''Empire of Lust'' (; lit. "The Age of Innocence") is a 2015 South Korean

period film A historical drama (also period drama, costume drama, and period piece) is a work set in a past time period, usually used in the context of film and television. Historical drama includes historical fiction and romances, adventure films, and swas ...

starring Shin Ha-kyun,

Jang Hyuk Jeong Yong-jun (born December 20, 1976), better known as Jang Hyuk, is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his leading roles in the films ''Volcano High'' (2001) and ''Windstruck'' (2004), and the television dramas '' Successful Story of ...

, Kang Han-na and

Kang Ha-neul Kang Ha-neul (born Kim Ha-neul on February 21, 1990) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his roles in television dramas ''The Heirs'' (2013), '' Misaeng: Incomplete Life (2014)'', '' Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo'' (2016), '' When t ...

Plot

Kim Min-jae ( Shin Ha-kyun), is a brilliant general who's distinguished himself by protecting the borders of the recently established

Joseon dynasty Joseon (; ; Middle Korean: 됴ᇢ〯션〮 Dyǒw syéon or 됴ᇢ〯션〯 Dyǒw syěon), officially the Great Joseon (; ), was the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, lasting just over 500 years. It was founded by Yi Seong-gye in July 1392 and re ...

. He keeps a close eye on

Yi Bang-won Taejong of Joseon (13 June 1367 – 8 June 1422), personal name Yi Bang-won (Korean: 이방원; Hanja: 李芳遠), was the third ruler of the Joseon dynasty of Korea and the father of King Sejong the Great. Before ascending to the throne, he wa ...

(

), the fifth son of King Taejo (

Son Byong-ho Son Byong-ho (born August 25, 1962) is a South Korean actor. Son is known for his role in action films, notably, ''R-Point'' (2004), '' Running Wild'' (2006), ''The Good, the Bad, the Weird'' (2008) and ''Insu, The Queen Mother ''Insu, the Qu ...

), whom he believes has ambitions of seizing the throne. Jin (

) is Kim Min-jae's son and the King's son-in-law. Due to his position as the King's son-in-law, he is unable to take part in politics and only seeks out pleasure. Yi Bang-won was instrumental in helping his father overthrow the

Goryeo dynasty Goryeo (; ) was a Korean kingdom founded in 918, during a time of national division called the Later Three Kingdoms period, that unified and ruled the Korean Peninsula until 1392. Goryeo achieved what has been called a "true national unificati ...

and found the Joseon, but was passed over when Taejo chose his successor. Meanwhile, Kim Min-jae falls in love for the first time with a

gisaeng Kisaeng (Hangul: 기생, Hanja: 妓生, RR: ''Gisaeng''), also called ginyeo (Hangul: 기녀, Hanja: 妓女), were women from outcast or slave families who were trained to be courtesans, providing artistic entertainment and conversation to men ...

named Ka-hee ( Kang Han-na), whom he takes as his

concubine Concubinage is an interpersonal and sexual relationship between a man and a woman in which the couple does not want, or cannot enter into a full marriage. Concubinage and marriage are often regarded as similar but mutually exclusive. Concubi ...

, not realizing that she aims to carry out a

vendetta Vendetta may refer to: * Feud or vendetta, a long-running argument or fight Film * ''Vendetta'' (1919 film), a film featuring Harry Liedtke * ''Vendetta'' (1950 film), an American drama produced by Howard Hughes * ''Vendetta'' (1986 film), a ...

against him.

Cast

* Shin Ha-kyun as Kim Min-jae **

Sung Yoo-bin Sung Yoo-bin (born 25 July 2000) is a South Korean actor. Filmography Film Television series Web series Awards and nominations References External links * * * 2000 births Living people South Korean male televis ...

as young Kim Min-jae *

as Yi Bang-won, Grand Prince Jeongan * Kang Han-na as Ka-hee *

as Kim Jin (Kim Min-jae's son) *

as King Taejo * Lee Jae-yong as

Jeong Do-jeon Jeong Dojeon (Korean: 정도전, Hanja: 鄭道傳, 1342 – October 6, 1398), also known by his pen name Sambong (Korean: 삼봉), was a prominent Korean scholar-official during the late Goryeo to the early Joseon periods. He served as the first ...

