''The King's Face'' (;

Hanja Hanja (Hangul: ; Hanja: , ), alternatively known as Hancha, are Chinese characters () used in the writing of Korean. Hanja was used as early as the Gojoseon period, the first ever Korean kingdom. (, ) refers to Sino-Korean vocabulary, wh ...

: 王의 얼굴) is a 2014 South Korean television series starring

Seo In-guk Seo In-guk (; born October 23, 1987) is a South Korean singer-songwriter and actor. He launched his singing career after winning the talent reality show ''Superstar K'' in 2009, and made his acting breakthrough in ''Reply 1997'' (2012). Since ...

Jo Yoon-hee Jo Yoon-hee (born October 13, 1982) is a South Korean actress. She is best known for starring in the television dramas ''My Husband Got a Family'' (2012) and '' Nine'' (2013). Personal life She is originally from Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do, ...

Lee Sung-jae Lee Sung-jae (born August 23, 1970) is a South Korean actor. Among his notable works include the films ''Art Museum by the Zoo'', ''Attack the Gas Station'', ''Barking Dogs Never Bite'', and ''Kick the Moon'', as well as the television series ' ...

, Kim Gyu-ri and

Shin Sung-rok Shin Sung-rok (born November 23, 1982) is a South Korean actor. He frequently appears in films and television series, but is better known an active in musical theatre. Early life Shin had initially aspired to become a basketball player togethe ...

. It aired on

KBS2 The Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) () is the national broadcaster of South Korea. Founded in February 1927, it is one of the leading South Korean television and radio broadcasters. KBS operates seven radio networks, ten television channels, a ...

from November 19, 2014 to February 5, 2015 on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:55 for 23 episodes.

Plot

Gwanghae, the child of a concubine, becomes the Crown Prince of

Joseon 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 ...

. For the next 16 years, the illegitimate prince lives through turbulent times, enduring death threats and possible dethronement. Gwanghae has a contentious relationship with his father

King Seonjo Seonjo of Joseon (26 November 1552 – 16 March 1608) was the fourteenth king of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea from 1567 to 1608. He was known for encouraging Confucianism and renovating state affairs at the beginning of his reign. However, politi ...

, and the two eventually become rivals in politics and love. Using

physiognomy Physiognomy (from the Greek , , meaning "nature", and , meaning "judge" or "interpreter") is the practice of assessing a person's character or personality from their outer appearance—especially the face. The term can also refer to the general ...

as a weapon and means to gain power, Gwanghae enlists a face-reading fortuneteller to help him become the next King.

Cast

as Prince Gwanghae *

as Kim Ga-hee **

Jeon Min-seo Jeon Min-seo (born 20 May 2003) is a South Korean actress. She began her career as a child actress, notably in the television dramas ''Good Job, Good Job'' and ''Prime Minister & I ''Prime Minister & I'' () is a 2013 South Korean televisio ...

as young Kim Ga-hee *

* Kim Gyu-ri as Lady Gwi-in of the Kim clan *

as Kim Do-chi *

Go Won-hee Go Won-hee (born Kim Won-hee on September 12, 1994) is a South Korean actress. Go began her entertainment career as a commercial model in 2011, and became the youngest ever model for Asiana Airlines in 2012. She then began acting, and has since ...

Queen Inmok Queen or QUEEN may refer to: Monarchy * Queen regnant, a female monarch of a Kingdom ** List of queens regnant * Queen consort, the wife of a reigning king * Queen dowager, the widow of a king * Queen mother, a queen dowager who is the mothe ...

Im Ji-eun Im Ji-eun (born February 27, 1973) is a South Korean actress. Filmography Television series Film Awards and nominations References External links Im Ji-eun Fan Cafeat Daum * * * 1973 births Living people South Korean televi ...

Queen Uiin Queen Uiin (의인왕후 박씨; 5 May 1555 – 5 August 1600), of the Bannam Park clan, was a posthumous name bestowed to the first wife and first queen consort of Yi Yeon, King Seonjo, the 14th Joseon monarch. She was queen consort of Joseon f ...

