Cast stills from sageuk romance Princess’s Man
by javabeans
“Sageuk Romeo & Juliet” is the in-a-nutshell description of Princess’s Man, the upcoming KBS drama that stars Park Shi-hoo (Queen of Reversals) and Moon Chae-won (It’s Okay, Daddy’s Girl) as Joseon-era star-crossed lovers.
The setup for their doomed romance: ambition over the throne, natch. It’s pretty much the basis of 99% of sageuk dramas, and for good reason, since it provides the perfect foundation for an epic story with all its attendant power grabs, secret plots, assassination attempts, and political intrigue. Moon plays Princess Se-ryung, whose father, Grand Prince Su-yang (played by Kim Young-chul, the shady Baek San of IRIS), covets the crown. (Historically, he eventually got it and became King Sejo.)
The ambitious Su-yang meets with fierce opposition from his enemy, the high-ranking minster of the left, Kim Jong-seo (played by Lee Soon-jae), whose youngest son Seung-yoo (that’s Park Shi-hoo) falls in love with the princess.
But it’s not a proper K-drama without the necessary romantic complications, is it? Two secondary leads: Romeo’s childhood friend and Juliet’s cousin, both pictured at the bottom of the page.
The former will be played by Song Jong-ho, who I grew fond of as the second lead in Will It Snow For Christmas, particularly with his expressive eyes. He plays the well-educated and high-born Shin Myun, who’s a good-natured rival to hero Seung-yoo. He becomes a judicial official and leader of soldiers.
Meanwhile, Hong Soo-hyun follows up her comic performance as bitchy-but-caring (kinda) So-ran in Lie To Me with the role of Princess Kyung-hye, niece to Grand Prince Su-yang and cousin to heroine Se-ryung. Through Su-yang’s actions, her status falls to rock bottom, and she confronts her “tragic fate.”
Both Park Shi-hoo and Moon Chae-won have sageuk experience, with Park previously playing a nobleman’s son in 2008’s Iljimae and Moon making a splash as the gisaeng in love with the girl-dressed-as-a-boy played by Moon Geun-young in Painter of the Wind. To be perfectly honest, I don’t think those were exactly the best performances for either actor (though they were gorgeous in the dramas), and they’ve both made marked improvements in the last three years. So I’m putting hope in that, since I could do with a nice sageuk after all the the recent trendies, and am always game for a reimagining of Romeo & Juliet. In fact, the story’s so familiar that for me, the reinterpretations are more exciting than the original anyway.
The drama’s aiming for designation as a “well-made sageuk” — and while that terminology sounds a little odd in English (one would hope every drama is attempting to be well made), the Korean term refers to high production value and superior screen quality, a la Painter of the Wind. It doesn’t really refer to popularity or fan response; for instance, the highly popular Iljimae was the ratings hit, but it’s the lush Return of Iljimae that gets called “well-made.”
Princess’s Man will follow Romance Town, and premieres July 20.
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Tags: Hong Soo-hyun, Moon Chae-won, Park Shi-hoo, Song Jong-ho, The Princess's Man
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1 Pikachu
June 25, 2011 at 8:18 PM
Park!Shi!Hoo!
and he ISNT the SECOND MALE LEAD
Oh YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH
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jandoe
June 25, 2011 at 9:51 PM
where's the 'like' button to like this comment!
:P
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GrandmaFran
June 26, 2011 at 12:16 AM
LIKE LIKE LIKE!!!!!
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2 Arhazivory
June 25, 2011 at 8:32 PM
Wow. Such pretty pictures. XD
I was racking my brain trying to remember what this drama was named...so I'm glad to see this post. July craze, here I come. -_-'
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3 Cynthia
June 25, 2011 at 8:34 PM
Sageuk = Mane(s) of Glory!
It's time. Bring it on!
:)
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4 ohemgee
June 25, 2011 at 8:40 PM
i'll have to decide between sageuks... warrior baek dong soo or the princess' man?!!!
i'm leaning toward WBDS right now, but we'll see!
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han
June 25, 2011 at 9:20 PM
Warrior Baek Dong Soo will definitely better.
