''The Treacherous'' (; lit. "Treacherous Subject" or "Treacherous Retainer") is a 2015 South Korean

period drama 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 romance film, romances, adventure f ...

film directed by

Min Kyu-dong Min Kyu-dong (born September 12, 1970) is a South Korean film director, screenwriter and film producer, producer. He made his feature directorial debut in horror film ''Memento Mori (film), Memento Mori'' (1999), followed by romantic comedy, roma ...

Plot

The story 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 ...

's tyrant king Yeonsan who exploits the populace for his own carnal pleasures, his seemingly loyal retainer who controls him and all court dealings, and a woman who seeks vengeance.

Cast

Ju Ji-hoon Ju Ji-hoon (born May 16, 1982) is a South Korean actor and model. His first leading role was in the 2006 hit drama ''Princess Hours''. His other notable works include ''The Devil'', '' Antique'', ''Mask'', '' Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds'' ...

as Im Sung-jae **

Seo Young-joo Seo Young-joo (born February 16, 1998) is a South Korean actor. He won Best Actor at the Tokyo International Film Festival The is a film festival established in 1985. The event was held biennially from 1985 to 1991 and annually thereafter. Alo ...

as young Im Sung-jae *

Kim Kang-woo Kim Kang-woo (born July 11, 1978) is a South Korean actor. He is best known from his roles in ''The Taste of Money'' and '' The Missing''. Career Kim Kang-woo majored in Theater and Film at Chung-Ang University. In early, Kim work as singer in 1 ...

Yeonsangun of Joseon Yeonsangun of Joseon or Prince Yeonsan of Joseon (23 November 1476 – 20 November 1506), personal name Yi Yung (Korean: 이융; Hanja: 李㦕), was the tenth ruler of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. Often considered the worst tyrant in Joseon's ...

Chun Ho-jin Chun Ho-jin (born September 9, 1960) is a South Korean actor. Early life Chun studied chemistry at Inha University but dropped out to pursue acting. His father Chun Gyu-deok was among the first generation of professional wrestlers in the countr ...

Im Sa-hong Im Sahong (; 1445–1506) was a Korean scholar official and member of the royal family of Joseon Dynasty. He was a close minister of King Yeonsangun of Joseon . His courtesy name was Iui (이의). Family * Great-Great-Grandfather ** Im Gun- ...

Lim Ji-yeon Lim Ji-yeon (born June 23, 1990) is a South Korean actress. After beginning her acting career in stage plays and short films, Lim made her feature debut in 2014 with a leading role in the erotic thriller '' Obsessed''. Early life Lim majored in ...

as Dan-hee **

Kim Hyun-soo Hyun-soo Kim (; ; born January 12, 1988) is a South Korean professional baseball outfielder for the LG Twins of the KBO League. He previously played for the Doosan Bears, and has also played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore O ...

as young Dan-hee *

Lee Yoo-young Lee Yoo-young (; born December 8, 1989) is a South Korean actress. She debuted in the film ''Late Spring is a 1949 Japanese drama film directed by Yasujirō Ozu and written by Ozu and Kogo Noda, based on the short novel ''Father and Daugh ...

as Seoljungmae *Song Young-chang as Ryu Ja-gwang *Jo Han-chul as

Park Won-jong Park Won-jong or Bak Wonjong (Hangul: 박원종, Hanja: 朴元宗; 1467 – 1510) was a Korean politician and soldier during the Joseon Dynasty, who served as Chief State Councillor from 1506 to 1510. He was a major leader of the Jungjong coup wh ...

Cha Ji-yeon Cha Ji-yeon is a South Korean actress and singer. She is known for her roles in dramas such as '' Scent of a Woman'', ''Taxi Driver'' and '' Remarriage & Desires''. She also appeared in movies ''The Treacherous'', '' Love, Lies'', ''Horror Stori ...

Jang Nok-su Royal Consort Suk-yong (, died 1506), of the Heungdeok Jang clan, was the consort of Yeonsangun of Joseon. She is often compared with Jang Hui-bin and Jeong Nan-jeong, two other women of the Joseon dynasty. After the overthrow of Yeonsangun, ...