* Kim Hee-jung as

Deposed Queen Yu Princess Munseong (15 August 1576 – 31 October 1623), of the Munhwa Yu clan, was the wife and queen consort of Yi Hon, King Gwanghae, the 15th Joseon monarch. She was queen consort of Joseon from 1608 until her husband's deposition in 1623, a ...

*Park Joo-hyung as

Prince Imhae Prince Imhae (20 September 1572 – 3 June 1609; personal name Yi Jin, childhood name Yi Jin-Guk), was a Joseon Royal Prince as the eldest son of Seonjo of Joseon, King Seonjo and the elder brother of Gwanghaegun of Joseon, King Gwanghae. He was kn ...

*Yoon Bong-gil as Im Young-shin *Jo Won-hee as Kim Du-seo *Kim Hyun-sook as Lady Park *

Ahn Suk-hwan Ahn Suk-hwan (Hangul: 안석환; real name: Ahn Jin-hyeong (Hangul: 안진형); November 1, 1959) is a South Korean actor. Ahn has been active in theater, film and television since 1986. His onscreen roles include both comedic and villainous sup ...

Yi San-hae Yi Sanhae (; 20 July 1539 – 1609) was a Korean politician, scholar, writer and poet of the Joseon period who came from the Hansan Yi clan. He served as the Chief State Councilor of Joseon from 1590 to 1592 and 1600. Yi was a member of the poli ...

*Song Min-hyung as Yoo Seung *Lee Chung as Yoo Ja-shin *Kim Bang-won as Kang Jin-yeol *Ji Seo-yoon as Hong Sook-yong *Won Deok-hyun as Prince Sinseong *Seo Hyunseok as

Prince Jeongwon Wonjong of Joseon or Prince Jeongwon (2 August 1580 – 2 February 1619) was a prince during the Joseon dynasty. He was a son by a concubine to the Joseon dynasty's 14th monarch, king Seonjo, and half brother of king Gwanghaegun and father of k ...

**Park Joon-mok as young Prince Jeongwon *

Joo Jin-mo Joo Jin-mo (born Park Jin-tae on 26 September 1974), is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his leading roles in the films '' Happy End'' (1999) in which he won Grand Bell Awards for Best Supporting Actor, ''200 Pounds Beauty'' (2006), ...

Jeong Cheol Jeong Cheol (Hangul: 정철, Hanja: 鄭澈; 18 December 1536 – 7 February 1594) was a Korean statesman and poet. He used the pen-names Gyeham (계함) and Songgang (송강), and studied under Kim Yunjae at Hwanbyeokdang. He was expelled by the ...

Lee Byung-joon Lee Byung-joon (; born January 27, 1964) is a South Korean actor. Active in film, television and theater since 1985, Lee is best known for his supporting roles in '' A Bloody Aria'' (2006), '' Highway Star'' (2007), and ''Eye for an Eye'' (2008) ...

as Kim Gong-ryang *Min Song-ah as Court Lady Park *

Lee Soon-jae Lee Soon-jae (; born November 16, 1934) is a South Korean actor. He has had a prolific career on the small and big screen spanning over six decades, and was given a second-class Eungwan Order of Cultural Merit for his work as an actor. Early an ...

as Baek Kyung *

Kim Myung-gon Kim Myung-gon (born December 3, 1952) is a South Korean actor, screenwriter and music director. He is best known for starring in and writing the screenplay of Korean film classic ''Seopyeonje'', for which he won Best Actor at the 1993 Blue Drago ...

as Eunuch Song *

Lee Ki-young Lee Ki-young (born August 26, 1963) is a South Korean actor. His notable roles include ''Marathon'' (2005), ''A Bittersweet Life'' (2005), and ''Love Me Not'' (2006). Filmography Film * '' Night in Paradise'' (2020) * ''How to Steal a Dog' ...

as Go San *

Choi Cheol-ho Choi Cheol-ho (; born 2 March 1970) is a South Korean actor. He rose to fame after appearing in the hit drama ''Queen of Housewives'' (also known as ''My Wife is a Superwoman'', 2009). Other notable roles include King Seonjo in '' The Immortal L ...

