tvN X TVING original drama 'Wongyeong' (Directed by Kim Sang-ho / Written by Lee Young-mi / Produced by Studio Dragon and JS Pictures). As the episodes progress, Cha Joo-young is redefining the character of a new historical drama heroine with charm beyond that of a 'queen'. As is already well known, 'Wongyeong' is a recreated story from the perspective of Queen Wongyeong (Cha Joo-young), which has drawn attention. Her differentiated narrative as a political partner who created a new Joseon with her husband Lee Bang-won (Lee Hyun-wook) and as the mother who raised the greatest king in history is even more captivating.
Viewers are also falling for Wongyeong's strong character and charisma. At the center of this is Cha Joo-young, who is unleashing her acting potential that she has solidly built up. The production team stated, "Cha Joo-young delicately captured the nuances of the love-hate narrative that only a couple can understand, and she exuded the unwavering dignity of a queen who, knowing her tragic fate amidst the turmoil of a new Joseon, moves forward without avoidance. As previously announced, Cha Joo-young will portray Wongyeong's life story. In the remaining four episodes, her outstanding acting, which encompasses Wongyeong's later years, will explode even more. We ask you to watch until the end."
#1. Active Love → The Birth of a Female Lead Who Protects the Male Lead
Wongyeong's active and independent love began in the prequel 'Wongyeong: The Connection of Dano'. She chose love with Lee Bang-won, breaking off her marriage to a royal family member, fully aware that she might be cast out of her family. When her husband, now a general, secretly prepared weapons for a great cause, she firmly stated, "This is how I love you." Later, when Lee Bang-won raised a rebellion and faced threats from his father, Lee Seong-gye (Lee Seong-min), who did not recognize him, Wongyeong held onto him tightly. On the day of the coup, she armored him, saying, "Tonight, history is on our side," and did not hesitate to throw herself in front of him when Lee Seong-gye swung his mace. It was Wongyeong who provided clever solutions to Lee Bang-won, who was suffering from psychological pressure and sadness due to Lee Seong-gye's refusal to change his mind, to the extent that the idiom 'Hamheung Chasa' was coined. She discreetly informed him that Lee Seong-gye was alone at Woonjungpo (a port in Hwanghae Province) with only a few soldiers, using the justification of "I came to serve you at the risk of my life" to move her father. In the seventh episode, when her husband confessed that he felt lonely and isolated, like an island floating alone on a vast sea while protecting the throne, Wongyeong vowed, "I will always stay by your side." This is why we cannot help but support Wongyeong's touching love, which constantly checks and fights with both her own family and Lee Bang-won, even to the point of bloodshed.
#2. Exceptional Strategy → Charisma of Reversal
Although a new Joseon was opened with the relocation to Hanyang, remnants that needed to be swept away still remained. Wongyeong's strategy shone during every crisis of the nation. When the Ming envoy, Hwang Eom (Park Soo-young), demanded a tribute girl, a remnant of the Yuan dynasty, Wongyeong took action just as her friend had been taken as a tribute girl before marriage, risking everything to find a solution. As the head of the inn, she skillfully utilized 'the king's women'. She gathered information about Hwang Eom's corruption from the family of the concubine, Kwon Seon (Yeon Si-woo), and eased the envoy's suspicions with lavish hospitality from Chae Ryeong (Lee Yi-dam). She also foresaw the issue of corrupt wealth accumulation among the powerful and royal family members. She obtained advance information that her brother, Min Mu-gu (Han Seung-won), would be publicly criticized by the royal family member, Myung Seon-dae-bu (Choi Byeong-mo), for making profits through unjust means, and turned this into a solution for the housing shortage and skyrocketing house prices among the officials. When Min Mu-gu offered to dedicate all the houses to the country, showing loyalty, the powerful and royal family members had no choice but to follow suit. Wongyeong ensured that her brother would avoid punishment by admitting his guilt and further provided a twofold strategy that would help Lee Bang-won in governing the people. Her charisma was akin to "the appearance of a king as if Queen Seondeok had been reincarnated."
#3. Great Motherhood → The Reason for the Birth of a Great King
Additionally, from the very beginning, Wongyeong paid meticulous attention to the education of the princes. She sternly taught them that "one should not rule over the people just because one has power." Wongyeong particularly focused on the studies of the Crown Prince, personally choosing the colors of the study room walls according to the principles of Yin and Yang, and emphasized reading books three times a day with the officials in charge of the Crown Prince's education. However, when Prince Yangnyeong preferred hunting over studying, she scolded him sternly but also gifted him a world map, meaning "harbor great ambitions." To protect the Crown Prince, she boldly confronted Lee Bang-won. Wongyeong knew better than anyone that her husband could threaten their son, just as Lee Seong-gye had done for a greater cause. Thus, when Lee Bang-won created a power struggle to test the loyalty of his subjects regarding the Crown Prince, Wongyeong vividly displayed her formidable motherhood, which could rival the royal authority. Even Lee Bang-won, caught in a dilemma, had to take a step back. With only four episodes left in 'Wongyeong', it is predicted that the deposition of Prince Yangnyeong and the appointment of Prince Chungnyeong will be addressed. Even amidst the whirlpool of misfortune, Wongyeong's great motherhood, which created a solid character for the great king by being a vast support for her sons, can be inferred as the foundation for the birth of a great monarch.
The tvN X TVING original drama 'Wongyeong' airs every Monday and Tuesday at 8:50 PM on tvN. Prior to that, two episodes are pre-released every Monday at 2 PM on TVING. The prequel 'Wongyeong: The Connection of Dano', which was released on the 21st, can also be enjoyed on TVING.
