The story of Joseon's tyrant king Yeonsan who exploits the populace for his own carnal pleasures, his seemingly loyal retainer who controls him and all court dealings, and a woman who seeks vengeance.
Acting
Ju Ji-hoon's serpent-smile hiding monstrous calculation.
Production
Excess so grotesque it becomes its own character.
Direction
Min Kyu-dong turns debauchery into suffocating atmosphere.
Director
Min Kyu-dong
Ju Ji-hoon
Im Sung-jae
Kim Kang-woo
Prince Yeonsan
Lim Ji-yeon
Dan-hee
Lee You-young
Seol Jung-mae
Cheon Ho-jin
Sa-hong
Cha Ji-yeon
Jang Nok-su
Go Kyung-pyo
Grand Prince Jin-seong
Seo Young-joo
Young Im Sung-jae
Song Young-chang
Yu Ja-gwang
Cho Han-cheul
Park Won-jong
Jang Kwang
Prime Minister
Ki Joo-bong
Butcher Mr. Kim
Ryu Abel
Wife of the Head of Sung Kyun-kwan
Kim Ji-young
Mother of Deposed Queen Lady Yun
Moon Hee-kyung
Discipline sanggung
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Yeonsan-gun remains Korea's most dramatized tyrant; this film sparked debate for eroticizing trauma real concubines suffered.
Lim Ji-yeon and Lee You-young's characters mirror two paths for Joseon women: weaponized beauty versus destroyed innocence, with neither winning.
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