''Insu, the Queen Mother'' () is a 2011

South Korean historical television series South is one of the cardinal directions or compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both east and west. Etymology The word ''south'' comes from Old English ''sūþ'', from earlier Proto-Germanic ''*sunþaz ...

, starring Chae Shi-ra,

Hahm Eun-jung Hahm Eun-jung (born December 12, 1988), known professionally as Eunjung and also Elsie, is a South Korean singer and actress. In 1995, she won ''Little Miss Korea'' competition at the age of seven and debuted as a child actress in the same year ...

Kim Young-ho Kim Young-ho (born April 9, 1971 in Nonsan, Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea) is a South Korean foil fencer. At the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, he won the gold medal in individual foil, defeating Ralf Bissdorf of Germany Germany,, ...

Kim Mi-sook Kim or KIM may refer to: Names * Kim (given name) * Kim (surname) ** Kim (Korean surname) *** Kim family (disambiguation), several dynasties **** Kim family (North Korea), the rulers of North Korea since Kim Il-sung in 1948 ** Kim, Vietnamese ...

Baek Sung-hyun Baek Sung-hyun (; born January 30, 1989) is a South Korean actor. Career Baek Sung-hyun made his acting debut in the 1994 film ''I Wish for What Is Forbidden to Me'' when he was five years old. The child actor practically grew up onscreen, pla ...

and

Jeon Hye-bin Jeon Hye-bin (; ; born September 27, 1983), also known as BIN, is a South Korean actress, singer and model. In 2002, she began her career as singer of the short-lived, three-member girl group LUV. However, the group disbanded the following year ...

. Focusing on the fierce power struggle among three women in the royal court of the

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 r ...

, it aired from December 3, 2011 to June 24, 2012 on Saturdays and Sundays at 20:55 ( KST) time slot for 60 episodes. It was one of the inaugural

dramas Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has been c ...

on newly launched cable channel

jTBC JTBC (shortened from ''Joongang Tongyang Broadcasting Company'' (; stylized as jtbc) is a South Korean nationwide pay television network. Its primary shareholder is JoongAng Holdings, with a 25% stake. It was launched on 1 December 2011. JTB ...

. Chae Shi-ra reprised the role of Queen Insu; she previously played the same character in the 1998–2000 period drama ''

The King and the Queen ''The King and the Queen'' () is a 1998–2000 South Korean television series starring Im Dong-jin and Chae Shi-ra, along with Han Hye-sook, Lee Jin-woo and Ahn Jae-mo. It aired on KBS1 from June 6, 1998, to March 26, 2000, on Saturdays and Sund ...

'', also written by Jung Ha-yeon. She said she joined the series because she wanted to explore the character further, "This drama series focuses more on the ambitious side of Queen Insu, who dreams of becoming the absolute ruler of the Joseon Dynasty, and I liked the part."

Cast

* Chae Shi-ra as

Queen Insu Queen Sohye (舊1437-09-08 - 舊1504-04-27), of the Cheongju Han clan, was the only wife of Crown Prince Uigyeong. She never was the consort of a reigning king. Nevertheless, she was honored as Queen Insu (인수왕후) and later as Queen Dowager ...

(23–60) **

as Han Jung (the future Queen Insu) (1–23) *

as Lady Yun, later

Queen Jeonghui Queen Jeonghui (Hangul: 정희왕후, Hanja: 貞熹王后; 8 December 1418 – 6 May 1483), of the Papyeong Yun clan, was a posthumous name bestowed on the wife and queen of Yi Yu, King Sejo. She was Queen of Joseon from 1455 until her husband's ...

as Grand Prince Suyang, later

King Sejo Sejo of Joseon (2 November 1417 – 23 September 1468), personal name Yi Yu (Korean: 이유; Hanja: 李瑈), sometimes known as Grand Prince Suyang (Korean: 수양대군; Hanja: 首陽大君), was the seventh ruler of the Joseon dynasty of K ...

Crown Prince Uigyeong Crown Prince Uigyeong (; 3 October 1438 – 20 September 1457), personal name Yi Jang () and formerly called as Prince Dowon () was a Crown prince of the Korean Joseon Dynasty. He was the oldest son of Sejo of Joseon and Queen Jeonghui, also the o ...

(1–23) &

Seongjong of Joseon Seongjong of Joseon (19 August 1457 – 20 January 1495), personal name Yi Hyeol ( Korean: ; Hanja: ), was the ninth ruler of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. Before succeeding his uncle, King Yejong, he was known as Grand Prince Jalsan ( Korean ...

(40–54) (dual role) *

as Deposed Queen Yoon (23–54) **

Jin Ji-hee Jin Ji-hee (born March 25, 1999) is a South Korean actress. Career She began her career as a child actress, and is best known for her roles in the relationship drama '' Alone in Love'' (2006), the horror fairytale ''Hansel and Gretel'' (2007) ...

as Yoon Song-yi (the future Queen Yoon) (1–23) * Kim Ga-yeon as Lady Han, Prince Gyeyang's wife and Jung's older sister * Han In-soo as Kim Jongseo * Lee Kwang-ki as Grand Prince Anpyeong * Shim Yang-hong as Hwangbo In *

Choi Ji-na Choi Ji-na (born May 17, 1975) is a South Korean actress. She made her acting debut in 1995, and became best known as a supporting actress in television dramas, notably ''My Rosy Life'' (2005), ''A Happy Woman'' (2008), and ''My Too Perfect So ...

as Lady Yang Hye-bin, Sejong's concubine *

Jang Yong Jang Yong (born April 8, 1945) is a South Korean actor. Filmography Television series *'' Hold Me Tight'' (MBC, 2018) *''Our Gap-soon'' (SBS, 2016-2017) *''Five Enough'' (KBS2, 2016) *''Flower of Queen'' (MBC, 2015) *''Miss Korea'' (MBC, 2013) ...

