What’s happening?

Parallel universes become connected through a gateway. In one universe, the Empire of Korea is ruled through a modern monarchy by Emperor Lee Gon, while the other universe features the Republic of Korea we know and love today. With demons threatening to enter and ravage his world, Emperor Lee Gon does everything he can to close the gateway — even if it means going to the other, unfamiliar world. Enter police officer Jung Tae Il, who just wants to protect the people she loves.

… and there are doppelgangers?

Well, not really. Some of the actors were reported to be playing dual roles, and this can be attributed to primarily to the fact that there are parallel universes. Which means what exists in one universe can exist in the other with the same face but a completely different name and personality. So far, we’re sure that two actors have been confirmed to be playing dual roles — Kim Go Eun and Woo Do Hwan.

Also, they dropped the trailer yesterday, and we’re on the edge of our seats. We’re still not sure what’s going to happen, but that’s the fun part, right?

LEE. MIN. HO. FINALLY.

Lee Min Ho plays the titular king, Emperor Lee Gon of the other Korea ruled by monarchy. Those kingly outfits do fit him well, don’t they?

Post-Goblin Kim Go Eun

After the uber successful, highly rated Goblin, the actress behind the Goblin’s bride, Kim Go Eun, focused on films for the past few years. But now, she’s back on the small screen to star alongside Lee Min Ho.

Kim Go Eun plays two roles in this drama. In the Republic of Korea, she is Jung Tae Il, a police officer who encounters Emperor Lee Gon when he crosses the gateway. In the Empire of Korea, she is Luna, a criminal at the bottom of the social food chain, but one who seems to have a past with the emperor.

New Blood

Woo Do Hwan may be newer to the acting scene than the leading actors, but he’s proven again and again that he can keep up — or maybe even surpass — with his talented colleagues. Just watch his amazing performances in Save Me (2017), Mad Dog (2017), The Great Temptation (2018), and My Country: The New Age (2019).

Woo Do Hwan fulfills the role of Jo Young, the personal bodyguard of Emperor Lee Gon in the Empire of Korea, but he also plays Jo Eun Seop, an ordinary public service worker in the Republic of Korea.

An overall talented cast

Joining Lee Min Ho, Kim Go Eun, and Woo Do Hwan are no slackers either. Jung Eun Chae (Legal High) plays Goo Seo Ryung, the youngest and first female prime minister of the Empire of Korea, making her confident and quite haughty. Kim Kyung Nam plays level-headed Kang Shin Jae, a fellow detective of Jung Tae Il. And Lee Jung Jin is Lee Rim, the emperor’s uncle.

Top-Billed Creative Team

The actors’ section of the K-drama is not the only one filled with stars, because even the creative production team behind the cameras are quite well-known. The screenwriter who penned the story is Kim Eun Sook, also known as the mind behind the highly successful K-dramas Descendants of the Sun, Goblin, The Heirs, and Secret Garden. She has previously worked with Lee Min Ho in The Heirs and Kim Go Eun in Goblin. Meanwhile, the director leading the production is Baek Sang Hoon, one of the co-directors of the ever aesthetically pleasing Descendants of the Sun.

Save the Date

April 17, guys! Add The King; Eternal Monarch on your List on Netflix so that you’ll be notified right away when the episode drops!

What do you think of this new K-drama? Are you excited about Lee Min Ho’s comeback? Tell us how much you missed Lee Min Ho below!