The Man Who Became King confirms main pairing Yeo Jin-gu, Lee Se-young
by tineybeanie
The drama remake of multi-million dollar grossing film Gwanghae, The Man Who Became King (also known as Masquerade) has confirmed Yeo Jin-gu (Reunited Worlds) in the titular role, with Lee Se-young (Hwayugi) as his queen. After wavering between drama title names (Gwanghae, The Queen’s Man), it looks like they’ve settled on The Man Who Became King.
If you haven’t seen the movie yet (you should go see it, I highly recommend it), it’s essentially an eloquent prince-and-pauper story set in Joseon. In the drama, Yeo Jin-gu will play the dual roles of King Yi Heon (later known as Gwanghae) and peasant clown Ha-sun. After having lived his life constantly paranoid and on guard against palace intrigue and assassinations, Yi Heon will trade places with Ha-sun who looks exactly like him when a poisoning attempt goes too far (which varies from the plot of the film).
Ha-sun is an orphan who lost his biological parents to a plague, and he begged and wandered the country with his adopted sister, until they were almost at death’s door from starvation. An acting troupe saved them, and ever since then, he’s been a clown-actor who fears nothing on the stage. By a series of circumstances, he ends up as a fake king on the Jade Throne, and despite his best efforts, he falls for the king’s wife, Queen So-woon, played by Lee Se-young.
Yi Heon, who had never known love from his parents, found peace when he married So-woon. However, due to his paranoia and the constant palace deceit, his relationship with her deteriorated. So when he and Ha-sun trade places, he’ll be placed in a position where he’s envious of his alter ego as So-woon (who knows nothing about the switcheroo) begins falling in love with this new side of her estranged “husband.”
The drama production team has revealed that they want to tell this story in a new way—showing the perspective that the throne is not a place to wield power selfishly and absolutely, but rather, it is a lonely place of sacrifice for the people. Already I’m getting the heart-wrenching feels!
No doubt Yeo Jin-gu will be excellent as always, and Lee Se-young is no stranger to sageuks (The King’s Dream, Dae Jang Geum) so I have high hopes. Because they’re both well-known child stars, I thought they may have crossed paths earlier. They do have I Miss You on both their filmographies, but Yeo Jin-gu was only in the childhood scenes, while Lee Se-young had a supporting role in the present-day scenes. So it looks like this will be the first time they’ll be acting with each other.
The Man Who Became King is set to air on tvN early next year.
Via Hankyung
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Tags: Lee Se-young, remakes, The Crowned Clown, The Man Who Became King, Yeo Jin-gu
![[Beanie Recs] Dramas about fangirling](https://d263ao8qih4miy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BeanieRecs.jpg)
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1 bam 🐢🐌💖~
August 29, 2018 at 12:26 PM
Sounds deliciously rich and heartfelt, and with such wonderful actors at the helm, can’t wait to check this out!
*professional part done*
Yeo Jin Gooooooooooooo!!
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JustMe
August 29, 2018 at 3:31 PM
let's watch this on rabbit this weekend? Jaebal?
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bam 🐢🐌💖~
August 29, 2018 at 4:43 PM
The original movie? Sure!
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fencejumper
August 29, 2018 at 10:24 PM
Could I join too? @justme @bammsie I've never watched it but it seems amazing!
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Cloggie
August 29, 2018 at 11:31 PM
Count me in!
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frabbycrabsis loves KBS Drama Specials
August 30, 2018 at 2:50 AM
I'm down for that, it has Han Hyo-joo in it, right?
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bam 🐢🐌💖~
August 30, 2018 at 10:00 AM
I thiiink so?
And @fencejumpsr, you are ALWAYS welcome! Don’t have to ask!
And @cloggie and @frabbycrabsis, can’t wait!
bam 🐢🐌💖~
August 30, 2018 at 10:10 AM
@fencejumper
JustMe
August 30, 2018 at 10:56 AM
Yay! the more the merrier <3
Cocoa, The Fake Poet of February
August 30, 2018 at 11:18 AM
I want to join ~ Let me know when!
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bam 🐢🐌💖~
August 30, 2018 at 2:27 PM
Okie doke!
bam 🐢🐌💖~
August 31, 2018 at 3:21 PM
@fencejumper @hotcocoagirl @cloggie @frabbycrabsis
@justme can host at 8PM EDT!
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Cocoa, The Fake Poet of February
August 31, 2018 at 4:03 PM
I hope you have fun! I’m busy tonight, but am there in spirit!
