''Empress Myeongseong'' () is a 2001 and 2002 South Korean television series that 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, ...

Historical connection

Empress Myeongseong was considered as the last empress of Korea because of the

Eulmi Incident Empress Myeongseong or Empress Myungsung (명성황후 민씨; 17 November 1851 – 8 October 1895In lunar calendar, the Empress was born on 25 September 1851 and died on 20 August 1895), informally known as Empress Min, was the official wife ...

(also called Operation Fox Hunt).

Cast

Main

* Choi Myung-gil as

Empress Myeongseong Empress Myeongseong or Empress Myungsung (명성황후 민씨; 17 November 1851 – 8 October 1895In lunar calendar, the Empress was born on 25 September 1851 and died on 20 August 1895), informally known as Empress Min, was the official wife ...

(episodes 82-124) **

Lee Mi-yeon Lee Mi-yeon (born September 23, 1971) is a South Korean actress. Filmography Film Television series Variety show Music video Theater Discography Awards and nominations References External links * * * ...

(episodes 1, 10-81) ***

Moon Geun-young Moon Geun-young (; born May 6, 1987) is a South Korean actress. Affectionately called the "Nation's Little Sister," Moon began modeling at the age of 10, then made her acting debut in 1999 as a child actress. She first rose to stardom through he ...

as Min Ja-yeong (young Empress Myeongseong) * Lee Jin-woo as King Gojong ** Lee In as young Gojong *

Yoo Dong-geun Yoo Dong-geun (born June 18, 1956) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his leading roles in the historical television dramas ''Tears of the Dragon'', '' Empress Myseongseong'', and ''Yeon Gaesomun''. He was also an adjunct professor ...

Heungseon Daewongun Heungseon Daewongun (흥선대원군, 興宣大院君, 21 December 1820 – 22 February 1898; ), also known as the Daewongun (대원군, 大院君), Guktaegong (국태공, 國太公, "The Great Archduke") or formally Internal King Heungseon Heon ...

Supporting

Royal Family *

Kim Yong-rim Kim Yong-rim (born March 3, 1940) is a South Korean actress. Kim made her acting debut in 1961 and has since worked steadily in Korean drama Korean dramas (; RR: ''Han-guk deurama''), more popularly known as K-dramas, are television series ...

- Grand Royal Queen Dowager Jo *Kim Jeong-ha - Royal Queen Dowager Hong *Yoo Hye-young -

Queen Cheorin Queen Cheorin (27 April 1837 – 12 June 1878), of the Andong Kim clan, was queen consort of Joseon by marriage to King Cheoljong. She was known as Queen Dowager Myeongsun (명순대비) after the death of her husband and during King Gojong� ...

* Baek Seung-woo - Sungjong of Korea **

Lee Tae-ri Lee Tae-ri () (born Lee Min-ho; June 28, 1993) is a South Korean actor. He is well-known for his role as young Yang Myung in ''Moon Embracing the Sun'' (2012), Song Man-bo in ''Rooftop Prince'' (2012), Jung Joo-hwan in '' The Beauty Inside'' (20 ...

and

Kwak Jung-wook Kwak Jung-wook (born 12 June 1990) is a South Korean actor. Personal life On January 24, 2022, it was confirmed that Kwak and Park Se-young Park Se-young (; born July 30, 1988) is a South Korean actress. She rose to fame in 2012 with s ...

- young

Sunjong Sunjong, the Emperor Yunghui (; 25 March 1874 – 24 April 1926), was the second and the last Emperor of Korea, of the Yi dynasty, ruling from 1907 until 1910. Biography Crown Prince of Korea Sunjong was the second son of Emperor Gojong a ...

Lee Yu-ri Lee Yu-ri (Korean: 이유리; born January 28, 1981) is a South Korean actress. Lee first became known for her role in the teen drama series ''School 4'', and subsequently gained popularity with her role in the family drama ''Precious Family'' ...

Empress Sunmyeong Empress Sunmyeonghyo or literally known as Sunmyeong, the Filial Piety Empress (Hangul: 순명효황후, Hanja: 純明孝皇后; 20 November 1872 – 5 November 1904), of the Yeoheung Min clan, was the first wife and Crown Princess Consort of ...

