''Royal Family'' () is a 2011

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...

television series A television show – or simply TV show – is any content produced for viewing on a television set which can be broadcast via over-the-air, satellite television, satellite, or cable television, cable, excluding breaking news, television adverti ...

that explores the dark side of wealth and the power of love to fight the system.

Yum Jung-ah Yum Jung-ah (born July 28, 1972) is a South Korean actress. Her notable films include '' A Tale of Two Sisters'' (2003), ''The Big Swindle'' (2004), ''The Old Garden'' (2007), and ''Cart'' (2014), as well as the television series ''Royal Family ...

and

Ji Sung Ji Sung (born Kwak Tae-geun on 27 February 1977) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his roles in the television dramas '' All In'' (2003), '' Save the Last Dance for Me'' (2004), ''New Heart'' (2007), ''Protect the Boss'' (2011), ' ...

play two childhood friends who grow up supporting each other through poverty and all other obstacles, and when they meet again years later, stand by each other as they rise in society's ranks. It aired on MBC from March 2 to April 28, 2011 on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:55 for 18 episodes.

Plot

After marrying into a wealthy and powerful

chaebol A chaebol (, ; ) is a large industrial South Korean conglomerate run and controlled by an individual or family. A chaebol often consists of multiple diversified affiliates, controlled by a person or group whose power over the group often exc ...

family (considered by some as Korea's modern-day "royalty"), Kim In-sook's (

) life becomes a living hell. Looked down on by her in-laws as a gold-digging intruder, she's ignored and treated as a shadow for years. When her husband is killed in a helicopter accident, her mother-in-law (

Kim Young-ae Kim Young-ae (; 21 April 1951 – 9 April 2017) was a South Korean actress. Career Kim Young-ae began her acting career when she joined MBC's 3rd Open Recruitment in 1971. She made her acting debut in the TV police procedural ''Chief Inspe ...

) takes In-sook's son away. Enter Han Ji-hoon (

), the powerhouse new lawyer of the family, who knows In-sook from the past. Ji-hoon becomes determined to put a stop to the oppressive situation she's been in for 18 years. When In-sook finally decides that she has had enough and launches a bold plan to take over the family company, Ji-hoon will be there at her side, no matter what it costs him. The two begin to play a dangerous double game, but in the midst of their battle for survival, their hearts are drawn together in a passion that could cost them everything.

Cast

as Kim In-sook - She has a motherly heart for Ji-hoon and Hyun-jin, but a plan that is filled with vengeance. She isn't all she appears to be on the outside. *

as Han Ji-hoon - He has a tragic past that he doesn't remember, yet he overcomes his underprivileged childhood and becomes a competent prosecutor. He joins JK Group and sacrifices his all to help In-sook become the head of the conglomerate because he considers her his saviour. *

as Gong Soon-ho - The ruthless mother-in-law of Kim In-sook, and after her son's death takes custody of her grandson. She is a cold-hearted woman, even to her children, who believes cruelty is the only way she can teach them how to survive. However, she could never bear a betrayal from her own flesh and blood, and loves Hyun-jin whom she believes is coming into her own perfectly. * Cha Ye-ryun as Jo Hyun-jin - The youngest child and only daughter of Gong Soon-ho and her mother's favourite. She is unlike the rest of her scheming family. She is deeply saddened of her brother's death and was the only one to shed tears once her brother was pronounced dead in the hospital. Hyun-jin is also the only one to give In-sook the respect that she deserves. She is well liked by employees and others. She is in a constant battle with her sisters-in-law but they are no match for Hyun-jin's ability to look at the big picture. Instead of going head to head, Hyun-jin usually walks around the war that usually plagues her brother's and their wives, and by the time anyone notices Hyun-jin has already crossed the finish line. She resembles In-sook's heart with Soon-ho's smarts and ruthlessness, creating the perfect combination of a true JK woman. She has endured a lifetime of coldness from her mother, however she believes it is the cost of being her daughter. She takes over her mother's company in the finale and proves to be a very capable leader, using In-sook's kindness and her mother's cunningness. *

Jeon No-min Jun No-min (born Jun Jae Yong on August 28, 1966) is a South Korean actor. Among his recent roles were the villainous Hwarang warrior Seolwon in ''Queen Seondeok'', and the fictional independence fighter Damsari in '' Bridal Mask''. Filmograp ...

as Uhm Ki-do *

Jeon Mi-seon Jeon Mi-seon (December 7, 1970 – June 29, 2019) was a South Korean actress. Though best known as a supporting actress in films and television series such as '' Memories of Murder'' (2003), ''Moon Embracing the Sun'' (2012), and ''Hide and See ...

