Empress Myeongseong

Background

Empress Myeongseong is considered the last empress of Korea. She was assassinated in 1895.

Cast

Main

Choi Myung-gil as Empress Myeongseong (episodes 82-124)

Lee Mi-yeon as Empress Myeongseong (episodes 1, 10-81)

Moon Geun-young as Min Ja-yeong (young Empress Myeongseong)

Lee Jin-woo as King Gojong

Lee In as young Gojong

Yoo Dong-geun as Grand Internal Prince Heungseon

Supporting

Royal Family

Kim Yong-rim - Grand Royal Queen Dowager Jo

Kim Jeong-ha - Royal Queen Dowager Hong

Yoo Hye-young - Queen Cheorin

Baek Seung-woo - Sungjong of Korea

Lee Tae-ri and Kwak Jung-wook - young Sunjong

Lee Yu-ri - Empress Sunmyeong

Park Eun-bin and Kim Soo-yeong - young Empress Sunmyeong

Jung Seon-gyeong - Royal Consort Gwi-in of Gyeongju Yi clan

Lee Jae-eun - Royal Consort Gwi-in of the Deoksu Jang clan

Kim Se-ah - Royal Consort Gwi-in of the Haeju Jeong clan

Seo Mi-ae - Imperial Noble Consort Sunheon of the Yeongwol Eom clan

Kang Seong-hyeon - Prince Wanhwa; Consort Yi Gwi-in's son

Kang Seong-min - Prince Uihwa; Consort Jang Gwi-in's son

Kim Jong-ho and Lee Pung-woon - young Prince Uihwa

Lee Ju-eun - Kim Su-deok, Princess Consort Yeongwon; Prince Uihwa's wife

Palace/Inner Court

Hwang Beom-sik - Palace Lady Lee; Gojong's servant

Lee Geon - Palace Lady Kang; Empress Myeongseong's servant

Production

The role of the young Empress Myeongseong in the drama was played by Moon Geun-young (episodes 1–9), while the adult Empress was portrayed by Lee Mi-yeon (episodes 10–80). Originally planned as a 100-episode series, the drama was extended by 24 episodes due to its unexpected popularity. However, Lee Mi-yeon had only signed on for 80 episodes, so Choi Myung-gil took over the role from episode 81, which covered the Kapsin Coup, and played the character until the end.

It was initially believed that Lee Mi-yeon refused to extend her appearance in the drama, but it was later revealed that this was not the case. From the beginning, her contract with the production company was for 80 episodes, not the originally planned 100 episodes. When this fact became public, KBS and the drama's production team faced significant criticism.

Reception

The version of Empress Myeongseong played by Lee Mi-yeon was portrayed as a tragic heroine with an angelic image, drawing viewers and achieving ratings of over 30%. However, from the spring of 2002, when the SBS drama special Successful Story of a Bright Girl aired, ratings began to decline. After the lead actress was changed to Choi Myung-gil, ratings plummeted to single digits. Opinions are divided on whether Lee Mi-yeon or Choi Myung-gil gave the better performance: Lee Mi-yeon played a pure and delicate character who awakened to the necessity of political power, while Choi Myung-gil portrayed an intelligent and politically adept heroine.

Awards

2001 KBS Drama Awards

Top Excellence Award, Actress: Lee Mi-yeon

Best Supporting Actor: Kim Sung-hwan

Best Supporting Actress: Kim Bo-mi

PD of the Year Award: Yoon Chang-bum

2002 Baeksang Arts Awards

Best Actor in TV: Yoo Dong-geun

2002 KBS Drama Awards

Daesang/Grand Prize: Yoo Dong-geun

Top Excellence Award, Actress: Choi Myung-gil