Park Eun-bin Park Eun-bin (, born September 4, 1992) is a South Korean actress. A former child actress, she is known for her lead roles in the television series '' Hello, My Twenties!'' (2016–2017), '' Hot Stove League'' (2019–2020), ''Do You Like Brahm ...

and Kim Soo-yeong - young Empress Sunmyeong *Jung Seon-gyeong - Royal Consort Gwi-in of Gyeongju Yi clan *Lee Jae-eun - Royal Consort Gwi-in of the Deoksu Jang clan *

Kim Se-ah Kim Se-ah is a South Korean actress and model. She is known for roles in dramas such as ''Seoul 1945'', ''Janghwa Hongryeon jeon Janghwa Hongryeon jeon (literally ''The Story of Janghwa and Hongryeon'') is a Joseon-era Korean folktale. S ...

- Royal Consort Gwi-in of the Haeju Jeong clan * Seo Mi-ae - Imperial Noble Consort Sunheon of the Yeongwol Eom clan * Kang Seong-hyeon - Prince Wanhwa; Consort Yi Gwi-in’s son * Kang Seong-min - Prince Uihwa; Consort Jang Gwi-in’s son ** Kim Jong-ho and Lee Pung-woon - young Prince Uihwa * Lee Ju-eun - Kim Su-deok, Princess Consort Yeongwon; Prince Uihwa’s wife Palace/Inner Court * Hwang Beom-sik - Palace Lady Lee; Gojong’s servant * Lee Geon - Palace Lady Kang; Empress Myeongseong’s servant * Kim Bo-mi - Palace Lady Hong; Hong Gye-hoon’s younger sister *

Hong Yeo-jin Hong Yeo-jin (born February 5, 1958) is a South Korean actress. Hong's family immigrated to California, United States in 1977, and she began working as a broadcast announcer and commercial model in Los Angeles in 1978. She joined the Miss Korea ...

- Palace Lady Yun; Grand Queen Dowager Jo’s servant * Lee Ji-eun - Palace Lady of Junggung Hall * Yoon Yeong-ju - Palace Lady of Daejeon Hall * Choi Yeong-wan - Consort Yi Gwi-in’s servant *Hong Il-gwon - Hong Gye-hoon; Palace Lady Hong's elder brother Empress Myeongseong’s family/Yeoheung Min clan *

Sunwoo Eun-sook Sunwoo Eun-sook (born December 24, 1959) is a South Korean actress. Sunwoo made her acting debut in 1978, and rose to fame in the 1980s. Personal life Sunwoo married actor Lee Young-ha Lee Young-ha (born January 17, 1950) is a South Korea ...

- Lady Yi of Gamgodang; Min Ja-yeong's mother and Min Chi-rok's wife *Lee Do-ryeon -

Min Chi-rok Min Chi-rok (; 1799 – 17 September 1858), formally honoured as Internal Prince Yeoseong (). He also known as Duke Hyojeong () or Duke Sungan (), was a Korean political figure of the Joseon Dynasty. He was the father of Empress Myeongseong and th ...

; Min Ja-yeong’s father *Kim Hyo-won - Min Seung-ho; Empress Myeongseong’s adoptive older brother *Kim Seong-han - Min Gyeom-ho; Empress Myeongseong’s adoptive uncle *Hyeon Seok - Min Tae-ho; Empress Sunmyeong’s father * Kim Byeong-se - Min Gyu-ho *Kim Bong-geun - Min Yeong-wi *Kim Gwang-yeong - Min Yeong-ik; Empress Sunmyeong’s older brother *Kim Yeong-gi - Min Eung-sik

Unhyeon Palace Unhyeongung (), also known as Unhyeongung Royal Residence, is a former Korean royal residence located at 114-10 Unni-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea. It was formerly the residence of the Heungseon Daewongun a prince regent of Korea during the Joseo ...

*Lee Deok-hee - Min, the Consort Princess to the Prince of the Great Court (Heungseon Daewongun's wife; Gojong's mother)Formally known as "Grand Internal Yeoheung Princess Consort to the Grand Internal Prince, of the Yeoheung Min clan". *Han Beom-hee - Yi Jae-myeon * Ahn Seung-min -

Yi Jun-yong Yi Junyong (Hangul: 이준용, Hanja: 李埈鎔), known as Prince Yeongseon (영선군, 永善君) (23 July 1870 – 22 March 1917) was a politician, thinker, and member of the Korean Joseon Dynasty's royal family, politicians, and later became ...

