Love sageuk dramas? Well, there’s a new one on Netflix right now! The King’s Affection is about a king who is not included in historical records – a female king who has to conceal her identity as a woman. It’s a romance series set in a palace rife with political conflict in the Joseon Dynasty, but you can also look forward to action and humor.
Photo from Netflix
We got to join the press con for The King’s Affection recently, where the cast told us what they loved about the show and what made them want to be a part of it. Here’s what they had to say:
Park Eun-bin, who plays Lee Hwi, says she was very intrigued by the fact that there was a female king. “It was a new challenge I wanted to take on,” she says. “I thought it was a unique role that would not come by often. I have never regretted the fact that I decided to come on board.” Nam Yoon-su, who plays Lee-hyun, seconds the statement about it being a challenge to take on. “Historical dramas actually help you learn new things and take on new challenges, so that’s why I decided to give it a go,” he explains. “When I read the script, I was really drawn to Lee-hyun, too.”
Choi Byung-chan, who plays Kim Ga-on shares that it was a challenge for him because his character doesn’t speak much. “The fact that there was a female king in disguise was really intriguing, too,” he adds.
Photo from Netflix
Rowoon, who plays Jung Ji-woon, shares that he didn’t hesitate to join the project, either. “I joined in a heartbeat,” he admits. “There was a particular line that really moved my heart. I can’t reveal that line, but the feeling of romance really sunk in and I really wanted to join this historical series. The cast was so great, and I really wanted to work beside them, especially Eun-bin. I think the series has a significant message not only for Ji-woon but for the other characters, as well.”
Bae Yoon-kyung, who plays Shin So-eun, had actually worked with Director Song Hyun-wook in a previous drama, so she says she had faith in him. “When I saw the script, I thought it was very intriguing and fun, too,” she adds. “The character I portray, So-eun, was very appealing and attractive. I’m also a fan of Eun-bin and I wanted to work with her. It was a really good opportunity to work alongside her.”
Photo from Netflix
Jung Chaeyeon, who plays Noh Ha-kyung, also saw the script and thought it was an interesting plot. She opens up, “My role was actually not very detailed in the script I was initially given. The director explained more about what my character would be like and that’s what made me join.”
“All of the kings we’ve had historically were males, so a female king can only exist in our imaginations. I wanted to take on the challenge of making the audience believe that my character is a king,” Eun-bin explains. “When I was preparing for this role, I was quite distant from the character because I had to portray a male Hwi and a female Hwi. At the same time, my character cannot hide the fact that she’s a female, so she faces various threats and challenges. The male Hwi and female Hwi shouldn’t be viewed dichotomously, the character should just be viewed as Hwi. I did not try to act particularly male or female. I tried to be natural. I focused on portraying Hwi herself.” And she does an absolutely amazing job doing it. Watch the trailer here:
The third episode of The King’s Affection starts streaming on Netflix tonight at 10:30PM. New episodes become available every Monday and Tuesday at 10:30PM only on Netflix.
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