Jang Gwang Jang Gwang (born January 5, 1952) is a South Korean actor in film and television. Filmography Film * ''Taste of Horror – Gym for Residents'' (TBA) * '' Air Murder'' (2022) * '' Sinkhole (2021) * ''White Day: Broken Barrier'' (2021) * ...

as Joseon prime minister *

Jung In-gi Jung In-gi (born September 12, 1966) is a South Korean actor. Jung made his acting debut in 1990, and has remained active in mainstream and independent film as well as television Television, sometimes shortened to TV, is a telecommunic ...

as Head of

Sungkyunkwan Sungkyunkwan was the foremost educational institution in Korea during the late Goryeo and Joseon Dynasties. Today, it sits in its original location, at the south end of the Humanities and Social Sciences Campus of Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul ...

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 ...

as Butcher Mr. Kim *Ryu Seon-young as wife of the head of Sungkyunkwan *Seo Ji-seung as daughter of the Prime Minister *Kim Jong-gu as Nobleman Jo *Son Young-hee as Sweet Briar,

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 ...

from

Miryang Miryang (perhaps pronounced as Milbeol using Idu script), formerly also spelled as 推火郡 (probably pronounced as Milbeol or Miribeol using Idu script), Milbeol (密伐) and Milseong (密城), is a city in Gyeongsangnam-do Province, South Ko ...

*Choi Ye-yoon as So-hyang, Yonggonggak gisaeng * Kim Ji-young as Mother of

Deposed Queen Lady Yun Deposed Queen Yun of the Haman Yun clan (15 July 1455 – 29 August 1482) was the second wife of Yi Hyeol, King Seongjong and the mother of Yi Yung, Prince Yeonsan. She was Queen of Joseon from 1476 until her deposition in 1479. She was an 11 ...

*Park Myung-shin as Queen's mother *

Moon Hee-kyung Moon Hee-kyung (born December 22, 1965) is a South Korean actress. Moon made her acting debut in musical theatre in 1995. She has also played supporting roles in films and television series, notably ''Skeletons in the Closet'' (also known as ''S ...

as Discipline

sanggung was an official title of the senior 5th rank (; ), the highest attainable for ''gungnyeo'', a lady-in-waiting during the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. Female officers with the title were assigned to govern the inner affairs of the palace. When a regul ...

*Kim Seon-ha as only daughter of nobleman Jo * Go Kyung-pyo as Grand Prince Jinseong *

Jung Man-sik Jung Man-sik (; born December 11, 1974) is a South Korean actor. His name is also romanized as ''Jeong Man-sik'' or ''Joung Man-sik''. Filmography Film Television series * ''Jungle Fish 2'' (KBS2, 2010) * '' Athena: Goddess of War'' (SBS, ...

as Assassin *

Shim Eun-jin Shim Eun-jin ( ko, 심은진; born February 6, 1981) is a South Korean singer and actress. She was a member of South Korean girl group Baby V.O.X. Career Shim Eun-jin launched her singing career in 1998 as a member of Baby V.O.X, one of the m ...

as Yonggonggak owner *

Choi Il-hwa Choi Il-hwa (born May 9, 1959) is a South Korean actor. He joined the Madang Sesil Theatre Group in 1983, and has since continued acting in Korean theater, television and film. Filmography Film *'' No Tomorrow (2016) *'' Wonderful Nightmare'' ...

as Kim Il-son *

Jeon Yeo-been Jeon Yeo-been (; born Jeon Bo-young on July 26, 1989) is a South Korean actress. Jeon rose to prominence for her performance in the independent film ''After My Death'' (2018) which earned her the Actress of the Year Award at the 22nd Busan Int ...

as Woman having queen’s fate by Physiognomy

Reception

Box office

The film has grossed () from 1.11 million admissions at the South Korean box office.

Awards and nominations

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Treacherous, The 2015 films 2015 drama films 2010s historical drama films 2010s Korean-language films Films directed by Min Kyu-dong Films set in the Joseon dynasty Lotte Entertainment films South Korean historical drama films 2010s South Korean films