Title: 왕이 된 남자 | Wangi Doen Namja | The Man Who Became King | Gwanghae, The Man Who Became King | Masquerade | The Crowned Clown
Genre: Drama | Historical
Episodes: 16
Broadcast Network: tvN
Broadcast Period: January 7 to March 4, 2019

Synopsis:

Prince Lee Hun became the crowned King when his father died. With deep resentment with his father, he killed his brother to be the King as well as any person who go against him. While Ha Sun is born in an impoverish family of clowns performing and poking fun at the royal family. By fate, King Lee Hun and Ha Sun totally look like twins and was made to switch to save King Lee Hun’s life who’s being threatened by his enemies and by his own addiction to opium. Lee Kyu, the King’s loyal Royal Chief Secretary made it happened. However, as each passing moments it became apparent who can be the better King to the nation and Ha Sun, a mere clown may become the King that may rule the kingdom.

Characters:

• Yeo Jin Goo as Ha Sun | King Lee Hun
• Lee Se Young as Queen Yoo So Woon
• Kim Sang Kyung as Lee Kyu
• Jang Kwang as Eunuch Jo
• Yoon Jong Suk as Jang Moo Young
• Shin Soo Yun as Dal Rae
• Yoon Kyung Ho as Gap Soo
• Oh Ha Nui as Ae Young
• Kim Soo Jin as Court Lady Park
• Kwon Hae Hyo as Shin Chi Soo
• Jang Young Nam as Queen Dowager
• Lee Moo Saeng as Prince Jin Pyung
• Min Ji Ah as Court Lady Kim
• Choi Kyu Jin as Shin Yi Kyum
• Seo Yoon Ah as Seon Hwa Dang
• Lee Mi Eun as Court Lady Jang
• Jung Hye Young as Woon Shim
• Lee Yoon Gun as Yoo Ho Joon
• Lee Kyu Han as Joo Ho Kul
• Choi Moo In as Lee Han Jong
• Lee Chang Jik as Seo Jang Won
• Jang Sung Won as Jun Saeng
• Jang Hyuk as King Seonjo on Episode 1
• Park Shi Eun as Gye Hwan on Episode 2
• Kim Hyung Mook as Ming Dynasty Envoy on Episode 12
• Yoon Park as Prince Ki Sung on Episode 16
• Ok Ye Rin on Episode 16

My Review:

I’ve never been a fan of sageuk Korean dramas but, once in awhile, there are sageuks that came my way that I thoroughly enjoyed and this is one of them. This is not a feel good Korean drama but it certainly brought in the things why I love Korean dramas in the first place, a good heartfelt story, great cast and directed well.

(1) Ever since I saw Yeo Jin Goo in a Korean Drama playing the younger version of the leading man in the “Moon Embracing the Sun”, I knew he will have a lot of potential not only to be a famous but to be truly a great actor. And, I wasn’t wrong on that prediction. On this K-drama, he did exactly become the latter. He was able to impressively deliver 2 characters, Ha Sun and King Lee Hun, into the small screen with such brilliance of emanating nuances of the characters that one can actually believe that they are being acted by 2 actors that look alike. Not many actors, I believe, can actually do such roles and be a success to it especially as it is a period drama and the emotions it requires to portray the characters are quite extensive. It is not a small feat to accomplish by lesser talented actors.

(2) The production and cinematography are also impressive. I’m not really into reviewing the technical world when it comes to Korean dramas but this one I do appreciate especially as it is a melodrama and a sageuk, both genres that’s something not within my cup of tea.

(3) I love that the story has no boring moments and even if some of the stuff that’s happening maybe impossible to happen like having 2 people to look exactly the same and the leads keep on surviving at the state of medical science at that time becomes forgivable to me.

So, What do I Like About this K-Drama?

This is by far a perfect k-drama and considering the genre is something I don’t normally enjoy, the production and especially Yeo Jin Goo delivered a capturing drama. Having said that, if there’s one thing I can’t really ignore that marred my forgiveness on most of its flaws is that the ending seems rush and didn’t give much explanation how Ha Sun survived and found Queen Yoo So Woon. It’s just like forcing you to believe that it’s just is and it is the magic brought by cracking of the nuts and making a wish on it.

Would I recommend this K-Drama? Yes

My Rating to this Drama
( See My Rating System: ) 4/5 Stars

OST:

01. Serenade I – Various Artists
02. A Long Way From Now – SE O
03. If I See You Again – Oh Yeon Joon
04. Tell Me – Eunha of GFRIEND
05. If I Could Be By Your Side – Sung Si Kyung
06. Serenade II (Soun’s Theme) – Various Artists
07. Always – Seulgi of Red Velvet
08. Winter After Winter – Ha Eun (Lacoste Man)
09. That Day, We – Baek Ho of NU’EST
10. Light Saver – Ahn Ye Eun
11. Petal – Shin Nal Sae
12. Serenade III – Various Artists
13. A Long Way From Now (Instrumental) – SE O
14. If I See You Again (Instrumental) – Oh Yeon Joon
15. Tell Me (Instrumental) – Eunha of GFRIEND
16. If I Could Be By Your Side (Instrumental) – Sung Si Kyung
17. Always (Instrumental) – Seulgi of Red Velvet
18. Winter After Winter (Instrumental) – Ha Eun (Lacoste Man)
19. That Day, We (Instrumental) – Baek Ho of NU’EST
20. Light Saver (Instrumental) – Ahn Ye Eun
Man Who Became King – Various Artists
21. A Failure – Various Artists
22. Back to the dust – Various Artists
23. Before Fall Down – Various Artists
24. Burning Sequence – Various Artists
25. Change the World – Various Artists
26. Communist Ideology – Various Artists
27. Dark One – Various Artists
28. End of Winter – Various Artists
29. Evil Flowor – Various Artists
30. Face off – Various Artists
31. Firefly – Various Artists
32. Frozen Tears – Various Artists
33. Green Teacher – Various Artists
34. Gretchen – Various Artists
35. Lose King’s face – Various Artists
36. My Reflection in the Lake – Various Artists
37. Red Eagle – Various Artists
38. Rewrite – Various Artists
39. Ridiculous Trace – Various Artists
40. Search Block – Various Artists
41. Silent Eyes – Various Artists
42. Sleepy – Various Artists
43. Snow Field – Various Artists
44. Song For a Lover – Various Artists
45. Stalking – Various Artists
46. Storm Beat – Various Artists
47. The Coup – Various Artists
48. The End of the Road – Various Artists
49. The Letter – Various Artists
50. The Night Before Farewell – Various Artists
51. The way of Truth – Various Artists
52. Time of Blood – Various Artists
53. To be Seen or Not – Various Artists
54. Turning Point – Various Artists
55. Who is Real – Various Artists
56. Storm Beat (Ending Title Version) – Various Artists