Jeong Yeo-rip Jeong Yeo-rip (korean:정여립; hanja:鄭汝立, 1546 - 1589) was a Korean politician of the Joseon period. His pen name was Jukdo, and his courtesy name name was Inbaek. Popular culture * Portrayed by Ahn Nae-sang in the 2004-2005 KBS1 TV seri ...

*Yoon Jin-ho as Seo Yong *Lee Sang-in as Jin Young *Im Soo-hyun as Song Wol *Park Jae-min as Bong Du *Choi Kang-won as Oh Gil *Jung Moon-yup as Sam Gil *Oh Eun-ho as Court lady Oh *Go In-beom as Jang Soo-tae *Baek Jae-jin as Mu Cheol *Yoon Bit-na as Kyung San *Kim Yeol as Kap-yi *Kim Seo-jung as Yeon-joo

Awards and nominations

Plagiarism controversy

On August 25, 2014, Jupiter Film, the production company of the 2013 film ''

The Face Reader ''The Face Reader'' (; lit. "Physiognomy") is a 2013 South Korean film starring Song Kang-ho as the son of a disgraced noble family who goes around Joseon and a ''gwansang'' expert. He is able to assess the personality, mental state and habits of ...

'', filed for an

injunction An injunction is a legal and equitable remedy in the form of a special court order that compels a party to do or refrain from specific acts. ("The court of appeals ... has exclusive jurisdiction to enjoin, set aside, suspend (in whole or in pa ...

in court for infringement of copyright and unfair competition against KBS, asking that the network not be allowed to air their unauthorized

remake A remake is a film, television series, video game, song or similar form of entertainment that is based upon and retells the story of an earlier production in the same medium—e.g., a "new version of an existing film". A remake tells the same ...

. According to Jupiter Film, they own the rights to the original script for ''The Face Reader'' with a " one source multi use" clause, for the express purpose of producing a film, a book series, and a television series based on the story about a face-reading fortuneteller who gets caught up in a political battle for the throne. The film sold 9 million tickets in 2013, and two books in the series (backstories for the characters in the film) have been released thus far. Jupiter Film said they approached KBS Media in 2012 about a 24-episode

TV drama In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-ge ...

adaptation of ''The Face Reader'' and handed over scripts and outlines, and mentioned ''

War of Money ''War of Money'' (; also known as ''Money's Warfare'') is a 2007 South Korean television drama series adaptation of Park In-kwon's comic of the same name. Starring Park Shin-yang and Park Jin-hee, it aired on SBS from May 16 to July 19, 2007 on ...

'' screenwriter Lee Hyang-hee as a good candidate for penning the remake. But KBS Media and Jupiter Film could not agree on terms and negotiations fell through. Jupiter Film alleged that after KBS Media backed out of the deal, the latter took the idea and made their own version, including hiring the screenwriter they'd suggested. KBS in turn issued the following statement: "''The King's Face'' is a totally different drama in people, era, and setting, with different plot and conflict structure, and mode of expression from ''The Face Reader''." While waiting for the court's final decision, KBS decided to go ahead with the production and made casting announcements. The court ruling in November 2014 was in KBS's favor, stating that there was no plagiarism involved.

International broadcast

Myanmar Myanmar, ; UK pronunciations: US pronunciations incl. . Note: Wikipedia's IPA conventions require indicating /r/ even in British English although only some British English speakers pronounce r at the end of syllables. As John C. Wells, Joh ...

– MRTV-4 (2015) *

Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...

– Channel 3 (January 10, 2017)

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:King's Face 2014 South Korean television series debuts 2015 South Korean television series endings Korean Broadcasting System television dramas Gwanghaegun of Joseon South Korean historical television series Television series by KBS Media