Han Hwak Han Hwak (Hangul: 한확, Hanja: 韓確); 1400 1456), nicknamed Ganyijae (간이재), was a politician and a diplomat during the Joseon period of Korea. He served as Left State Councillor. Han Hwak is mostly known by his second daughter, the Que ...

* Kim Yong-hee as Gwon Ram * Kwon Ki-seon as Lady Shin, Song-yi's mother * Lee Deok-hee as Court lady Kim * Seo Yi-sook as Court lady Park * Baek Su-ho as Yoon-goo * Joo Min-soo as Yoon-woo *

Chae Sang-woo Chae Sang-woo (born March 31, 1999) is a South Korean actor. He began his acting career in 2008 as a child actor, notably in ''Deep Rooted Tree'' (2011). Filmography Film *''Wretches'' (2018) - Jo Seong-woo *'' The Huntresses'' (2014) - Sa-hyun ...

as King Danjong *

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 ''The Good, the Bad, the Weird'' () is a 2008 South Ko ...

as Han Myung-hoe * Yoo Ho-rin as Cho-sun * Jo Jung-eun as

Queen Jeongsun Queen Jeongsun (정순왕후 김씨; 2 December 1745 – 11 February 1805), of the Gyeongju Kim clan, was a posthumous name bestowed to the wife and second queen consort of Yi Geum, King Yeongjo, the 21st Joseon monarch. She was queen consort ...

, Danjong's wife *

Choi Won-hong Choi Won-hong (born December 14, 2000) is a South Korean actor. After discharged from the military in 2022, he signed a contract with Jung Man-sik Jung Man-sik (; born December 11, 1974) is a South Korean actor. His name is also romanized as ...

as Prince Jasan, later young King Seongjong (23–40) *

Jin Tae-hyun Jin Tae-hyun (born Kim Tae-hyun on February 15, 1981) is a South Korean actor. Personal life In December 2014, Jin announced his engagement to his ''Pure Pumpkin Flower ''Pure Pumpkin Flower'' () is South Korean television series starring Le ...

as King Yeonsan *

Jeon So-min Jeon So-min (; born April 7, 1986) is a South Korean actress, model and author. Jeon made her debut in 2004 with sitcom ''Miracle''. In 2006, she made her big-screen debut through the film, ''Cinderella''. Jeon played her first leading role in ...

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, ...

, Yeonsan's concubine * Hong So-hee as Queen Shin, Yeonsan's wife * Kwon Min as Heo Chim * Kang Cho-hee as Lady Gwon Suk-ui * Yoo Gyeom as Prince Hannam * Sunwoo Jae-duk as King Munjong *

Jeon Moo-song Jeon Moo-song (born September 28, 1941) is a South Korean actor. Jeon began his career on stage in the play 'Chunhyangjeon' in 1964 and has since been active in Korean theatre, film and television. In 1977, he performed as the title character ...

King Sejong Sejong of Joseon (15 May 1397 – 8 April 1450), personal name Yi Do (Korean: 이도; Hanja: 李祹), widely known as Sejong the Great (Korean: 세종대왕; Hanja: 世宗大王), was the fourth ruler of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. Initial ...

Noh Young-hak Noh Young-Hak (born April 1, 1993) is a South Korean actor. Filmography Television series Films Awards and nominations References External links * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Noh, Young-hak 1993 births Living people Male actors f ...

as Grand Prince Haeyang, later King Yejong *

Lee Yeon-doo Lee Yeon-doo (born Lee Hyun-kyung on June 20, 1984) is a South Korean actress. Personal life Lee and her non-celebrity boyfriend have been in a relationship for about a year and will be married on October 9, 2021. Filmography Television ser ...

Queen Ansun Queen Ansun (18 April 1445 – 3 February 1499) of the Cheongju Han clan, was the second wife and queen consort of King Yejong, the 8th Joseon monarch. She was queen consort from 1468, until her husband's death in 1469, after which she was honou ...

, Yejong's second wife * Yoon Joo as Se-seon

Ratings

* In this table, represent the lowest ratings and represent the highest ratings. * Cable/Pay TV usually have a relatively smaller audience compared to free-to-air TV/public broadcasters ( KBS, SBS, MBC and

EBS EBS may refer to: Broadcasting * EBS TV (Ethiopia) * Educational Broadband Service, US TV service * Educational Broadcasting System, South Korea ** EBS 1, a South Korean television channel * Emergency Broadcast System, former US Warning system ...

Awards and nominations

International broadcast

Media release

The series was released as a 3-DVD box set in Japan on March 22, April 26 and May 24, 2013 under

NHK Enterprises , also known as NHK, is a Japanese public broadcaster. NHK, which has always been known by this romanized initialism in Japanese, is a statutory corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee. NHK operates two terrestria ...

.References

External links

* * * {{IMDb title, 2458076 Korean-language television shows 2011 South Korean television series debuts 2012 South Korean television series endings JTBC television dramas Television series set in the Joseon dynasty South Korean historical television series Television series by Drama House