The King in Love

The King in Love () is a 2017 South Korean historical drama directed by Kim Sang-hyeop with screenplay by Song Ji-na, Park Chan-kyung and No Sun-jae, based on the novel of the same name by Kim Yi-ryung. It starred Im Si-wan, Im Yoon-ah and Hong Jong-hyun. The pre-produced drama aired on MBC from July 17 to September 19, 2017, on Mondays and Tuesdays at 22:00 (KST) time slot.

Synopsis
Set in the Goryeo dynasty, it tells the story of a young and ambitious monarch named Wang Won (Im Si-wan) with a desire to conquer, and two people who shape his destiny; childhood friend Wang Rin (Hong Jong-hyun) and a beautiful young woman named Eun San (Im Yoon-ah). These three get to know each other and become the closest of friends but feelings of affection and love arise between these three. The young Crown Prince, falls in love with the young woman Eun San and would do anything to save her. He comes to love her more than himself. But on the other hand, his childhood friend Wang Rin also fell in love with Eun San at first sight. Even though he loves her so much, he still hid his affection for her because of his duty to his Crown Prince and because he doesn't want to hurt his best friend's feelings. But the time came when Eun San realizes her feelings for Rin and vice versa.

Cast

Main
 Im Si-wan as Crown Prince Wang Won
 Nam Da-reum as young Wang Won
 Moon Woo-jin as child Wang Won
 Song Min-jae as child Wang Won
The crown prince of Goryeo; Korea's first royalty of mixed heritage; grandson of Kublai Khan.
 Im Yoon-ah as Eun San, Princess Hyeonae / So-hwa
 Lee Seo-yeon as young Eun-san
The strong-willed daughter of a wealthy nobleman, who possesses striking beauty and deadly charm. She hides her identity in order to survive. She started to return Wang Rin's feelings.
 Hong Jong-hyun as Wang Rin
 Yoon Chan-young as young Wang Rin, Marquess Sujeong
Won's childhood friend; an elegant and refined man with an upright nature. He started to fall in love with Eun-san. 
 Oh Min-suk as Song In

Supporting

Royal Family
 Jeong Bo-seok as King Chungnyeol, 25th king of Goryeo, Wang Won's father
 Jang Young-nam as Princess Wonseong (Qutlugh Kelmysh Beki), Kublai Khan's daughter; Chungnyeol's wife & Wang Won's mother
 Kim Bo-ra as young Princess Wonseong
 Kim Byung-chun as Choi Se-yeon, Princess Wonseong's eunuch
 Kim Jae-woon as In-hu / Hulatai
 Min Young-won as Court Lady Jo, Princess Wonseong's court lady
 Baek Song-yi as Princess Wonseong's female bodyguard

Wang Won's side
 Kim Jeong-wook as Eunuch Kim, Wang Won's attending eunuch
 Bang Jae-ho as Jin-kwan, Wang Won's bodyguard 
 Ki Do-hoon as Jang Ui, Wang Won's bodyguard

Wang Rin's side
 Kim Ho-jin as Wang Young, Marquess Seowon; Wang Rin's father
 Park Hwan-hee as Wang-Dan, Wang Rin's younger sister who has a crush on Wang Won
 Yoon Jong-hoon as Wang Jeon, Marquess Seoheung; Wang Rin's elder brother

Eun San's side
 Lee Ki-young as Eun Young-baek, Eun San's father
 Um Hyo-sup as Lee Seung-hyu, Eun San's teacher
 Park Ji-hyun as Bi-Yeon, Eun San's personal maid 
 Song Soo-hyun as young Bi-yeon
 Kim Jung-hak as Goo Hyung

Song In's side
 Choi Jong-hwan as Song Bang-young, Song In's cousin.
 Choo Soo-hyun as Shi Moo-bi / Ok Boo-yong, a doctor who is also Song In's girlfriend who spies the king after seducing him.
 Park Young-woon as Moo-suk, the man with the snake tattoo.

Others

 Ahn Se-ha as Gae-won
 Moon Won-joo as Senior guard Shik
 Kim Kyung-jin as Yum-bok
 Moon Jung-soo as Dol-bae
 Kang Ye-sol as Princess Jeonghwa, King Chungnyeol's first wife
 Kim Sung-jae as Duke Gangyang
 Yoon Yoo-sun as Lady Kim
 Cha-yeop as Byung-soo
 Kang-hee as Sung-jae
 Oh Ki-hwan as Kwan-gun
 Lee Dae-seung as Jang-in
 Kim-Young as Hak-ja
 Park Jong-hyun as General Im
 Ha-min as Ahn San-daek
 Park Won-ho as Chul-koo
 Seo Beom-sik
 Jeon Heon-tae
 Yeom Jae-wook
 Kim Hwa-yeon
 Lee Han-wi
 Yeom Jae-wook
 Jeong Ji-hoon
 Kim Ki-tak
 Park Hye-jin

Production
 The series is one of a handful of youth sageuk set in production after the success of Love in the Moonlight (2016) starring Park Bo-gum and Kim Yoo-jung.
 Its first script reading took place on December 21, 2016 at MBC in Sangam, Seoul, South Korea. Filming commenced in late 2016 and concluded in June 2017. It is invested by Chinese company Tencent.

Original soundtrack

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

Ratings

Awards and nominations

Notes

References

External links
  
 The King in Love at Daum 
 

2017 South Korean television series debuts
2017 South Korean television series endings
Television shows written by Song Ji-na
MBC TV television dramas
South Korean historical television series
South Korean pre-produced television series
Television shows based on South Korean novels
Television series set in Goryeo
Television series set in the 13th century