Choi Moo-sung Choi Myung-soo (born January 12, 1968), better known by his stage name Choi Moo-sung, is a South Korean actor. Filmography Film Television series Awards and nominations References External links * {{DEFAULTSORT:Choi, Moo-su ...

Jo Yeong-gyu Jo, jo, JO, or J.O. may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Jo'' (film), a 1972 French comedy * ''Jo'' (TV series), a French TV series *"Jo", a song by Goldfrapp from ''Tales of Us'' *"Jo", a song by Mr. Oizo from ''Lambs Anger'' * Jo a fictio ...

Kang Kyung-hun Kang Kyung-hun is a South Korean actress. She is known for her roles in dramas such as ''Vagabond'', ''Doctor Lawyer'', '' Alchemy of Souls'', and '' Oasis''. She also appeared in movies '' Spider Forest'', ''A Lonely Island in the Distant Sea' ...

as Lady Jeong (Kim Min-jae's wife) *Kim Da-ye as Princess Gyeongsun (Kim Jin's wife)Princess Gyeongsun's actual husband was Yi Je, who was made a separate character in the movie. *Kim Gu-taek as

Ha Ryun Ha Ryun (January 22, 1348 – November 24, 1416), also spelled as Ha Yun, was a Joseon politician and Neo-Confucian scholar, educator, and writer. He served as Chief State Councillor during the reign of King Taejong from 1408 to 1409, from 1409 ...

Gi Ju-bong Gi Ju-bong (born September 3, 1955) is a South Korean actor. Career Gi began acting in 1977 and is notable for ''Offending the Audience ''Offending the Audience'' is a play by Austrian writer Peter Handke. It is sometimes called an "anti-p ...

Jo Jun Jo, jo, JO, or J.O. may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Jo'' (film), a 1972 French comedy * ''Jo'' (TV series), a French TV series *"Jo", a song by Goldfrapp from ''Tales of Us'' *"Jo", a song by Mr. Oizo from ''Lambs Anger'' * Jo a fictio ...

*Kim Seung-gi as Yi Je *Lee So-yoon as Sun-bun (Ka-hee's personal servant) *

Hwang Geum-hee Hwang Geum-hee (born August 20, 1977) is a South Korean actress. Previously known by her stage name Ji Sung-won, Hwang began using her real name professionally in August 2013. Her most notable work is the critically acclaimed horror film '' Be ...

as Mae-hyang *Sa-hee as Lady Min (Yi Bang-won's wife) *Kim Young as Kim Min-jae's old servant *Moon Young-dong as

Nam Eun Nam, Nam, or The Nam are shortened terms for: * Vietnam, which is also spelled ''Viet Nam'' * The Vietnam War Nam, The Nam or NAM may also refer to: Arts and media * Nam, a fictional character in anime series ''Dragon Ball'' * ''NAM'' (video ...

*Yang Young-jo as Shim Hyo-saeng *

Oh Ha-nee Oh Ha-nee is a South Korean actress. She is known for her roles in dramas such as '' Goodbye to Goodbye'', '' Tempted'', ''The Crowned Clown'' and '' Three Bold Siblings''. She also appeared in movies '' The Shameless'', '' A Special Lady'', ''D ...

as Chwihangru gisaeng * Noh Haeng-ha as Chun Hyang-ru *Kim Wang-geun as the Head Eunuch *Hyun Seok-jun as the

Crown Prince A crown prince or hereditary prince is the heir apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The female form of the title is crown princess, which may refer either to an heiress apparent or, especially in earlier times, to the wif ...

Jo Hee-bong Jo Hee-bong (born August 23, 1971) is a South Korean actor. Hee-bong began his acting career in 1997 as part of the theatre troupe Bipa (비파). He later became known as a supporting actor onscreen, in films such as '' Blind'' (2011) and ''Inc ...

Hwajeon ''Hwajeon'' (), or flower cake is a small Korean pan-fried rice cake. It is made out of glutinous rice flour, honey and edible petals from seasonal flowers, such as rhododendron. It is eaten during the festivals of ''Samjinnal'' and Buddha's Birt ...

shop owner ( cameo)

References

External links

* * * *{{hancinema film, Empire_of_Lust, Empire of Lust South Korean historical films South Korean erotic films 2010s South Korean films