Between Love and Revenge: The Korean Drama 'Spy, The Enticed'

The Korean drama “Captivating the King”undefinedThe drama will air starting January 21, 2024. Although it is a weekend drama, due to the AFC Asian Cup broadcast on Saturdays, the first two episodes will air consecutively on Sunday instead of Saturday.

“Captivating the King” deals with a fictional historical setting, but given the appearance of a war with the Qing Dynasty, the time period is presumed to be the 17th century during the Joseon Dynasty's Bingja Horan (the Second Manchu Invasion). The protagonist, ‘Yi-in’, who is the king's younger brother, is taken hostage to the Qing Dynasty and returns to Joseon after several years. However, the king and those around him greet Yi-in with indifference upon his return. They suspect Yi-in of being a Qing spy, a ‘secret agent’. Troubled by the reactions of those around him, Yi-in encounters a mysterious Go player who offers him support.

‘Kang Hee-soo’ is a woman who has exceptional Go skills due to watching her father play since childhood. However, as a woman, it's difficult for her to play Go, so she disguises herself as a man and secretly participates in Go matches for money. During one of these matches, she encounters Yi-in and defends him against unfair treatment, and they become friends, playing Go together. Yi-in gives her the nickname ‘Mong-u’, which means ‘drizzle’ or ‘light rain’.undefinedYi-in continuously faces suspicion of being a Qing spy, ‘secret agent’, from his brother, the king, and ultimately ascends to the throne as a result of political struggles. In the drama's trailer, there's a scene where Yi-in appears to be wielding a sword towards Kang Hee-soo during his ascension. It seems likely that she was betrayed by Yi-in. Even after becoming king, Yi-in continues to play Go with Kang Hee-soo as a companion, but she, consumed by betrayal, decides to become a true ‘secret agent’.

Based solely on the official trailer, the exact narrative between these two characters remains unclear, appearing quite complex. It seems they transitioned from mutual affection to animosity but still harbor feelings for each other. It's intriguing to see how their relationship evolves. While the genre is categorized as romance and melodrama, it's expected that the political conflicts of the Joseon era will play a significant role.undefinedFurthermore, the drama boasts a talented cast, including Jo Jung-seok, Shin Se-kyung, Jo Seong-ha, Son Hyun-joo, and Jang Yeong-nam, generating anticipation for their performances.undefinedThe Korean drama “Captivating the King” premieres on January 21 and will subsequently be available on TVING and Netflix.