''Insu, the Queen Mother'' () is a 2011 South Korean historical television series, 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, actress, model, host, entertainer, and lyricist. She began her career at the age of seven as an entertainer in 1995, when she wo ...

, Kim Young-ho,

Kim Mi-sook Kim Mi-sook (, born March 26, 1959) is a South Korean actress. Career Kim Mi-sook made her acting debut in 1979 and has since had a prolific career on television. Her notable roles in the 2000s include a divorcee making a new start in morning ...

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, pl ...

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 d ...

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

Joseon Dynasty Joseon ( ; ; also romanized as ''Chosun''), officially Great Joseon (), was a dynastic kingdom of Korea that existed for 505 years. It was founded by Taejo of Joseon in July 1392 and replaced by the Korean Empire in October 1897. The kingdom w ...

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

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

. 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 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 Sundays at 21: ...

'', 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 (16 October 1437 – 21 May 1504), 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 () and later as Queen Dowager Insu () du ...

(23–60) **

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

as Lady Yun, later

Queen Jeonghui Queen Jeonghui (; 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 death in 1468, after which she was hono ...

* Kim Young-ho as Grand Prince Suyang, later King Sejo *

Crown Prince Uigyeong Crown Prince Uigyeong (; 12 October 1438 – 29 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 th ...

(1–23) &

Seongjong of Joseon Seongjong (; 28 August 1457 – 29 January 1495), personal name Yi Hyeol (), was the ninth monarch of the Joseon, Joseon dynasty of Korea. Before succeeding his sickly uncle, Yejong of Joseon, King Yejong, he was known as Grand Prince Jalsan ( ...

(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. 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), the ...

as Yoon Song-yi (the future Queen Yoon) (1–23) *

Kim Ga-yeon Kim Ga-yeon (; born 9 September 1972), birth name Kim So-yeon, is a South Korean actress and former owner of the ''StarCraft II'' team SlayerS. Personal life In 2011, Kim entered into a common-law marriage Common-law marriage, also known ...

as Lady Han, Prince Gyeyang's wife and Jung's older sister * Han In-soo as Kim Jong-seo * Lee Kwang-ki as Grand Prince Anpyeong * Shim Yang-hong as

Hwangbo In Hwangbo In (1387–10 November 1453) was a Joseon Dynasty politician who was Chief State Councillor from 1450 to 1453 during the era of King Munjong and King Danjong. As the King Danjong was 12 years old when the latter succeeded as King, Hwan ...

* Choi Ji-na 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, 2 ...

Han Hwak Han Hwak (; 1400 1456), nicknamed Ganyijae (), 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 Queen Insu. She married the son of Prince ...

* 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 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'' (2008) and '' Insu, The Queen Mother'' (2011). ...

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

Queen Jeongsun Queen Jeongsun (; 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 of Joseon from 1759 ...

, Danjong's wife * Choi Won-hong as Prince Jasan, later young King Seongjong (23–40) *

Jin Tae-hyun Kim Tae-hyun (, born February 15, 1981), known professionally as Jin Tae-hyun (), is a South Korean actor. Personal life In December 2014, Jin announced his engagement to his '' Pure Pumpkin Flower'' co-star Park Si-eun. The couple got marrie ...

as King Yeonsan * Jeon So-min as Jang Nok-su, 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 (; 15 May 1397 – 8 April 1450), commonly known as Sejong the Great (), was the fourth monarch of the Joseon, Joseon dynasty of Korea. He is regarded as the greatest ruler in Korean history, and is remembered as the inventor of Hangu ...

Noh Young-hak Noh Young-hak (born April 1, 1993) is a South Korean actor. He began his career as a child actor, and has since appeared in several Korean drama, television series. Filmography Film Television series Web Awards and nominations Reference ...

as Grand Prince Haeyang, later King Yejong *

Lee Yeon-doo Lee Yeon-doo (; born June 20, 1984), birth name Lee Hyun-kyung, 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 Te ...

Queen Ansun Queen Ansun (; 27 April 1445 – 12 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 h ...

, 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).

Awards and nominations

International broadcast

Media release

The series was released as a 3-DVD box set in

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

on March 22, April 26 and May 24, 2013 under NHK Enterprises.

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 Joseon South Korean historical television series Television series by Drama House Cultural depictions of Sejong the Great