as Im Yoon-seo *

Seo Yoo-jung Seo Yoo-jung is a South Korean actress. She is known for her roles in dramas such as '' Forbidden Love'', ''Steal Heart'', '' Family's Honor'', '' Mr. Sunshine'', ''Royal Family'', ''If Tomorrow Comes'' and ''Bloody Heart ''Bloody Heart'' () ...

as Yang Ki-jung *

Ahn Nae-sang Ahn Nae-sang (born December 25, 1964) is a South Korean actor. He began his career on the stage, and in 1994 made his film debut in the Bong Joon-ho short film ''Baeksekin'' ("White Man" or "White-collar worker"), followed by Jang Sun-woo's ''B ...

as Jo Dong-jin * Kim Young-pil as Jo Dong-ho - the loving husband of In-sook and adoring brother of Hyun-jin. * Kim Jung-hak as Jo Dong-min *

Dokgo Young-jae Dokgo Young-jae (born Jeon Young-jae on December 13, 1953) is a South Korean actor. He made his film debut in 1973, and also became active in the Dongrang Theatre Ensemble. Dokgo won Best Supporting Actor for '' White Badge'' at the Blue Dragon ...

as Kim Tae-hyuk *

Shin Dong-ho Shin Dong-ho (born June 29, 1994) is a former South Korean singer who acquired fame as a singer of the boy group U-KISS. Dongho was the most active member of the group, appearing in a great many reality shows and other productions. He joined U ...

as Jo Byung-joon *

Ki Tae-young Ki Tae-young (born Kim Yong-woo on December 9, 1978) is a South Korean actor. Ki made his acting debut in 1997, and went on to play leading roles in the television dramas ''Creating Destiny ''Creating Destiny'' (; lit: ''Creating Relations'') ...

as Kang Choong-ki *

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as Kang Il-shik * Jo Sang-ki as James Dean *

Ryu Dam Ryu Dam (; born December 6, 1979), is a South Korean comedian and actor. He was a cast member in the variety show ''Law of the Jungle "The law of the jungle" (also called jungle law) is an expression that has come to describe a scenario wh ...

as Kkak-chi *

Kim Hye-ok Kim Hye-ok (born May 9, 1958) is a South Korean actress An actor or actress is a person who portrays a Character (arts), character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern m ...

as Seo Soon-ae *

Lee Chae-young Lee Chae-young (; born April 29, 1986) is a South Korean actress. She debuted in a music video called "Come On" by the Hip-hop group Turtles in 2003. The following year, she appeared in Rain's "I Do" music video and in 2007, Yoon Mi-rae's "Did Y ...

as Park Min-kyung *

Ha Yeon-joo Ha Yeon-Joo (born August 6, 1987) is a South Korean actress. She is also a member of Mensa International. Personal life Ha prepared to marry a non-celebrity boyfriend. They are scheduled to marry on June 20, 2021. Filmography Television ser ...

as Ji-eun *

Choi Yoon-so Choi Yoon-so (; born November 29, 1984) is a South Korean actress. She is notable for portraying the villainous and ruthless Koo Hae-joo in the daily drama series '' Unknown Woman''. Filmography Film Television series Television shows Mu ...

as Yoo Shin-ah *

Jeon Soo-kyeong Jeon Soo-kyeong (born July 12, 1966) is a South Korean actress. She is best known in musical theatre, and has starred in Korean productions of '' Mamma Mia!'', ''Chicago'', '' The Life'', ''Guys and Dolls'', ''Menopause'', and ''Kiss Me, Kate''. ...

as Carrie Kim * Min Joon-hyun as adviser * Kim Hyun-seok as Yoon-seo's sister *

Kim Yoo-ri Kim Yoo-ri (born August 29, 1984) is a South Korean actress. Career She starred in the television dramas '' Cheongdam-dong Alice'' (2012) and '' Master's Sun'' (2013). In September 2018, Kim signed with new management agency C-JeS Entertainm ...

as Go-eun * Peter Holman as Johnny Hayward *

Lee Da-hee Lee Da-hee (born March 15, 1985) is a South Korean model and actress. Her breakout role was in the 2013 SBS courtroom drama ''I Can Hear Your Voice.'' She is also known for her role as Kang Sa-ra in '' The Beauty Inside'' (2018) and Cha Hyeon i ...

as Prosecutor Lee Yoo Jin

Ratings

Source
TNS Media Korea

Awards and nominations

International broadcast

* – TVK Channel Weekends at 21:00 (Starting early 2016)

References

External links

''Royal Family'' official MBC website
* * {{Kim Young-hyun MBC TV television dramas 2011 South Korean television series debuts 2011 South Korean television series endings Korean-language television shows South Korean melodrama television series Television shows based on Japanese novels Television shows written by Kim Young-hyun