Though it places his own life in danger, a look-alike commoner secretly takes the place of a poisoned king to save his country from falling into chaos.
Acting
Lee Byung-hun plays two men who become each other—stunning duality
Production
Gwanghaegung Palace rebuilt with obsessive historical accuracy
Writing
Script inspired by a single ambiguous line in royal records
Director
Choo Chang-min
Lee Byung-hun
King Gwang-hae / Clown Ha-sun
Ryu Seung-ryong
Chief Secretary Heo-gyun
Han Hyo-joo
Queen Joong-jun
Kim In-kwon
Warrior Do
Jang Kwang
Eunuch
Shim Eun-kyung
Court Lady Sa-wol
Park Ji-a
Lady Han
Shin Jung-keun
Lee Jeong-rang
Jeon Guk-hyang
Lady Jeong
Lee El
Lady Ahn
Kim Myung-gon
Park Chung-seo
Kyul Hwi
Public Officer
Lee Yang-hee
Minister of Land
Lee Bong-ryeon
Royal Kitchen Court Lady
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Lee Byung-hun reportedly asked the director which twin he was playing in each scene to maintain psychological consistency.
The real Gwanghae was the only Joseon king not given a temple name—historically erased, making Ha-sun's fictional sacrifice weirdly poetic.
KR
