The King: Eternal Monarch is a story about a king from Korea who finds a door to another world. This other world is very similar to his, but it’s not the same. He meets a policewoman in the new world, and they work together to stop bad things from happening. They also try to close the door between the two worlds so that no one can go back and forth anymore. The story has a lot of magic and love in it.
The King: Eternal Monarch Drama Review |
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| Drama | The King: Eternal Monarch |
| Channel | SBS TV, Netflix |
| Director | Baek Sang-hoon, Jung Ji-hyun and Yoo Je-won |
| Producers | Jinnie Choi and Yoon Ha-rim |
| Starring | Lee Min-ho, Kim Go-eun, Woo Do-hwan, Kim Kyung-nam |
| Writer/Screenplay by | Kim Eun-sook |
| Country of origin | South Korea |
| Release date | April 17 –June 12, 2020 |
| IMDB rating | 8.1/10 |
| Google users rating | 92% liked this TV show |
| Total episodes | 16 |
| The first episode’s airing date | April 17, 2020 |
| Average episode length | 70 – 79 minutes |
| Language | Korean |
| Genre | Romance and Fantasy |
| This show is | Romantic |
| Maturity rating | 15+ |
The King: Eternal Monarch Cast
| Actor/Actress Name | Character Name |
| Lee Min-ho | Lee Gon |
| Kim Go-eun | Jeong Tae-eul |
| Woo Do-hwan | Jo Eun-seob |
| Jung Eun-chae | Goo Seo-ryung |
| Kim Kyung-nam | Kang Shin-jae |
| Kim Yong-ji | Myeong Na-ri |
| Lee Jung-jin | Lee Rim |
| Kim Young-ok | Noh Ok-nam |
| Park So-jin | Jo Hae-in |
| Lee Hong-nae | Seok Ho-pil |
| Kang Hong-seok | Jang Mi-reuk |
| Kang Ki-doong | Secretary Kim |
| Seo Jung-Yeon | Song Jung-hye |
| Kwon Yul | Lee Ho |
| Jeon Moo-song | Lee Jong-in |
| Kim Jung Young | – |
| Jeon Bae-soo | Jeong Do-in |
| Heo Dong-won | Detective Shim |
| Hwang Se-on | – |
| Yang Hyun-Min | – |
| Yoon Seong-Woo | Myung-ho |
| Baek Hyeonju | Secretary Mo |
| Park Ji-yeon | Park Ji-young |
| Yoon Sang | – |
| Seung-Ri Ha | Jang Yeon-ji |
| Jeon No-Min | Captain Choi Gi-taek |
| Jo Jae-yoon | Arcade-worker in-charge of the shooting game |
| Park Hoon | – |
| Choi Woo-sung | – |
| Lee Hae Young | Yoo Kyung-moo |
| Woo Ji-hyun | – |
| Tae In-ho | Choe Min-hwan |
| Hwang Young-hee | Park Sook-jin |
| Ahn Si-Ha | Kim Hee-joo |
| Park Won-sang | Park Moon-sik |
| Lee Ho Chul | Dalgoo |
| Kim Jong-tae | Lee Sang-do |
| Song Sang-Eun | Kyung-ran |
| Kim Wook | Choi Nam-jin |
| Heo Jae-ho | Kim Bok-man |
| Jang Hae-min | – |
| Yang Jo-ah | Ms. Baek |
| Noreen Joyce Guerra | – |
| Lee Hwang-eui | – |
| Lee Ji-hyun | – |
| Kim Gui-Seon | – |
| Jung Ye-na | Jo Eun-bi |
The King: Eternal Monarch Overview
The King: Eternal Monarch is one of the best South Korean dramas of all time based on fantasy romance. It tells the story of a king named Lee Gon from the Kingdom of Korea. He finds a magic door that leads him to a different world. This world is much like his, but it’s not the same. It’s where he meets a strong and brave female police detective. They start to work together and fall in love. The show takes us on an adventure between two worlds and shows us how they are connected.
