The tvN X TVING original drama 'Wongyeong' has confirmed its premiere on January 6 (Monday) and released behind-the-scenes footage of the intense script rehearsal. Cha Joo-young and Lee Hyun-wook, who meet as a couple from the Joseon royal family, will heat up the new year of 2025 with this high-quality historical drama that tvN is proud of.
The tvN X TVING original drama 'Wongyeong' (directed by Kim Sang-ho, written by Lee Young-mi, produced by Studio Dragon and JS Pictures) centers around Queen Wongyeong, who dreams of a new world and seizes power alongside her husband, King Taejong Lee Bang-won. It depicts the hot stories hidden between the king and queen, husband and wife. The drama aims to create and reinterpret the story of this couple, known as political partners, from Wongyeong's perspective, adding intrigue to the plot. It is being highlighted as a work that will continue the successful lineage of well-made historical dramas from tvN, such as 'The Tale of Nokdu' and 'Shuroop'.
In September last year, the script rehearsal took place in Sangam-dong, Seoul, where director Kim Sang-ho, writer Lee Young-mi, and the main cast including Cha Joo-young, Lee Hyun-wook, Lee Yi-dam, Lee Si-ah, Choi Deok-moon, Park Yong-woo, Han Seung-won, Kim Woo-dam, Park Ji-il, So Hee-jung, Jeong Yi-soon, Kim Jeong, Song Jae-ryong, and Hwang Young-hee gathered, filling the venue with vibrant energy. The narrative of the Joseon royal couple, depicted with high density from the start, came alive through the passionate performances of the actors, greatly raising expectations for 'Wongyeong' even during rehearsals. On this day, Cha Joo-young, who plays Wongyeong, expressed her unique determination and expectations for the project, saying, "I feel a good sense of pressure. I will prepare calmly and fiercely. I hope we can create a wonderful work together," marking the beginning of the rehearsal.
Cha Joo-young, who is making her first challenge in historical dramas as Queen Wongyeong Min, was already deeply immersed in her character from the moment she delivered her first line. Her portrayal of a strong, principled woman who "never lived carelessly for a single moment" was brought to life with calm yet dignified speech and intense charisma. Lee Hyun-wook, who plays her husband, King Taejong Lee Bang-won, also exuded a commanding aura with his unique heavy performance, making his historical drama debut seem effortless. When Lee Bang-won, driven by a goal-oriented competitive spirit, declares, "I must protect the royal authority," his sharp lines prove his acting reputation, showcasing the coexistence of good and evil.
Above all, the combination of Cha Joo-young and Lee Hyun-wook, which fulfills the 'historical drama wish' of fans, reached its peak with the genuine love story that blossomed between Bang-won and Wongyeong, who are husband and wife before being king and queen. When the two actors exchanged lines and locked eyes, sparks flew, igniting explosive reactions on set. From the beginning of their pink love story, where they promised to "see the world touching the sky," to the thrilling moments they shared while seizing royal power, and the heartbreaking betrayal and sharp conflicts that followed their promise to "share everything," the chemistry of love and hate created by Cha Joo-young and Lee Hyun-wook foreshadowed the birth of an unprecedented 'high-quality couple romance historical drama.'
The performances of the women revealing their hidden desires due to Lee Bang-won, who brings in concubines to pressure Wongyeong, added fuel to this conflict, further igniting the atmosphere on set. Lee Yi-dam, a complete rookie with both visuals and acting skills, made a strong impression in the living room as 'Chae-ryeong,' the queen's maid who becomes the king's woman. Her cunning and flirtation hidden behind an innocent angelic face created a chilling tension as she walked the tightrope between Wongyeong and Bang-won. Lee Si-ah, who is actively showcasing her solid acting potential, took on the role of 'Yeong-sil,' a concubine who bears the king's child, expressing extreme emotions freely and enhancing immersion. With beauty that turns heads as she walks by, she pressures Wongyeong while enjoying power alongside the prince, shaking the intense couple's narrative.
In addition, the stable and profound performances of the supporting cast captivated viewers and added weight to the drama. The cast includes Choi Deok-moon and Park Yong-woo as officials Ha Ryun and Lee Suk-beon of Joseon, Han Seung-won and Kim Woo-dam as Wongyeong's brothers Min Mu-goo and Min Mu-jil, Park Ji-il as Wongyeong's father Min Je, So Hee-jung as the manufacturing palace lady Jeong Sang-gung, Jeong Yi-soon as the middle palace lady Seo Sang-gung, Kim Jeong as the great palace lady Kim Sang-gung, Song Jae-ryong as the blind fortune teller Pan-soo, and Hwang Young-hee as Ban Bang-ja Gyo Ha-dak, all of whom elevated the tension of the political struggles for royal authority with their undeniable and reliable performances, drawing viewers into the drama without respite.
The production team of 'Wongyeong' conveyed the atmosphere, saying, "Every time a new character appeared, the energy was tremendous. The fierce acting battle among the actors overwhelmed the set. From the first rehearsal, we were confident that a wonderful work would emerge with the living characters." They added, "Director Kim Sang-ho and writer Lee Young-mi, who collaborated on the drama 'Money Game,' projected the psychological warfare of characters on a different level onto Wongyeong and Lee Bang-won's narrative as a couple. The fiery performances of Cha Joo-young and Lee Hyun-wook brought this to life perfectly, raising expectations even higher. On January 6 next year, we will present a new drama that has never been seen before, a work that is interesting, intriguing, and will stay in your heart for a long time."
'tvN X TVING Original' is a drama co-planned by tvN (TV) and Tving (OTT) considering the diversifying consumption patterns of viewers. The tvN X TVING original drama 'Wongyeong' will have its first two episodes pre-released on Tving at 2 PM on January 6 (Monday), and the first episode will premiere on tvN at 8:50 PM, maximizing the efficiency and satisfaction of both TV and OTT audiences. A prequel series containing the backstory of the drama will also be released later as a Tving original.