But that might be my Yoo Seung Ho bias talking.
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mooses
June 25, 2011 at 9:54 PM
It is.
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:D
June 26, 2011 at 9:58 PM
i think princess' man...
the casting's a little weird for WBDS.
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5 sup super supper
June 25, 2011 at 9:17 PM
YES. I think this may have to be my first sageuk. I don't know if I'm more excited or nervous.
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6 girlatsea
June 25, 2011 at 9:20 PM
Park Shi-hoo looks so gorgeous in the first picture.
July is raining dramas!! It's like May all over again. Seriously, I so far behind on all of them too (Best Love, Romance Town, never finished Baby-faced Beauty, gave up on Lie to Me).. City Hunters the only one I'm watching now. I don't have time for them but I'll probably watch them anyway.
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jjang
June 26, 2011 at 12:41 PM
LOL.
I still haven't finished Best Love and I'm so behind on City Hunter and Romance Town. I couldn't even get past the first episode for Lie To Me or Baby-faced Beauty.
Now there's also You've Fallen For Me, Spy Myung-wol, and The Princess's Man!
I haven't seen so much at a time in a drama moon! T-T
I like Park Shi Hoo's mane of glory (Yoo Ah In's will forever be in my heart! XOXO) but I actually like him in his hat better; It reminds me of his Iljimae days.
I just hope this drama won't end in Park Shi Hoo dying. Oh, the nolstagia! I want to watch Iljimae now.
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7 bluelime
June 25, 2011 at 9:45 PM
thanks for posting this! =)
park shi hoo <3
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8 maechan
June 25, 2011 at 9:47 PM
I'm so happy this premieres in July, after my college madness... 'cause yeah, here 1st semester ends on July... so I'll be able to watch lovely Park Shi Hoo :D yay!
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9 Bellamafia
June 25, 2011 at 9:51 PM
Just don't have a tragic ending, pleaseeee! That guy is too handsome to die.. lols.
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10 missjb
June 25, 2011 at 10:11 PM
aww love shi hoo! I love song jong hoo itu. can't wait to watch this one!
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11 Janny
June 25, 2011 at 10:13 PM
Beautiful!!! :)
Miss PSH. Miss that smile. Oh lord I can't wait!!!!!
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12 MJP
June 25, 2011 at 10:33 PM
Park Shi-hoo,
Where is your cute kitty?
I admired all his/her pictures,
Even your house was pretty.
Park Shi-hoo,
I like you!
But that purple and blue,
It just isn't you!
Yuck! Through and through!
Park Shi-hoo,
I love your glorious mane!
I like you best in black hair,
But that hat is driving me insane!
I wonder if they will start selling online Kdrama "Mane of Glory"?
Just three easy payments of $19.95!
Call now!
1-888-GET-MANE!
That's right!
1-888-GET-MANE!
Ooh! I wanna get one!!!
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Ani
June 25, 2011 at 11:59 PM
Uh.... Wow. I gotta give it to those particular Beanies who are known for their poetic abilities here on DB. But wow. Mane of Glory/Park Shi-hoo poem huh? HAHAHA. Gotta give you props for that.
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Tottoro
June 26, 2011 at 6:01 AM
So we are called beanies?! I love that!
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:D
June 26, 2011 at 10:04 PM
lol i love how you tried to rhyme at first and then towards the end kinda gave up.
i love his mane too. i hope in the drama he'll be wearing it down a lot fighting bad guys and what not
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MJP
June 27, 2011 at 4:18 PM
I am NOT a poet! :-)
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13 amymoon
June 25, 2011 at 10:41 PM
can't July 20th come soon enough?!!!
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14 diy
June 25, 2011 at 10:45 PM
can't wait. i will definitely be watching warrior beak dong soo too where i'll probably be torn apart to watch yoo seung ho and ji chang wook try to hurt each other. but more excited for this.
and looking forward to watch song jong-ho after will it snow..another underrated actor, hope this drama will give him the exposure he deserves.