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bam 🐢🐌💖~
August 31, 2018 at 6:49 PM
@fencejumper @hotcocoagirl @cloggie @frabbycrabsis
This Saturday, I meant. 😅
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Cloggie
August 31, 2018 at 11:08 PM
That's at the wrong side of the timezone for me (1AM) but you guys have fun
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fencejumper
September 1, 2018 at 1:30 AM
Same. It's too early for me 😭 @cloggie are you free a little later? Since it's 1AM for you will you be up at 8-9 AM? Because I can host it then for anyone who's missed it.
(@bammsie since you're our commander and head-chief ❤)
frabbycrabsis loves KBS Drama Specials
September 1, 2018 at 1:53 AM
It's the same for me. That sounds like a good idea, @fencejumper?
fencejumper
September 1, 2018 at 2:08 AM
Ok @frabbycrabsis @cloggie and anyone else interested, I'll host the movie round 2 at 3:30AM EDT Sunday 2nd for all those on the other side of the world.😊 I'll put it up on the fanwall too.
bam 🐢🐌💖~
September 1, 2018 at 7:29 AM
@fencejumper Yay!! Glad you got it sorted for the other side of the world. 😊 Have a fun one, gals!
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2 PakalanaPikake
August 29, 2018 at 12:29 PM
Thank you for this great casting news, tineybeanie! And thanks for your due diligence with the latest name change. I've recorded all of them in my to-watch list so I don't lose track of it. I loved the film, and eagerly anticipate the drama version. Both leads will be dandy in this show. I just hope I can keep the HWAYUGI flashbacks to Zombie Girl Buja to a minimum. ;-)
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3 Jrr 🌈
August 29, 2018 at 12:39 PM
Aww! Thanks for attaching the photos when they were child stars! They were so cute~
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Currently Living On Planet Earth
August 29, 2018 at 5:23 PM
Aww, I didn't even click on the idea that the child actors were them younger! They are so cute! Can't wait to see what this drama has in store for us!
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4 tsutsuloo
August 29, 2018 at 3:20 PM
Having loved the film, I'll check out the series! I adored Lee Se-young in Hwayugi and know she'll bring a lot of heart to the role. I'm intrigued by the choice to cast such young actors. The film's royal couple being in early middle-age added poignancy to their strained marriage.
Have you ever seen a k-drama use old footage of former child actors in their new dramas? The 1999 film The Limey features 61-year-old Terrance Stamp who appears in his own flashbacks as young man via 30-year-old footage of Stamp in 1967 Ken Loach's film Poor Cow. No creepy makeup/CGI needed. *side eye at Tron*
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PakalanaPikake
August 29, 2018 at 8:51 PM
Comment was deleted
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PakalanaPikake
August 29, 2018 at 9:34 PM
I haven't seen an instance of a kdrama using child actors' older footage that I can recall.
However, I did get a huge kick out of seeing U.N.C.L.E. agent Illya Kuryakin's photo on the mantlepiece at the home of NCIS's Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard (David McCallum). Here's a nice profile shot of him with partner Napoleon Solo (Robert Vaughn).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Robert_Vaughn_David_McCallum_Man_from_UNCLE_1966.JPG
In his younger days, David McCallum was seriously hot stuff. Talk about the British Invasion. My 8-year-old self was smitten. LOL.
http://archive.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2008/11/01/in_the_company_of_spies/?page=full
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illya_Kuryakin – Mentions the use of U.N.C.L.E. photos in NCIS episodes in the section “After Cancellation.”
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tsutsuloo
August 30, 2018 at 6:28 AM
Nice example!
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5 jillian
August 29, 2018 at 3:53 PM
I'm so excited for this pairing! I have enjoyed them in their previous works. So hoping that they will have the chemistry for this drama.
I have seen the movie and enjoyed it tremendously. So hoping the drama will be as enjoyable to watch. 😊
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6 acacia
August 29, 2018 at 4:53 PM
YESSSSSS
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7 candycane
August 29, 2018 at 5:12 PM
Beautiful leads with acting skills 👍🏻👍🏻 A must watch for me!
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8 Mimu
August 29, 2018 at 5:17 PM
Lee Se-Young totally had stolen everyone's heart in Hwayugi. Thanks to the her child picture now I engender seeing her in Dae Jand-Geum. She acted well since beginning only.😍
I'm so ready for this as the movie is one of favorites till now.
