West Palace (Korean: 서궁; Hanja: 西宮; RR: Seogung) is a 1995 South Korean television series starring Lee Young-ae, Kim Kyu-chul and Lee Bo-hee. It aired on KBS2 from July 3 to December 26, 1995, on Mondays and Tuesdays at 21:40 for 52 episodes.
Contents
Synopsis
The series is based on the reign of Gwanghaegun of Joseon, a conflict with his stepmother, Queen Inmok and scheming concubine, Kim Gae-shi.
Kim Gae-shi (portrayed by Lee Young-ae) is given Seung-eun (승은) by the Crown Prince Gwanghae (portrayed by Kim Kyu-chul). Although Kim receives seung-eun, she already has a lover, Won-pyo (portrayed by Kim Bo-sung), an excellent swordsman, who enters the palace to stay by her side. However, Won-pyo dies after trying to protect her during the rebellion.
Meanwhile, Queen Inmok (portrayed by Lee Bo-hee) is a virtuous lady that fell victim to palace politics and is subsequently banished to the West Palace along with her children: Princess Jeongmyeong (portrayed by Park Rusia) and Grand Prince Yeongchang (portrayed by Choi Kang-won) after Gwanghaegun is bewitched by his scheming concubine, Kim, whose ambitions and insatiable thirst for power leads to her own downfall.
Cast
Main
Lee Young-ae as Court Lady Kim Gae-shi / Gae-dong
Lee Jung-hu as young Kim Gae-shi
Kim Kyu-chul as Yi Hon, Crown Prince Gwanghae, King Gwanghae
Lee Bo-hee as Queen Dowager Inmok (Soseong)
Park So-ra as young Queen Inmok
Supporting
Kim Sung-ok as Yi Yeon, King Seonjo
Park Jin-hyung as Yi Jong, Prince Neungyang King Injo
Lee Han-na as Royal Noble Consort In of the Suwon Kim clan
Jang Seo-hee as Crown Princess Consort Yu, Queen Yoo
Im Hyuk-joo as Yi Jin, Prince Imhae
Park Nam-hyun as Yi Je, Prince Heungan
Choi Kang-won as Yi Ui, Grand Prince Yeongchang
Park Rusia as Princess Jeongmyeong
Lee Jae-yun as Yi Bu, Prince Jeongwon, King Wonjong
Seo In-seok as Yi I-cheom
Han In-soo as Kim Je-nam, Queen Inmok's father.
Ahn Dae-yong as Kang Hong-rip
Moon Chang-kil as Yoo Geun
Kim Jong-kyul as Heo Gyun
Su-hak as Ki Ja-hun
Shin-goo as Yi Won-ik
Park-woong as Jung Chul
Park Chil-yong as Yi San-hae
Tae Min-yung as Yoo Hee-boon
Im Byung-ki as Park Seung-jong
Kim Si-won as Yi Duk-hyung
Extended cast
Park Byung-ho as a missionary ambassador
Park Yong-gi as a Buddhist monk
Lee Hyo-jung
Seo Yung-ae
Moon Su-in
Yoo Byung-hwan
Kwon Oh-hyun
Production
It was Lee Young-ae and Choi Dong-joon first appearance in a historical drama.
The series emphasized Kim Gae-shi's role as Gwanghae's concubine so the production team added a fictional character, Won-pyo, who is Lady Kim's lover, to promote a love conflict.