Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth (Korean: 화랑; Hanja: 花郞; lit. 'Hwarang') is a 2016 South Korean television series starring Park Seo-joon, Go Ara and Park Hyung-sik. It revolves around an elite group of young men called Hwarang, who discover their passion, friendship and love in the turmoil of the Silla Kingdom (57 BC–AD 935). The series aired every Monday and Tuesday at 22:00 (KST) on KBS2, from December 19, 2016 to February 21, 2017.
At the 31st KBS Drama Awards, Choi Won-young won the "Best Supporting Actor" and Park Seo-joon received a nomination for the "Top Excellence Award".
Contents
Synopsis
Queen Jiso (Kim Ji-soo) as regent, has been the ruler of Silla since the death of her father, King Beopheung, while keeping her son, Sammaekjong (Park Hyung-sik), hidden from enemies and assassins. As the young King comes of age, citizens, officials and Sammaekjong himself, have all grown impatient for her to cede power. However, the powerful nobles that tried to usurp the power continue to eye the throne, and Jiso fears the consequences of her ceding it. In order to break the power of the nobles, who have grown accustomed to their privileges under the bone rank system, Jiso plans to create a new elite group, the Hwarang, that will cut across the existing power factions, and to bind them to protect her son and the throne. As this new elite group of male youths bond and grow, they are unaware that within their number is their King, Sammaekjong, and Kim Sun-woo (Park Seo-joon), a commoner with a secret even he is not aware of.
Cast and characters
Main
Park Seo-joon as Moo-myung / Kim Sun-woo / Dog-bird
A young man of low birth, who rises above his situation in life and becomes a legendary Hwarang warrior. He assumes the identity of his friend, Kim Sun-woo, after he is killed by one of the Queen Regent's men.
Go Ara as Kim Ah-ro
A "half-breed" (derogative term for an offspring born to a Jingol father and a low-class mother), with a cheerful and straightforward personality. She works multiple jobs to support her family.
Park Hyung-sik as Sammaekjong / Kim Ji-dwi / Jinheung of Silla
The young and distrustful King, who goes into hiding due to assassination attempts. He joins the Hwarang under the name of "Kim Ji-dwi", Lord Kim Wi-hwa's nephew.
Supporting
Sung Dong-il as Lord Kim Wi-hwa
The 1st Pungwolju of the Hwarang, who acts as a fatherly figure towards the boys. Secret adviser of Ji-dwi.
Do Ji-han as Park Ban-ryu
Having been taught politics (by his two fathers – Park Young-shil and Park Ho, as his adoptive and biological fathers, respectively) from an early age, he is a cold-blooded Seonggol, who is competitive and seeks for more power.
Choi Min-ho as Kim Soo-ho
A Seonggol aristocrat born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Hot-blooded and chivalrous, he aces in swordplay and is seen as a shameless playboy but is devoted in love. Kim Soo-yeon's overprotective older brother.
Kim Tae-hyung as Seok Han-sung
The youngest Hwarang, who has a warm personality and gets along with everyone. He is a bright and innocent boy who carries a heavy burden as the last Seonggol of his clan. Dan-se's younger half-brother.
Cho Yoon-woo as Kim Yeo-wool
A man who "has a mysterious charm and loves dressing up more than most women", he is thoughtful and caring, but possesses a sharp tongue. His mother is the previous King's sister, while his Jingol father's identity still remains a mystery.
Kim Hyun-joon as Seok Dan-se
22 years old, part of Soo-ho's clique. He is Han-sung's elder half-brother, who is powerless due to his "half-breed" status and is always looked down by their grandfather. Assigned as Sun-woo's trainee.
Yoo Jae-myung as Pa-oh
Sammaekjong's personal bodyguard, who cares for him like a father, as well as Ji-dwi's assigned trainee.
Extended
Kang Dong-woo as Mu-cheol
Song Min-hyung as Kim Hyung-won
Baek Jae-jin as Yang Jo-jang
Ban Min-jung as Mi Roo-hyang
Lee Kwan-hoon as A-chu
Lee Kyu-hyung as Do-go
Lee Min-ho as So-gam
Park Ha-yan as Yoo-ji
Oh Eun-ho as Mo-yeong
Special appearance
Kim Min-jun as Crown Prince Chang (later Wideok of Baekje) (Ep. 14–15)
Production
Development
The series reunited Sung Dong-il and Go A-ra, who previously worked together in tvN's Reply 1994 (2013), as well as Sung and Yoo Jae-myung, who both starred in the hit series Reply 1988 (2016). It also serves as a reunion to Park Hyung-sik and Choi Won-young, who worked together in SBS's hit drama, The Heirs (2013). It also reunited Park and Kim Won-hae, who worked together in Nine: Nine Time Travels (2013).
Filming
The first script reading took place in March 2016. Filming began on March 31, and finished on September 1, 2016.
Original soundtrack
Ratings
On January 30, 2017 at 12:35 (KST), KBS2 aired a 'Lunar New Year' two special episodes condensing the first 12 episodes of the drama into 150 minutes episode.