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15 autumnscribbles
June 25, 2011 at 11:02 PM
I think I am more psyched about the upcoming patch of dramas than I was with the May offerings. Heartstrings, Spy Myung Wol, and now Princess's Man...can't wait.
Song Jong-ho, I didn't really think much of him in WISFC, but he looks mighty gorgeous in sageuk garb...ooh I want to see him donning the Mane of Glory too, and then he can have some sort hair duel with Park Shi-hoo, preferably in the rain...and shirtless. Muahahaha
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16 Dara
June 25, 2011 at 11:22 PM
Nop, tragic love story not my cup of tea, no matter how well made that would be. Aww...but really beautiful hanboks she wears.
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17 Lilly
June 25, 2011 at 11:38 PM
Love the actor. Have to see it for sure.
Hoping he does not die in it.
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18 churasan
June 26, 2011 at 12:28 AM
Yay! I've been waiting for another historic romance drama for a long time now (since Dong Yi ended). This is one that I'll definitely check out. I loved Park Shi-Hoo in Prosecutor Princess and Iljime, so looking forward to seeing him again!
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19 YY Chats with Toast Between Bites
June 26, 2011 at 12:41 AM
Park shi-hoo oo oo
I love you I do oo oo
Please don't die oo oo
Or I'll cry boo hoo hoo
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MJP
June 26, 2011 at 10:56 AM
LOL! Good one YY!
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:D
June 26, 2011 at 10:05 PM
love me do? hahaha
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Rovi
June 28, 2011 at 11:44 PM
Where's the "Like" button when you need
to abuseit?XD
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20 ashtoh
June 26, 2011 at 1:56 AM
i am really REALLY ANTICIPATING this drama.
first, i am a BIG fan of Moon Chae Young esp in Take Care of the Young Lady. i thought she portray the character very well..
secondly, i am BIG fan for Park Shi Hoo since Iljimae *woot* *woot* and then Prosecutor Princess *argh*.
and both of them now pair up as couple. why i should miss this?? hhahaha anyway, cant wait!! ^^
*smiling smiling*
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21 mrskimchee
June 26, 2011 at 3:23 AM
yayyy!! Park Si Hoo!!!! enuff reason to watch this!
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22 kellie
June 26, 2011 at 3:48 AM
As usual it's the experienced supporting actors that interest me. Of the leads I only know pretty Moon Chae-won and haven't been impressed by her. Anybody read what Lee Soon-jae said recently about the callow youth casting of K-dramas and audiences just "putting up with it"? It goes double for sageuk.
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23 niKai
June 26, 2011 at 4:10 AM
is Park Shi hoo a heavy smoker? that's what his dark lips are saying. Or maybe i'm generalizing.
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Pikachu
June 26, 2011 at 4:42 AM
unfortunately
>.<
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:D
June 26, 2011 at 10:06 PM
is he really? awww man :(
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TT
June 27, 2011 at 1:20 PM
No, he's not!
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24 rozes08
June 26, 2011 at 7:00 AM
'romeo and juliet' , " doomed romance " hopefully it will not have a sad ending
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25 Jessika Paul
June 26, 2011 at 7:01 AM
Love the actor. Have to see it for sure. Hoping he does not die in it.
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Maho
June 26, 2011 at 2:24 PM
Well...It is a Romeo and Juliet-esq story and it is a sageuk...so he's as good as dead.
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Rovi
June 28, 2011 at 11:50 PM
OMG~!
So straightforward and prank...yet so true...
...so let us stockpile our tissues on the last episode...
I am already anticipating sasa... (the "execution-by-poison" we're so already familiar with...:P)
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Rovi
June 28, 2011 at 11:52 PM
...or, as I thought later, Mishil-style suicide a la episode 50 (no Bidam character barging in, OK?)
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26 YBisTOP
June 26, 2011 at 8:15 AM
OMO!! I can't wait!! Both the main characters are good looking. I'm gonna have to skit work for this!! Lol
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27 Flibbet
June 26, 2011 at 9:09 AM
I fell in love with moon chae won in painter and can't wait to see her here!
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28 sb
June 26, 2011 at 9:52 AM
Park Shi-hoo's draw is difficult to interpret. I would never think he was attractive based on photos alone, but he exudes charisma on-screen.
