In the tvN X TVING original drama ‘Wongyeong’, Cha Joo-young sparked explosive anticipation for the remaining two episodes with an ending that recognized the new king who would bloom as the flower of Joseon. On this day, the highest rating rose to 7%.
The 10th episode 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), which aired on the 28th, showed a continuous upward trend in ratings, achieving an average of 5.6% nationwide, a peak of 7.0%, an average of 5.2% in the metropolitan area, and a peak of 6.5%, breaking its own record and ranking first in the same time slot including cable and general programming channels. (Based on paid platforms including cable, IPTV, and satellite / provided by Nielsen Korea)
In this broadcast, Wongyeong (Cha Joo-young) used the ‘Sinmungo’ to expose the corruption of the royal family and officials, alleviating the unjust and difficult reality of the people. Wongyeong sent a letter detailing the realities she witnessed outside the palace to Lee Bang-won, but it did not reach him. The letter was intercepted by Myungseon Daebu (Choi Byeong-mo), who was monitoring her actions. Meanwhile, Myungseon Daebu used the fact that the loyalist Lee Mu (Kwon Hye-sung) met the exiled brothers Min Mu-gu (Han Seung-won) and Min Mu-jil (Kim Woo-dam) as an excuse to accuse them of treason. Additionally, he detained Wongyeong at Hwaeamsa and devised a dangerous scheme to somehow make her a deposed queen.
However, Wongyeong was not one to just endure. Late at night, she escaped Hwaeamsa, avoiding the eyes of the soldiers, to help the people ring the Sinmungo. The Sinmungo was a system established in the second year of King Taejong for the people to report their grievances. Just then, Lee Bang-won also arrived at the scene. Wongyeong had previously informed the Crown Princess (Lee Hyo-bi) to turn back Lee Bang-won, who was about to go hunting, just in case.
Wongyeong reported in detail the corruption of the officials, the grievances of the people who did not receive relief, the lands that had not been conveyed to Hwaeamsa, and the fact that Myungseon Daebu had brought soldiers and impersonated the royal command to detain her. In response to her powerful words, the people bowed and chanted, “Your Majesty, please look upon us.” Myungseon Daebu, who had fled, met a tragic end when he was struck by a stone thrown by the father of a child he had ordered to be starved to death. And Lee Bang-won ultimately ordered Min Mu-gu and Min Mu-jil, who were plotting treason, to take their own lives.
Wongyeong endured countless pains with composure. Before the great event, she had even put armor on her husband, saying they must bear unexpected sacrifices. After the stormy turmoil, the new order of Joseon that Wongyeong and Lee Bang-won dreamed of began to take shape. Now, there were no people starving to death during the barley famine, nor were there people robbed of grains or wealth by corrupt officials. Time flowed peacefully as Wongyeong and Bang-won’s hair turned gray.
Now, Lee Bang-won’s remaining goal was to make Crown Prince Yangnyeong (Moon Seong-hyun) an unwavering king. Lee Bang-won said, “I have sown enough seeds. You must make the flowers bloom. That is the only thing left,” and devoted himself to educating the qualities of a king. However, the crown prince was straying down a path that did not reflect his parents' intentions. His studies were lacking, and he sometimes focused on cultivating strong power, even if it was cruel. Moreover, he was too light for a royal and could not respond properly even when humiliated by his maternal relatives. Wongyeong, while saying, “I believe in the crown prince,” was shaken.
On the other hand, there was a prince who was said to be “born with the qualities of a king.” That was Chungnyeong Daegun (Park Sang-hoon). He had already read the ‘Daehak Yeonui’ (a book that elaborates on the Great Learning, a study of the way of kings) five times, which took the crown prince six years to read once, showing his exceptional depth of study. Above all, he possessed a broad character that could embrace the people. Looking down at Hanyang, Chungnyeong Daegun said with a full heart, “Hanyang is truly vast, to the point where its end cannot be seen.” He saw Hanyang not just as land, but as a place filled with people who cry and laugh.
Chungnyeong Daegun would later become King Sejong the Great, the most revered king in history. Wongyeong’s meaningful gaze at her son, saying, “You want to become a king,” raised expectations for the final two episodes of ‘Wongyeong’. The tvN X TVING original drama ‘Wongyeong’ airs every Monday and Tuesday at 8:50 PM on tvN. Additionally, two episodes are pre-released every Monday at 2 PM on Tving.
