Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 1 of Mr. Queen, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Shin Hye-sun as Kim So-yong, Kim Jyung-hun as King  Cheojong, Seol In-ah as Jo Hwa-jin, Na In-woo as Kim Byeong-in, and Choi Jin-hyuk as Jang Bong-hwan.

We discuss:

• The historical context for the show. King Cheoljong was a real king! He was illiterate and untrained when he came to power, and was a known womanizer and drinker.
• The name of this K Drama in Korean is Queen Cheorin.
• The different characters in the show, including Jang Bong-hwan, King Cheoljong, Kim So-yong, Jo Hwa-jin, Heon Yeong, Court Lady Choi, and Kim  Byeong-in.
• How Jang Bong-hwan fell into the pool, was kissed by Kim So-yong and ended up in Kim So-yong’s body.
• The hilarious wedding between King Cheoljong and Kim So-yong.
• The two types of concubines in the Korean court during the Joseon period.
• There are so many K Drama elements in this first episode!
• How the episode ends on a cliffhanger. What will happen on King Cheoljong and Kim So-yong’s wedding night?
• How Joanna has discovered C Dramas and is absolutely obsessed with Hidden Love!
• Instagrammer Ina Kim on expressions we hear a lot in K Dramas.

References

• Background on King Cheoljong
• Ina Kim on Instagram