; Heungseon Daewongun’s grandson and Gojong’s nephew * Jeong Jin-gak - Cheon Hui-yeon; Heungseon Daewongun’s henchman * Yoo Jong-geun - Jang Sun-gyu; Heungseon Daewongun’s henchman * Lee Gi-yeol - Ha Jeong-il; Heungseon Daewongun’s henchman * Jeong Jin-hwa - Ahn Pil-ju; Heungseon Daewongun’s henchman * Lee Gyeong-yeong - Heo Ok; Heungseon Daewongun’s henchman *

Kim Hyeseon Kim Hyeseon (born September 28, 1969) is a South Korean actress. She is best known for her leading role in the television drama ''First Wives' Club'' (2007–2008). Career Kim Hyeseon began modeling when she was in middle school. While att ...

- Chuwol; Heungseon Daewongun’s concubine * Lee Hyeon-gyeong - Ok San * Ki Jeong-su - Shin Cheol-gyun * Lee Won-yong - Ahn Gi-yeong * Lee Woo-seok - Yi Jae-seon

Imo Incident The Imo Incident, also sometimes known as the Imo Mutiny, Soldier's riot or Jingo-gunran in Japanese, was a violent uprising and riot in Seoul beginning on July 23, 1882, by soldiers of the Joseon Army who were later joined by disaffected member ...

* Kim Seong-hwan - Min Gyeom-ho; Grand Princess Min’s younger brother * Maeng Ho-rim - Kim Bo-hyeon * Lee Jae-yeon - Kim Chun-yeong * Kim Dae-hwan - Yoo Bok-man * Kim Jin-tae - Kim Jeong-son * Kim Ji-bok - Yoo Chun-man * Kim Tae-hyeong - Administrator Seon Hye-jeong * Yun Gwan-yong - Sim Sang-hun

Gapsin Coup The Gapsin Coup, also known as the Gapsin Revolution, was a failed three-day coup d'état that occurred in Korea during 1884. Korean reformers in the Enlightenment Party sought to initiate rapid changes within the country, including eliminatin ...

* Lee Byeong-ok -

Kim Ok-gyun Kim Ok-gyun (김옥균; 金玉均; February 23, 1851 – March 28, 1894) was a reformist (''Gaehwapa'', 개화파) activist during the late Joseon dynasty of Korea. He served under the national civil service under King Gojong, and actively pa ...

* Cha Cheol-su - Park Yeong-hyo * Lee Won-hui - Hong Yeong-sik * Hong Jeong-ok -

Seo Jae-pil Soh Jaipil or Seo Jae-pil (January 7, 1864 – January 5, 1951), also known as Philip Jaisohn, was a Korean- American political activist and physician who was a noted champion of the Korean independence movement, the first Korean naturalized cit ...

* Lee Gi-chil -

Yun Chi-ho Yun Chi-ho ( Korean: 윤치호, hanja: 尹致昊, 1864 – 1945) or Tchi ho yun was an important political activist and thinker during the late 1800s and early 1900s in Joseon Korea. His penname was Jwa-ong (좌옹, 佐翁); his courtesy name w ...

Donghak Peasant Revolution The Donghak Peasant Revolution (), also known as the Donghak Peasant Movement (), Donghak Rebellion, Peasant Revolt of 1894, Gabo Peasant Revolution, and a variety of other names, was an armed rebellion in Korea led by peasants and followers of ...

* Jeong Byeong-ok - Jeon Bong-jun * Lee Gye-yeong - Dong Hak-gun

* Hong Il-kwon - Hong Gye-hoon; Palace Lady Hong’s older brother and palace bodyguard who protected Empress Myeongseong at the time of the Imo Incident and gained trust. After that, he continued to protect Empress Myeongseong, but was killed while resisting the Japanese during the Eulmi Incident. * Kim Jun-mo - Lee Gyeong-jik * Oh Seong-yeol - Woo Beom-seon * Kim Bong-geun - Yun Seok-woon * Yun Tae-sul - Hullyeondae soldier Extended * Lee Yeong-hu - Prince Heungin; Heungseon Daewongun’s older brother * Eom Yoo-shin - Prince Heungin’s wife * Jeon In-taek - Lee Yong-ik * Kim Sang-sun - Jo Du-sun * Choi Sang-hun - Jo Yeong-ha; Grand Queen Royal Dowager Jo’s 5th cousin *

Song Jae-ho Song Jae-ho (born Song Jae-eon; 10 March 1937 – 7 November 2020) was a South Korean actor. Career He made his acting debut in 1959, and became best known for his work in 1970s and 1980s Korean cinema, notably ''Yeong-ja's Heydays'' (1975). S ...

