The series is based on the reign of Gwanghaegun of Joseon,^[1] a conflict with his stepmother, Queen Inmok and scheming concubine, Kim Gae-shi.^[2]

Kim Gae-shi (portrayed by Lee Young-ae) is given Seung-eun (승은) by the Crown Prince Gwanghae (portrayed by Kim Kyu-chul). Although Kim receives seung-eun, she already has a lover, Won-pyo (portrayed by Kim Bo-sung), an excellent swordsman, who enters the palace to stay by her side. However, Won-pyo dies after trying to protect her during the rebellion.^[2]

Meanwhile, Queen Inmok (portrayed by Lee Bo-hee) is a virtuous lady that fell victim to palace politics and is subsequently banished to the West Palace along with her children: Princess Jeongmyeong (portrayed by Park Rusia) and Grand Prince Yeongchang (portrayed by Choi Kang-won) after Gwanghaegun is bewitched by his scheming concubine, Kim, whose ambitions and insatiable thirst for power leads to her own downfall.^[1]

Main edit

• Lee Young-ae as Court Lady Kim Gae-shi / Gae-dong
  • Lee Jung-hu as young Kim Gae-shi
• Kim Kyu-chul as Yi Hon, Crown Prince Gwanghae, King Gwanghae
• Lee Bo-hee as Queen Dowager Inmok (Soseong)
  • Park So-ra as young Queen Inmok

Supporting edit

Royal Household edit

• Kim Sung-ok as Yi Yeon, King Seonjo
• Park Jin-hyung as Yi Jong, Prince Neungyang King Injo
• Lee Han-na as Royal Noble Consort In of the Suwon Kim clan
• Jang Seo-hee as Crown Princess Consort Yu, Queen Yoo
• Im Hyuk-joo as Yi Jin, Prince Imhae
• Park Nam-hyun as Yi Je, Prince Heungan
• Choi Kang-won as Yi Ui, Grand Prince Yeongchang
• Park Rusia as Princess Jeongmyeong
• Lee Jae-yun as Yi Bu, Prince Jeongwon, King Wonjong

Ministers and nobles edit

• Seo In-seok as Yi I-cheom
• Han In-soo as Kim Je-nam, Queen Inmok's father.
• Ahn Dae-yong as Kang Hong-rip
• Moon Chang-kil as Yoo Geun
• Kim Jong-kyul as Heo Gyun
• Su-hak as Ki Ja-hun
• Shin-goo as Yi Won-ik
• Park-woong as Jung Chul
• Park Chil-yong as Yi San-hae
• Tae Min-yung as Yoo Hee-boon
• Im Byung-ki as Park Seung-jong
• Kim Si-won as Yi Duk-hyung
• Park Yung-mok as Yi Hang-bok
• Lee Jung-woong as Yi Gwi
• Park Seung-kyu as Yi Gwal
• Kim Sung-chan as Kim Ja-jeom
• Kim Chang-bong as Yi Kwang-jung
• Kim Sung-won as Kim Yoo
• Lee Doo-sup as Kim Yook
• Sun Dong-hyuk as Choi Myung-kil
• Lee Han-wi as General Jang Soo
• Yoo Byung-han as Ha-sam
• Choi Dong-joon as Lee Duk-hyung
• Lee Kyung-yung as Park Ja-heung, Crown Prince Gwanghae's relative
• Heo Hyun-ho as Yi Soo, Prince Gwichun
• Kang In-duk as Seo Yang-kap
• Kim Kyung-eung as Shim Woo-yung
• Seo Yung-jin as Park Eung-su
• Ahn Gwang-jin as Park Chi-ui
• Kim Jung-hoon as Im Sook-yung
• Park Kun-shik as Han Hee-kil
• Lee Han-seung as Yun Bang
• Lee Yong-jin as Kwon Pil
• Jo Jae-hoon as Jung Hang
• Jin Woon-sung as Yi Jung-pyo
• Ki Jung-soo as Han Hyo-soon
• Park Yong-shik as Yi Heung-rip
• Heo Jung-kyu as Yi Ahn-jin
• Jang Ki-yong as Kim Kyung-su
• Park Hae-sang as Shin Kyung-jin
• Sun Dong-hyuk as Choi Myung-kil
• Kim Dong-wan as Choi Kwon
• Choi Hun-chul as Uhm Il-goe
• Lee Chun-shik as Choon Bo
• Kim Bo-sung as Won-pyo
  • Jung Tae-woo as young Won-pyo
• Seo Sang-ik as Jeong In-hong
• Park Jung-woong as Eo-ui

Palace maids and eunuchs edit

• Kim In-moon as Eunuch Ham
• Lee Jong-man as Eunuch Han
• Kim Eul-dong as Court Lady Uhm
• Jang Jung-hee as Court Lady Ji
• Kim Min-hee as Maid Eum-duk

Other families edit

• Yang Geum-seok as Lady Kang, Kim Gae-shi's mother.
• Uhm Yoo-shin as Lady No, Kim Je-nam's wife.
• Park Joon-geum as Lady Lee, Lee Yi-cheom's wife.
• Kim Young-ok as Lady Ryu, Lee Yi-cheom's mother.
• Ko Hee-joon as Won-pyo's adoptive father.

Extended cast edit

• Park Byung-ho as a missionary ambassador
• Park Yong-gi as a Buddhist monk
• Lee Hyo-jung
• Seo Yung-ae
• Moon Su-in
• Yoo Byung-hwan
• Kwon Oh-hyun

1. It was Lee Young-ae and Choi Dong-joon first appearance in a historical drama.^[3][4]
2. The series emphasized Kim Gae-shi's role as Gwanghae's concubine so the production team added a fictional character, Won-pyo, who is Lady Kim's lover, to promote a love conflict.^[2]