MANILA, Philippines – Award-winning actor Lee Min-ho makes a return after a three-year hiatus in Netflix’s new K-drama The King: Eternal Monarch. 

Together with Goblin star Kim Go-eun and writer Kim Eun-suk, the new fantasy romance tells the story of two parallel universes, one in which Korea is a constitutional monarchy, and one similar to present-day Korea. 

Unique concept

Lee Min-ho plays the role of protagonist Emperor Lee Gon, the monarch of the Korean Empire capital in Busan in the year 2020. 

Kim Go-eun, on the other hand, takes on the role of detective Jung Tae-eul, who works in a homicide squad in present-day Korea. 

Lee Gon is in search of the other half of the magic flute, which was stolen by his uncle Lord Geumyang back in 1995. But the young emperor also strangely possesses an ID with a photo of a woman and her job title: “Inspector Jeong Tae-eul. Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.” 

The two meet as Lee Gon crosses to the alternative universe and rides a white horse through the center of Gwanghwamun plaza, prompting Tae-eul to confront him.

“Finally, we meet,” says Lee Gon, as he has also been searching for Tae-eul all these years. 

Dual roles 

Kim Go-eun and Woo Do-hwan face the challenge of juggling dual roles within the alternate universes of the drama. 

Aside from playing Tae-eul, Kim Go-eun also plays Luna, a criminal in Lee Gon’s kingdom. 

Woo Do-hwan mainly plays Lee Gon’s right-hand man and bodyguard, but is Jo Eun-seop in our world’s version of the universe. 

“I think I tried to be as loyal as possible to the script and throughout the shooting because in the story I appear for the most time as the character Tae-eul. And I had to kind of newly meet the character Luna within the within that cadence,” said Kim Go-eun in a virtual press conference on Thursday, April 16. 

“I think it was a little bit more fun a little more challenging, a little bit more unique to play that role of Luna, because I think the role of Luna is something that you won’t really see commonly in other K-dramas.” 

Reunion with Kim Eun-suk

Screenwriter Kim Eun-suk has written a number of K-Drama hits such as The Heirs (2013), Descendants of the Sun (2016) and Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (Goblin) (2016-2017)

Riding on the success of Goblin, Kim Eun-suk reunites with Kim Go-eun and will be working again with Lee Min-ho fresh off his hiatus from mandatory military service. 

For the actors and actresses, the idea was initially difficult to follow, but reading the script made them excited over how the concept would unfold in the TV series. 

“I am very happy to say that I think I have matured a little more since then and also we were able to communicate on a more truer level for which I’m very grateful,” said Lee Min-ho, who worked with Kim Eun-suk in The Heirs.

“And of course, as always, I couldn’t help but marvel at the abilities of writer Kim Eun-suk as I read the script, so I am really doing my best to make our second work great.” 

‘Watch it from the beginning’

According to the stars, the progression of the drama should be something to watch out for from the get-go. 

“This drama is one that gets more fun with each episode, so it’s important to watch from the beginning,” said Kim Go-eun. 

“This drama has a lot of different traits and is sometimes like an epic, a romance, and a melodrama. I think you’ll be able to enjoy watching the dual roles and different transformations,” added Lee Min-ho. 

The series premieres on Netflix on Friday, April 17 at 10:30 pm, with weekly episodes every Friday and Saturday. – Rappler.com