Original SoundTrack
| Part | Release Date | Single | Artist | Notes |
| 1 | April 18, 2020 | I Just Want To Stay With You | Zion.T | |
| 2 | April 19, 2020 | Orbit | Mamamoo’s Hwasa | |
| 3 | Second week of airing | Gravity | Kim Jong-wan | Released 4 hours prior to the episode’s broadcast |
| 4 | Second week of airing | Maze | Yongzoo | Released 4 hours prior to the episode’s broadcast |
| 5 | Following week | I Fall In Love | Ha Sung-woon | |
| 6 | Following week | Please Don’t Cry | Davichi | |
| 12 | Pushed back from May 29 | – | – | Originally scheduled for May 29, postponed due to episode delay |
| 13 | Pushed back from May 30 | – | – | Originally scheduled for May 30, postponed due to episode delay |
K-drama The King: Eternal Monarch Storyline
The King: Eternal Monarch is a fantasy drama about two parallel worlds. Emperor Lee Gon from the Kingdom of Korea finds a magic door that takes him to another world. This other world is the Republic of Korea, a different place from his kingdom. Lee Gon’s evil half-uncle, Lee Rim, opened the door. Lee Gon wants to stop Lee Rim’s bad actions and get back a special object that lets them go between the two worlds. This drama mixes elements of romance, mystery, and action as Lee Gon and Jeong Tae-eul work together across two different worlds.
Plot Summary
The King: Eternal Monarch weaves a tale of two parallel worlds: the Kingdom of Korea and the Republic of Korea. Emperor Lee Gon of Korea stumbles upon a magical doorway leading to the Republic of Korea, where he encounters Jeong Tae-eul, a persistent detective. This discovery starts an intricate narrative exploring the bond between these two distinct universes.
As Lee Gon falls for Tae-eul, they join forces to confront his malevolent half-uncle, Lee Rim, who seeks to exploit the powers of a mystical flute that connects their worlds. Challenges mark their journey as they aim to thwart Lee Rim’s sinister ambitions and mend the fabric of their intertwined destinies.
Synopsis
The King: Eternal Monarch is a K- drama. It tells the story of Lee Gon, the Emperor of Korea, who discovers a portal to another world, the Republic of Korea. There, he meets Jeong Tae-eul, a female police detective. Together, they explore the connection between their worlds, facing challenges and fighting against a common enemy who threatens the balance between the two universes. This drama combines romance, mystery, and the idea of parallel worlds in a captivating tale of love and duty.
Parents Guide
The King: Eternal Monarch is rated as suitable for viewers over the age of 15 in South Korea, with similar guidance in other countries. It features moderate violence, including scenes with blood and the use of weapons, but no explicit sexual content. The show also depicts moderate use of alcohol and some profanity. Its intense scenes and violent themes might not suit young children. Parents should consider these factors before allowing children to watch the drama.
The King: Eternal Monarch Awards and Nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
| 2020 | SBS Drama Awards | Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Fantasy/Romance Drama | Lee Min-ho | Won |
| Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Fantasy/Romance Drama | Kim Go-eun | Nominated | ||
| Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Fantasy/Romance Drama | Lee Jung-jin | Nominated | ||
| Woo Do-hwan | Nominated | |||
| Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Fantasy/Romance Drama | Jung Eun-chae | Nominated | ||
| Best Supporting Actress | Kim Yong-ji | Nominated | ||
| Best Couple Award | Lee Min-ho and Kim Go-eun | Nominated |
User Reviews
- Mixed Views on Plot and Execution: One user praised the show for its deep, rich characters and ambitious storytelling involving time travel and parallel universes but felt the ending was only satisfactory and not as strong as it could have been. They appreciated the dual roles played by actors and noted the seamless execution but found the final resolution less satisfying.
- Appreciation for Intricate Storyline: Another review highlighted the drama’s clever use of parallel worlds, mentioning the need for attention to detail as events in one world affect the other. The reviewer found the action, humor, and romance well-balanced and thoroughly enjoyed the series.
- Critical Perspective: A more critical take pointed out what they saw as excessive product placement and felt the drama sometimes prioritized this over plot or character development. The review expressed disappointment in the handling of cliffhangers and found the dialogue cheesy at times, with a perceived lack of chemistry between the leads.
- Positive Reception for Characters and Cinematography: A review praised the drama for its compelling characters and beautiful settings. It highlighted the successful blend of reality, fiction, and sci-fi elements that kept their interest from start to finish, commending the cinematography and editing for enhancing the visual experience.
- Varied Engagement with the Drama: Another user’s review before completing the series found the plot thrilling and engaging but questioned the king’s deep affection for the female lead, whom they viewed as less appealing compared to other characters. Despite this, the story’s compelling nature was a strong point.