I'm happy it's airing in tvn.^^
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9 circulate9oo
August 29, 2018 at 5:28 PM
A part of me is thinking they might no longer use Gwanghae as main character in this drama because they now use Yi Heon as name of the king and there is no more mention of Gwanghae. Furthermore, Gwanghae's name is Yi Hon. Mistaking it for Yi Heon is quite a huge error for the production given that Gwanghae is a popular historical figure in Korea. So maybe it's intentional, plus that way making the king fictional will allow them to make the character match Jingoo's age better since Gwanghae was already in his 30's when he became a king.
Anyway I'm so happy for this confirmation! Looking forward to this drama so much. I hope it delivers. And aww the cutie addition of their childhood sageuk pics, I love it!
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sph_7
August 29, 2018 at 7:36 PM
Gwanghae is Yi Heon (or I Hon depending on romanization). Yi Heon is his birthname. Gwanghae Gun is his prince name ... like Britain uses Duke of whatever. Same person.
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circulate9oo
August 29, 2018 at 7:47 PM
Gwanghae's name is Yi Hon (이혼) but all the articles are naming the king as Yi Heon (이헌) which is completely different in spelling and pronunciation.
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sph_7
August 29, 2018 at 8:20 PM
I see what you’re saying. That’s weird. The articles still reference Gwanghae. Why make up a fake name for him? Not like I Hon hasn’t been twisted in fiction before.🤔
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circulate9oo
August 29, 2018 at 8:29 PM
Yep, anyway it's just an assumption on my part, they never said anything about changing his character from Gwanghae. But yeah, I mean if they're going to write a sageuk based on an actual historical figure, confirming the name is a very important and it's just me nitpicking, but Yi Hon to Yi Heon is quite a glaring mistake to make unless it's deliberate.
Still, it's not gonna stop me from taking this drama as sequel to Warriors of the Dawn. XD
10 loveblossom🌸
August 29, 2018 at 7:26 PM
I had no idea Lee Se-young was a child star. She looked so cute!! I've only seen a couple of her recent works. She was endearing in Hwayugi.
Been a long while since I've watched a good sageuk. I hope this delivers!
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11 sph_7
August 29, 2018 at 7:45 PM
Really excited about this series. Never seen the original movie, but Jin Gu was awesome as Gwanghae Gun in Warriors of the Dawn.
Since watching The King’s Face, I’ve been fascinated by this poor prince’s life story, both fictional and nonfictional.
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PakalanaPikake
August 29, 2018 at 9:09 PM
@geliguolu7 sph7,
THE KING'S FACE was my introduction to Gwanghae Gun, too. I enjoyed Cha Seung-won's portrayal of him in HWAJUNG / SPLENDID POLITICS.
MASQUERADE was terrific. As a fan of the prince, you owe it to yourself to see it. There are some memorably hilarious and touching interludes in it.
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sph_7
August 30, 2018 at 5:38 AM
Just watched it on Amazon video yesterday, hehe
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12 fencejumper
August 29, 2018 at 10:20 PM
YASSS Yeo Jin Gu. I love everything about the premise but the fact that the cast is phenomenal ramps it up for me 👏
Time to go see the movie now!
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13 Cloggie
August 29, 2018 at 11:29 PM
@tineybeanie Now I just want a drama about two childhood actors who reunite in a drama as grown-ups and fall in love.
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bam 🐢🐌💖~
August 30, 2018 at 10:44 AM
Pleasssse!!
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14 mary
August 30, 2018 at 1:11 AM
I've seen Lee Se-young (and only) recently in an interview with Hyun-woo and I couldn't help but be impressed by her charm and maturity and how professional she seemed. :) I'm glad she's finally getting a lead and with an equally experienced actor. I hope the production team makes the drama worth watching (and I have time to watch it when it airs hehe)
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15 Mani-chan
August 30, 2018 at 3:53 AM
Yes Yes Yes yaaaaaas. OMG dramagods are being very kind
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16 Bernadett
August 30, 2018 at 10:13 AM
I didn't know that Lee Se-young was a child actor. She was so cute as the young Geum-yeong in DAE JANG GEUM. Personally, I've grown to like her in the VAMPIRE DETECTIVE. Yeo Jin Goo has been one of my favourite actor since THE MOON EMBRACING THE SUN. What a pairing in a sageuk!
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17 Diraito Teson
August 31, 2018 at 5:28 AM
Will Yeo Jin-gu finally get his good drama?
I remember his always choosing bad projects that can't keep my attention :(
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18 bluepants
September 2, 2018 at 10:20 PM
!! I never knew that she was the young Geum-young. Ahhhhh!!!!
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