The Great King, Sejong (Korean: 대왕 세종) is a 2008 South Korean historical television series depicting the life of the fourth monarch of Joseon, Sejong the Great (played by Kim Sang-kyung). Considered the greatest king in Korean history, Sejong created Hangul, the Korean alphabet. The series aired on KBS from January 5 to December 7, 2008, on Saturdays and Sundays at 21:30 for 86 episodes. Episodes 1 to 26 aired on KBS1, and episodes 27 to 86 aired on KBS2.
Contents
Plot
Born as the third son, Chungnyeong was far from ascending the throne. His early years were turbulent as Joseon faced political tensions from both within and abroad. Eventually, the young prince finds himself living in a private residence outside of the palace and experiences the everyday life of commoners until he is a young man. After his ascension to the throne, Chungyeong (now called King Sejong) stabilizes the newly born country and gives rise to a blooming culture. In the process he invents Hangul, the Korean writing system.
Cast
Main
Kim Sang-kyung as Grand Prince Chungnyeong / King Sejong the Great
Kim Do-hyun as child Grand Prince Chungnyeong
Lee Hyun-woo as young Grand Prince Chungnyeong
Kim Young-chul as King Taejong; Sejong's father
Choi Myung-gil as Queen Wongyeong of the Yeoheung Min clan; Sejong's mother
Park Sang-min as Grand Prince Yangnyeong; Sejong's first brother
Jung Chan-woo as child Grand Prince Yangnyeong
Lee In as teenage Grand Prince Yangnyeong
Lee Jung-hyun as Royal Noble Consort Shin of the Cheongju Kim clan; Sejong's concubine
Lee Yoon-ji as Queen Soheon of the Cheongsong Shim clan; Sejong's wife
Nam Ji-hyun as young Lady Shim
Supporting
Lee Sang-yeob as Crown Prince Yi Hyang; Sejong's first son
Oh Eun-chan as child Crown Prince Yi Hyang
Kang Bit as young Crown Prince Yi Hyang
Seo Joon-young as Grand Prince Suyang; Sejong's second son
Choi Min-ho as young Grand Prince Suyang
Yoo Seo-jin as Lady Kim, Grand Princess Consort Suseong of the Gwangsan Kim clan; Yangnyeong's wife
Yeo Yoon-jung as young Lady Kim
Ahn Shin-woo as Grand Prince Hyoryeong; Sejong's second brother
Seo Hyun-bin as child Grand Prince Hyoryeong
Yoo Tae-woong as young Grand Prince Hyoryeong
Kwon Sung-hyun as Lady Jeong, Grand Princess Consort Yeseong of the Haeju Jeong clan; Hyoryeong's wife
Yoon Young-joon as Prince Gyeongnyeong; Sejong's fourth brother
Noh Young-hak as young Prince Gyeongnyeong
Baek Seung-do as Grand Prince Seongnyeong; Sejong's sixth brother
Joo Young-min as child Grand Prince Seongnyeong
Joo Da-young as Princess Jeongso; Sejong's first daughter
Kim Ji-won as child Princess Jeongso
More
Lee Il-jae as Kim Do-ryun
Lee Jung-hyun as Yi Seon
Cha Min-ji as Dam-yi
Kim Bo-mi as Court Lady Han
Jo Byung-ki as Sa-ddo
Jo Min-joon as Park Kyum
Kang Ji-hu as Pung-gae
Won Jong-rye as Kisaeng Nyu; Jang Young-shil's mother
Ahn Hae-sook as Lady Ahn of the Sunheung Ahn clan; Sejong's mother-in-law
Kwon Sung-hyun as Yi Kyung-sook
Sun-Hak as Oh Mak-ji
Jung Jong-hyun as the head of Ikisima
Kim Sun-eun as Tong-sa
Kim Seung-hoon as Yamata
Jo Jae-wan as Jang Won
Oh Yeon-seo as Eori
Kim Hong-pyo as Yi Soon-ji
Seol Ji-yoon as Toegi-chunwol
Lee Han-gal as Kang-hwi
Kim Ji-young as the old woman