Kim Jwa-geun Kim Jwa-geun () (1797 – 5 June 1869) was a Korean political figure from the Andong Kim clan, who held a number of high-ranking government positions in the late Joseon period, including Chief State Councillor at King Cheoljong's court. He was ...

; Queen Cheorin’s relative and head of the Andong Kim clan * Park Yeong-ji - Kim Byeong-hak * Jeong Seong-mo - Kim Byeong-gi; Kim Jwa-geun’s adoptive son * Park Cheol-ho - Kim Byeong-guk; Kim Byeong-hak’s younger brother * Im Byeong-gi - Kim Byeong-si * Kwon Ki-seon - Kim Byeong-si’s wife * Kim Ju-yeong - Lee Gyeong-ha * Heo Gi-ho - Yi Jae-won; Heungseon Daewongun’s nephew and Gojong’s cousin * Jeon Seong-hwan - Shin Heon * Yun Sun-cheol - Lee Yu-won * Yun Deok-yong - Hong Sun-mok; Father of Hong Young-sik. He commits suicide when his son is murdered in the Gapsin coup * Lee Shin-jae - Sim Soon-taek * Seo Kwon-sun - Sim Soon-taek’s wife * Park Chil-yong - Kang Ro * Kim In-tae - Shin Eung-jo * Yang Yeong-jun - Jeong Gi-hoe * Kim Gyeong-ha - Yang Hyeon-su * Yu Byeong-jun - Han Gye-won * Kang Man-hui - Yun Ung-ryeol * Heo Hyeon-ho - Park Gyu-su * Jang Gi-yong - Kim Yun-sik * Kim Hyeong-il - Eo Yun-jong * Kim Tae-gi - Kim Hong-jib * Kang In-gi - Yi Wan-yong * Lee Dae-ro - Choi Ik-hyeon * Kim Rin - Lee Gyeong-ha Japanese Legation Group * Lee Il-ung -

Kuroda Kiyotaka Count , also known as , was a Japanese politician of the Meiji era. He was Prime Minister of Japan from 1888 to 1889. He was also vice chairman of the Hokkaido Development Commission ( Kaitaku-shi). Biography As a Satsuma ''samurai'' K ...

* Seo Sang-ik -

Hanabusa Yoshitada , also known as Hanabusa Yoshimoto, was a Japanese politician, diplomat and peer. Biography Hanabusa was the eldest son of Hanabusa Tanren, a samurai retainer of Okayama Domain_and_the_first_mayor_of_the_city_of_Okayama.html" ;"title="DF_18_o ...

* Park Geun-hyeong -

Inoue Kaoru Marquess Inoue Kaoru (井上馨, January 16, 1836 – September 1, 1915) was a Japanese politician and a prominent member of the Meiji oligarchy during the Meiji period of the Empire of Japan. As one of the senior statesmen ('' Genrō'') in J ...

* Im Hyeok -

Miura Gorō Viscount was a lieutenant general in the early Imperial Japanese Army. Biography Miura was born in Hagi in Chōshū Domain (modern Yamaguchi Prefecture), to a '' samurai'' family with the name of Andō, but was adopted by the Miura that w ...

* Kim Byeong-gi - Okamoto Ryūnosuke * Yun Ju-sang -

Itō Hirobumi was a Japanese politician and statesman who served as the first Prime Minister of Japan. He was also a leading member of the '' genrō'', a group of senior statesmen that dictated Japanese policy during the Meiji era. A London-educated sa ...

* Kang Tae-gi -

Mutsu Munemitsu Count was a Japanese statesman and diplomat in Meiji period Japan. Early life Mutsu Munemitsu was born in Wakayama domain, Kii Province as the sixth son of Date Munehiro, a ''samurai'' retainer of the Kii Tokugawa clan. His father was acti ...

* Kim Ha-gyun -

Saionji Kinmochi Prince was a Japanese politician and statesman who served as Prime Minister of Japan from 1906 to 1908 and from 1911 to 1912. He was elevated from marquis to prince in 1920. As the last surviving member of Japan's '' genrō,'' he was the most ...

