‘Wongyeong’ captivated viewers from its first broadcast with the tumultuous love and hate narrative of the royal couple, Cha Joo-young and Lee Hyun-wook.
The first episode of the tvN X TVING original drama ‘Wongyeong’ (directed by Kim Sang-ho / written by Lee Young-mi / produced by Studio Dragon and JS Pictures), which aired on the 6th, recorded an average rating of 5.1% in the metropolitan area, peaking at 5.9%, and an average of 4.9% nationwide, peaking at 5.7%, securing the top spot among cable and general programming channels during the same time slot. (Based on paid platforms including cable, IPTV, and satellite / provided by Nielsen Korea)
The broadcast opened with the splendid and grand coronation ceremony of Wongyeong and Lee Bang-won, who became the king and queen. As the ‘Prince’s Rebellion’ loomed, Wongyeong, who donned armor for her husband Bang-won, reassured him, saying, “Tonight, history will surely be on our side.” The two, having achieved royal power, promised to “share everything together” and passionately loved each other.
Later, it was Wongyeong who pierced through Bang-won’s anxiety stemming from his unrecognized royal legitimacy. Rumors circulated in the palace about a joint regime established with her family, the Min clan, and the courtiers were wary of Wongyeong’s father, Min Je (Park Ji-il), who had “placed the world beneath his feet.” Moreover, her brother Min Mu-gu (Han Seung-won) and Min Mu-jil (Kim Woo-dam) boldly remarked in front of Bang-won, “If the queen had been born a man, she would have become the king.” However, whenever Wongyeong saw Bang-won’s gaze wavering, she firmly held his hand and comforted him, saying, “Do not be afraid, move forward. You are doing well.”
Nevertheless, a decisive event occurred that exploded Bang-won’s inner conflict. Bang-won recognized that the masked man who attacked him late at night was his father Lee Seong-gye’s (Lee Seong-min) loyal subordinate, Won-beom (Park Gi-deok). In the past, Lee Seong-gye had regarded his son Bang-won as a source of pride. Bang-won had alleviated the grievances of a military officer who had been despised for his lack of scholarship by passing the state examination. The father who had embraced him, saying, “You, Bang-won, will fulfill my wishes,” had now become an irretrievable relationship. The realization that his father did not recognize him as king and even intended to kill him left Bang-won in indescribable shock and staggering.
All of Bang-won’s fears, anger, and resentment were directed towards Wongyeong. Furthermore, Wongyeong’s remark to Yeong-sil (Lee Si-ah), who had given birth to and raised his son during their time in the palace, “I will handle it, just stay there,” provoked Bang-won, leading him to order Yeong-sil and her child to be brought to the palace. Before they were king and queen, Wongyeong, as a wife of a man, was furious. It was even more unbearable humiliation for her, as she had saved Yeong-sil, who was on the verge of being beaten to death, and cherished her as a servant.
Bang-won provoked Wongyeong, saying, “I thought it was the most effective way to humiliate you,” escalating her anger. He had no choice but to cling to the powerful Min clan, which had strong forces and private soldiers, to secure his royal power while facing threats to his life from opposing factions. He returned the humiliation he had felt and endured. When Wongyeong suggested discussing their marital issues at eye level, he emphasized that he was now in a relationship where he had to follow his own decisions as king and subject. Feeling a desperate sense of betrayal, Wongyeong eventually confronted Bang-won in the bedroom, pouring out her resentment, “If I had known you would change so tragically, I would not have mobilized my family to make you king,” and refused to consummate their marriage.
Soon, Wongyeong went to find Bang-won, who had stormed out of the bedroom, but when a court lady blocked her, she sensed that another woman had entered the chamber. At the end of the broadcast, it was revealed that the woman was none other than Wongyeong’s closest maid, Chae-ryeong (Lee Yi-dam), delivering a shocking twist. Wongyeong, frozen in despair and anger, and Bang-won, who embraced Chae-ryeong with a distorted heart due to his shattered pride, created a fierce conflict that heightened the heartbeat of the audience.
In this way, ‘Wongyeong’ presented an exciting development with the intimate stories and emotions that inevitably swirl due to the turbulent political narrative of early Joseon, creating a high-quality and differentiated historical drama. Wongyeong, who supported her husband with a distribution and strength beyond mere internal affairs, felt a devastating heartache, yet her deep love for him was evident as she unhesitatingly protected him from the threat of assassins. The conflicting emotions of Bang-won, who had to push Wongyeong away even at the cost of humiliating the wife he loved most, laid a solid foundation for the love-hate narrative. This was why the anticipation for the upcoming story was even greater.
Above all, the historical drama couple ‘Sochwi’ (Wish Fulfillment), Cha Joo-young and Lee Hyun-wook, instantly turned viewers’ expectations into “as expected,” firmly establishing their presence. With her calm voice and graceful demeanor, Cha Joo-young drew attention as she delivered an impressive performance as the queen of Joseon, ‘Wongyeong.’ She evoked immersion with her restrained acting, portraying the whirlwind of emotions as a wife of a man before being a queen. Lee Hyun-wook also convincingly portrayed the charisma of King Taejong ‘Lee Bang-won,’ the pain of not being recognized by his father, and the internal conflict shaken by the unstable royal power, adding weight to his character. Additionally, Lee Seong-min’s special appearance as King Taejo ‘Lee Seong-gye,’ who stood in opposition to his son who seized the royal power after killing his brother, overwhelmed the drama with his breathtaking performance.
[Son Jin-ah, MK Sports Reporter]