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29 jomo143
June 26, 2011 at 11:01 AM
PSH and MCW.
Pretty pretty.
He will be carrying this whole drama, won't he? He has to be fabulous from the git-go.
I am not saying that the only reason I watched ROI was JIW, because the supporting cast was amazing and compelling and beautiful. But the reason I LOVED ROI was JIW's face on screen as much as possible.
I am shallow that way.
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30 Usi
June 26, 2011 at 11:04 AM
Why people still thinking Romeo & Juliet is romantic? It's blood & thunder o_O. Too bad, otherwise I had tried that drama.
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mochi~
June 26, 2011 at 1:42 PM
You're right, it's not romantic... that's why it's called "The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet."
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Kayleigh
June 26, 2011 at 2:23 PM
Because doomed love is considered romantic. That's why the so-called "love triangle" works so well - because the only thing audiences love more than two people finding love together is people torn apart tragically by circumstance.
I for one would like to thank the Korean television industry for putting Park Shi-hoo back in period costume.
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:D
June 26, 2011 at 10:08 PM
romeo and juliet is messed up. if i recall...they're only like 15 or something....
hopefully the leads don't die in the drama like R & J did...
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31 YY Chats with Toast Between Bites
June 26, 2011 at 8:00 PM
I hope this show won't end the way Romeo and Juliet did, ending their lives because of parental disapproval. If it's a tragedy, then I hope they are parted through honourable death in battle rather than through taking their own lives. Suicide is never a way out ,and it leaves such pain behind.
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32 songielove
June 26, 2011 at 10:46 PM
I love his PSH's cute twitter updates on his take in this drama. Haha. I usually don't look forward to my birthday each year, but this year i totally am!!!-- Park Shi Hoo will have me busy drooling over the premiere episode. Everything about this man eludes some kind of unexplainable cute sexiness-- before discovering PSH, i never thought cute and sexy could be related. 0.0 This is my #1 awaiting summer drama! woohoo ^^
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33 Noon0201
June 27, 2011 at 6:25 AM
I think Moon Chae Won is really beautiful here.
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34 Lucky moon
June 28, 2011 at 10:28 AM
Park shi hoo reminds me with his role in lljimae.
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35 Rovi
June 28, 2011 at 8:26 PM
They're pretty as a saegeuk couple...
Though comments on MCW's wardrobe designer:
Her hanbok's pretty, no opposition, but the design is lacking in essentials...royal essentials, specifically...
Sure, the geumbak (the gold-leaf in hanbok) is there (and hair accessories...ummm, no question(?)), but why is the royal po (royal circular patch; the one with the dragon) missing?!! She's a princess, right? Did the drama even specify which type of princess is she?
-gongju - Princess as daughter of the King and his Queen Consort
-ongju - Princess as daughter of the King and one of his concubines
...unless MCW's char. was demoted...?
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Rovi
June 28, 2011 at 11:39 PM
No, now I get the MCW's hanbok...
MCW's char. is still the daughter of the Grand Prince Suyang in this shots (I think)...and being either the son (just "Prince" (gun), since he can't inherit his father's title) or daughter of a Grand Prince doesn't account to anything that much...
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36 Rovi
June 28, 2011 at 11:41 PM
Rant add: I hope this show doesn't have this overly-cliched dialogue...
"O Kim Seung-yoo, Kim Seung-yoo! wherefore art thou the son of the Left Minister?
Deny thy royal father (aba mama) and refuse the Royal Family (wang-shil)
Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,
And I'll no longer be a Jeonju Yi (the royal Yi clan are from the Jeonju bongwan)."
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37 Kgrl
June 30, 2011 at 12:09 PM
Please, please let the script and production values be as good as they claim. I really need one of my leading ladies to steal the show this year.
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38 shadi
July 26, 2011 at 10:28 AM
Park si hoo is the beste actor.i love you so much.
Busy
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39 nanaluvhyunjoong
September 5, 2011 at 5:15 AM
This drama was totally awesome..DAEBAK!!!!!!!
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