Park Jin-hai primarily focuses on K-dramas, entertainment shows and actor interviews. Beyond that, she also pens articles covering the broader arts scene, with a particular emphasis on classical music, dance and various aspects of lifestyle. Since joining The Korea Times in 2013, she has made significant contributions in the realms of hallyu (Korean wave), industry news and international affairs.
Tving to unveil W30 bil. epic drama 'Queen Woo' set in Goguryeo
Cast members of Tving's original series "Queen Woo" pose during a press conference at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Seoul, Tuesday. From left are actors Kim Moo-yul, Jun Jong-seo, Jung Yu-mi and Lee Soo-hyuk. Courtesy of Tving
By Park Jin-hai
Tving is set to unveil the much-anticipated 30 billion won ($22.5 million)-budgeted historical drama "Queen Woo."
The domestic streaming giant's ambitious first epic drama, set in the Goguryeo Kingdom (37 B.C.–A.D. 668), is a thrilling chase action historical drama that follows Queen Woo, who becomes the target of princes vying for the throne and five tribes seeking power after the sudden death of the king. She desperately attempts to establish a new king within 24 hours, navigating a treacherous political landscape.
Actor Jun Jong-seo will take on the titular role — based on a real historical figure who decided to marry her dead husband's younger brother under the custom of levirate marriage — who fiercely battles to protect the throne and the people.
Jun, who tries out the epic drama genre for the first time, said she chose this project in order to break her typecast image, shown in action and thriller films including "Burning" (2018) and "Ballerina" (2023), describing her role of Queen Woo as a kingmaker.
"It dawned on me that I'd made the right choice by taking on this historical drama. During filming, I looked around and realized I was the sole actress surrounded by a sea of seasoned male actors. It was at that moment that I fully grasped the significance of portraying such a strong female character," she said during a press conference at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Seoul, Tuesday.
Jun added that the most challenging part has been fine-tuning a speech style that could also sound suitable and natural for the epic drama. "I thought my slow, relaxed way of speaking would work fine, but after monitoring the first take, I felt like a fish out of water. It was as if I were the only one who didn't understand the language. I realized I had a serious problem on my hands," the actor said.
"I struggled with finding the right tone for the historical drama. I consulted with many people in the industry and eventually found a way to combine my natural voice with the more traditional style."
Promotional image for Tving's new original series "Queen Woo" / Courtesy of Tving
The eight-part drama, however, has faced controversy over its historical accuracy. Critics have noted that the costumes and hairstyles featured in the teaser videos and promotional photos seem to reflect Chinese influences rather than the authentic attire of Goguryeo.
The main point of contention centers on the styling of key characters, including Eulpaso (Kim Moo-yul), Goguryeo's highest-ranking official, Go Bal-gi (Lee Soo-hyuk), the ruthless third prince and heir to the throne, and Go Nam-mu (Ji Chang-wook), the king.
Regarding the criticism, director Jung Se-kyo clarified that the production underwent multiple rounds of historical verification.
"While those images released might lead to such conclusions, we had a team of academic advisers and conducted extensive research on historical costumes and makeup. Due to the scarcity of historical records, we had to rely on artistic interpretations, especially for the character Eulpaso," he said.
"Given the limited records from the 2nd century, we referenced Goguryeo murals of the fourth and fifth centuries instead. However, throughout the production, we prioritized adhering to the factual accounts in the oldest existing Korean history book 'Samguk Sagi.' The 'Gwanggaeto the Great Stele' as well provided the most valuable historical insights, which we studied extensively."
The series' first four episodes will be released on Thursday via Tving.