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| Actors Joo Sang-wook and Park Jin-hee pose for pictures during the online media conference for KBS' new historical series, "The King of Tears, Lee Bang-won," Friday. Courtesy of KBS |
By Lee Gyu-lee
KBS' new series, "The King of Tears, Lee Bang-won," which is the network's first major, history-based series in five years since "Jang Youngsil: The Greatest Scientist of Joseon," got off to a good start Saturday.
The series' first episode kicked off with an 8.7-percent viewership rating nationwide, according to Nielsen Korea.
Based on the historical figure, Lee Bang-won, who is also known as Taejong, the third king of the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1897), the historical series follows the king's life amid the fall of the Goryeo Kingdom (918-1392) and the founding of Joseon.
Actor Joo Sang-wook, who took the title role of Lee Bang-won, spoke of the pressure of taking on such a huge project and playing a much-respected figure, who previously had been portrayed by famous actors like Yoo Dong-geun.
"There is a lot of pressure (in taking the project) and as an actor, it was a challenge," Joo said during the online media conference for the series, Friday. "There have been great actors who portrayed Lee Bang-won previously. I can't outdo them. But I did believe that I can create a different portrayal of the figure with my own take."
Lee Bang-won was born as the fifth son of General Lee Seong-gye, who was the founder of Joseon. At the end of the Goryeo era, on the brink of its fall, Lee Bang-won harbors the ambition to change the world for its people who struggle to survive, by helping his father carry out his great work.
But when he kills Goryeo's respected scholar-official, Jeong Mong-ju, in the process, his family turns their back on him, leading him to fight against his brother and father for royal power and establishing the new order of Joseon.
The series is directed by Kim Hyung-il, whose previous work includes, "Master of Study" and "My Too Perfect Sons," and was written by Lee Jung-woo, who wrote "Gunman in Joseon" and "Legend of the Patriots."
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| Scenes from the series' first episode, which aired on Saturday / Courtesy of KBS |
Joo said that this series will offer a different perspective on the familiar historical figure.
"He is a well-known figure to everyone, but the way this series looks at him is different. It puts more emphasis on the sensible side of Lee Bang-won," he said. "At the beginning, he is just an ordinary person who is yet to learn and grow. So it would be interesting to see the changes he goes through from an imperfect person to a respected figure."
The director noted that this series will follow the life of a person who carries the burden of leading a nation, struggling between power and politics.
"This series will be able to give answers to why Lee Bang-won did the things that he did. It's a story about leadership that values greater good," Kim said.
He emphasized that the series' production team has verified the historical facts included in the story to prevent any concerns over the possibility of distorting any historical facts.
"We have researched the historical facts and consulted with experts. Interpretations of history can vary, so the story is interpreted to flow with the series' plot. But you can be rest-assured about there being no historical distortion," he said.
"The King of Tears, Lee Bang-won" airs on Saturdays and Sundays at 9:40 p.m.
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