would be the best boyfriend ever!
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Diana Hansen
October 1, 2023 at 7:25 AM
The ones who have to wear those head dresses always walk so well and make it look natural, until Junho comes along and shows the annoying reality of wearing it!
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Elinor, Team Glasses team co-captain
October 1, 2023 at 8:26 AM
I still think they originated as a way to keep flies out of one's eyes.
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Seon-ha
October 1, 2023 at 9:04 AM
Would I rather flies or heavy beads all up in my eyes? Unclear.
DancingEmma
October 1, 2023 at 8:18 AM
Junho with his beautiful eye makeup should become a constant thing. He carries it off like it’s no one’s business.
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🌸 Seeker 🌸
October 1, 2023 at 9:13 AM
It must be more difficult for Dong-joon as his head gear has 12 stands with many more beads while Junho's head gear has 9 stands with lesser beads.
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🌸 Seeker 🌸
October 1, 2023 at 9:14 AM
* strands
auto correct #@%
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4 Diana Hansen
October 1, 2023 at 7:28 AM
This looks epic! So, show, be epic! you've got the fixings for a great story and the props/costumes look elegant so now let the writing and directing be the same!
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OldLawyer
October 1, 2023 at 12:16 PM
Epic is good. We do not get enough of them.
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5 kiara
October 1, 2023 at 8:06 AM
KBS's "Anniversary sageuks" are not always easy for me (a sageuk fan) to complete as they typically center around male characters.
"Jeong Do-jeon" was a great anniversary sageuk, but it took me forever to finish watching it. "King of Tears" was well-balanced, so I hope this writer will do the same here, but I have doubts after looking at the cast.
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OldLawyer
October 1, 2023 at 11:51 AM
Given that this definitely centers around two main characters, a king and a general, and involves a major war it may be difficult to find a fit for female characters. But if any writer can do it this one can as this writer explored the human nature behind the historical events when writing KING OF TEARS- which was written not as a hagiography of the establishment of Joseon but rather as a historical tragedy in the same sense as Shakespeare's HAMLET. I had been hoping that the writer would give us another Sageuk and am looking forward to this one.
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DancingEmma
October 1, 2023 at 1:38 PM
@kiara: Are you familiar with Kim Dongjoon’s acting as I’m not. If so, is he good?
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kiara
October 1, 2023 at 4:16 PM
@dncingemma
I haven't seen him in anything, and if I watched a show with him in it, I don't remember.
I have frequently confused him with Han Ga-in's younger brother, who is also an actor. Lol
https://www.dramabeans.com/2008/05/han-ga-ins-little-bro-makes-his-debut/
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DancingEmma
October 1, 2023 at 4:23 PM
Thank you Kiara! It is interesting to me that he has been cast in this drama in such a pivotal role. I don’t quite understand casting decisions in KDs but know that auditions are not a routine occurence.
Hopefully, he will rise to the occasion.
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kiara
October 1, 2023 at 4:28 PM
I also hope for his career's sake.
Kurama
October 1, 2023 at 9:19 PM
I think it will be his first role, so not an easy project for it.
I remember I liked his character in More Than Friends because he was nice when the ML was terrible. But I don't remember any scene with him.
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kiara
October 2, 2023 at 6:09 AM
I saw "The Fugitive of Joseon," but I don't recall seeing him.
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jerrykuvira
October 1, 2023 at 3:28 PM
This ain't Empress Cheonchu so I'm guessing we won't be having many pivotal female characters. Checking asian wiki, the one female character that I see will be having an impact in the plot is Queen Heonae played by Lee Min-young. I don't know about Queen Wonjung cause she was a queen whose face Hyeonjung never looked at.
Empress Cheonchu blessed me with several female characters with 12 of them in lead and major supporting roles. Sadly, I don't think Goryeo Khitan War is going in this direction.
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6 Waadmay
October 1, 2023 at 11:13 AM
Comment was deleted
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7 Waadmay
October 1, 2023 at 11:14 AM
@sicarius
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8 💜🍍☠ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia ☠🍍💜
October 1, 2023 at 12:06 PM
I missed the previous two end of year Goryeo (well, actually they were both Fall of Goryeo dramas), although I intended to start both, because this airing period is really not conducive to me and what I consider high committment shows, as well as missing rhe only other Goryeo show since Scarlet Heart. (2/3 remain in my Watchlist however.)
But I'm determined to start this and get as far through it as I can, because I HAVE to live watch these kinds of things or I just... never do, RIP.
The history around the Goryeo Khitan War is really interesting though, so that's a bonus.
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9 bong-soo
October 1, 2023 at 4:13 PM
I am still waiting for KBS’s THE GORYEO-KHITAN WAR to show up on Kocowa’s “Coming Soon” list. First Kocowa and then (possibly/maybe) Viki.
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10 ys
October 1, 2023 at 8:09 PM
Uri Dongjunnie hwaiting!
(I really don’t think he’s ready for this yet, but I am rooting for him nonetheless.)
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🌸 Seeker 🌸
October 2, 2023 at 11:53 AM
+1
Hwaiting!
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11 Bunny Sonaki
October 1, 2023 at 9:43 PM
I am all hyped up for the drama but worried about the casting of the actor from More than Friends.
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