* Kim Sang-sun - Daekjoe Shinichiro * Lee Do-ryeon - Shiba Shirō/Tokai Sanshi * Kim Seong-ryeong - Michikko * Jeong Ui-gab - Japanese man Sasaki * Yang Jae-won - Japanese military officer Qing Dynasty figures * Nam Il-woo -

Li Hongzhang Li Hongzhang, Marquess Suyi ( zh, t=李鴻章; also Li Hung-chang; 15 February 1823 – 7 November 1901) was a Chinese politician, general and diplomat of the late Qing dynasty. He quelled several major rebellions and served in important ...

* Park Jin-seong -

Yuan Shikai Yuan Shikai (; 16 September 1859 – 6 June 1916) was a Chinese military and government official who rose to power during the late Qing dynasty and eventually ended the Qing dynasty rule of China in 1912, later becoming the Emperor of China. H ...

* Park Yong-sik - Ma Geon-chong * Park Gyeong-deuk - Wu Changqing * Kwon Hyeok-ho - Jeong Yeo-chang * Lee Cham - Mok In-deok Russian figures * ? -

Karl Ivanovich Weber Karl Ivanovich Weber (also Carl von Waeber; russian: Карл Иванович Вебер, – 8 January 1910) was a diplomat of the Russian Empire and a personal friend to King Gojong of Korea's Joseon Dynasty. He is best known for his 1885–1 ...

; He strives to expand Russian power in Joseon through the Imperial Russian Federation. When Empress Myeongseong leans toward her pro-Russia, she actively cooperates with it (discussing arms imports), but is consistent with a passive attitude when the Eulmi Incident takes place. Later, when the Agwan collapse occurred, he led the pro-Russian cabinet and tried to gain interest in Korea. * Kim Jin-ah - Sontak; German-Russian woman. Executioner of Weber and interpreter of the Imperial Russian Legation. She speaks fluent Russian in a scene where Prince Weber and Empress Myeongseong discuss arms imports. Britain figures * ? -

Isabella Bird Isabella Lucy Bird, married name Bishop (15 October 1831 – 7 October 1904), was a nineteenth-century British explorer, writer, photographer, and naturalist. With Fanny Jane Butler she founded the John Bishop Memorial Hospital in Srinagar i ...

; An English geographer and writer who wrote Korea and its neighbors, a story of her travels to Joseon. In the first scene of episode 1, a western woman played Isabella Budd Bishop, who is clumsy in the Joseon Dynasty, but eats rice with chopsticks. American figures * ? - Dayi; A foreign training instructor who disbanded a training unit trained by a Japanese military officer and took charge of training the newly created demonstrators. At the time of the Eulmi Incident, he led the protesters against the Japanese army, but was defeated and taken prisoner due to the inferiority of the troops.

Notes

* *

Two Empress Myeongseong Actresses

It was reported that Lee Mi-Yeon signed a contract with KBS for this drama for only 100 episodes. However, due to high viewership rates, KBS wanted to extend the episodes for more than 100 originally. Since Lee Mi-Yeon wanted to stick with the original contract, she refused to do more than 100 episodes. However, KBS said still extended Empress Myeongseong and had Choi Myung-Gil for the role. Lee Mi-Yeon's last episode was Episode 81 and Choi Myung-Gil started at Episode 82. The viewers should not be confused as Lee Mi-Yeon also had a death scene which is actually a music video for the OST.

Awards

;2001

KBS Drama Awards The KBS Drama Awards () is an awards ceremony presented by the Korean Broadcasting System The Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) () is the national broadcaster of South Korea. Founded in February 1927, it is one of the leading South Korean te ...

*Top Excellence Award, Actress:

*Best Supporting Actor: Kim Sung-hwan *Best Supporting Actress: Kim Bo-mi *PD of the Year Award: Yoon Chang-bum ;2002

Baeksang Arts Awards The Baeksang Arts Awards (), also known as the Paeksang Arts Awards, are awards for excellence in film, television and theatre in South Korea. The awards were first introduced in 1965 by Chang Key-young, the founder of the Hankook Ilbo newspap ...

*Best Actor in TV:

;2002

*Daesang/Grand Prize:

*Top Excellence Award, Actress: Choi Myung-gil

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Empress Myeongseong (TV series) Korean Broadcasting System television dramas 2001 South Korean television series debuts 2002 South Korean television series endings South Korean historical television series Television series by Samhwa Networks