(Click the picture above to view a bigger copy in another tab.)“Mr. Queen” (Cheorinwanghu; lit. “Queen Cheorin”) is a 2020 South Korean television series based on the Chinese novel Go Princess Go and its web series adaptation which aired on LeTV in 2015. Directed by Yoon Sung-sik, it stars Shin Hye-sun and Kim Jung-hyun as the 25th queen and king of the Joseon Dynasty. The series is about a man named Bong-hwan from the modern age, being trapped in the body of Queen Cheorin in the Joseon era. It premiered on tvN on December 12, 2020 and airs every Saturday and Sunday at 21:00 (KST). It is available for streaming on Viu in Southeast Asia and Hong Kong. (Wikipedia)
Genres: Historical, comedy, time travel, body swap
How I wrote these episode summaries with no spoilers
1. I assumed that you will be reading these summaries and watching the videos chronologically.
2. I narrated some of the main actions in each episode, without revealing the plot’s twists and turns.
3. With Episode 20 (Finale), however, I included spoilers. Reason — people who have not seen this drama want to know whether it has a good/happy ending or a sad ending before they invest their time in watching it.
I used basically this same structure in my synopses of “Queen In-Hyun’s Man,” “IRIS,” “Yi San,” “The Joseon Gunman,” “Gokusen,” “Misaeng,” “Goblin,” and “Descendants of the Sun.” For some episodes of this synopsis, however, I included in a table highlights of the previous episode to provide some important context for the next episode or for the whole drama. For example, Ep. 9 shows what really happened to King Cheoljong, Queen Cheorin, and Royal Noble Consort Eui during their childhood years. I posted what really happened in Ep. 9 in a table at the start of Ep. 10; since you have already seen the video for Ep. 9, this is no longer a spoiler.
Episode 1: “Jang Bong-hwan in Wonderland”
Jang Bong-hwan is the youngest chef in the Blue House, the official residence of the South Korean president. A playboy, he’s supremely confident of his culinary skills, but because of an incident with the food that he prepared for the Chinese envoy, he’s kicked out of the Blue House. Later, as police officers follow up on the incident, he tries to escape but, instead, falls from the ledge and plunges into a swimming pool.
1851, Joseon Dynasty ...
Jang Bong-hwan wakes up and finds himself in the body of Kim So-yong (a young noblewoman), who’s just recovering from an accident. Confused, he tries to get back to his own time by diving into a lake.
The Grand Queen Dowager exercises power in the royal court, being the regent for King Cheoljong. Helping her is her younger brother Minister Kim Jwa-geun, who’s the leader of the Andong Kim clan. But the Queen Dowager and the ministers who belong to the rival Poongyang Jo clan plot to wrest control of the royal court by having Jo Hwa-jin, a minister’s daughter, appointed as a Royal Noble Consort. To stop her appointment, the Andong Kim clan ministers accuse Jo Hwa-jin of causing Kim So-yong’s accident.
To his horror, later on, Jang Bong-hwan (Kim So-yong) finds out that he/she will be married off to King Cheoljong.
Notes:
1. In history, the rival Andong Kim and Poongyang Jo clans dominated Joseon politics in the 1800s; you can read more about these rival poltical clans and about “sedo politics” (royal in-law politics) in the “Historical backgrounders” section below.
2. The beautiful bridge and pond shown below are used as the location for several scenes, starting with Ep. 1. This bridge is located in the Gungnamji Pond (Historic Site No. 135) in Seodong Park; it is Korea’s first artificial pond and was created by King Mu from the Baekje Dynasty. The bridge and pond have been used in other dramas such as “The Flower in Prison,” “The Joseon Gunman,” and “The Tale of Nokdu.”
Episode 2: “Wins in the Morning and Fades in the Night”
After the wedding night, King Cheoljong disguises himself and leaves the palace; he joins his his older brother Prince Yeongpyeong and their trusted men in raiding the secret warehouse of the Andong Kim clan to look for evidence of their corruption.
Queen Cheorin (Bong-hwan) pays her respects to the Grand Queen Dowager and the Queen Dowager. Later, she pleads with the Grand Queen Dowager to fill the lake with water; she also presides over the investiture of Jo Hwa-jin as a Royal Noble Consort.
The Andong Kim clan ministers pressure King Cheoljong to appoint one of their relatives as commander of the Royal Guards Division. Meanwhile, the Queen Dowager meets with Royal Noble Consort Eui and gives her a talisman.
Unable to resist his playboy ways, Bong-hwan (Queen Cheorin) disguises himself, leaves the palace, and visits a gisaeng house.
Episode 3: “Sleeping With the Enemy”
Queen Cheorin (Bong-hwan) is rescued by her cousin Kim Byeong-in, who brings her back to the palace. Later on, King Cheoljong tries to find out what she heard in the gisaeng house.
At the archery range, Bong-hwan (Queen Cheorin) tries to impress Royal Noble Consort Eui; meanwhile, the Minister of War (from the Andong Kim clan) inspects the Royal Commandery Division.
Bong-hwan (Queen Cheorin) becomes dissatisfied with the food served to him. While at the Royal Kitchen, he realizes that he can win over the royal family with his culinary skills. But the Royal Chef asserts his authority and refuses to allow him to inspect the food being served to the Grand Queen Dowager.
Episode 4: “The Man Who Knew Too Much”
King Cheoljong visits Queen Cheorin’s quarters and then slips the truth serum into her tea.
The eunuchs and palace maids continue to work day and night in filling the lake with water. Dissatisfied with the slow pace, Queen Cheorin (Bong-hwan) decides to personally supervise the work.
The Grand Queen Dowager and Minister Kim Jwa-geun plot to get rid of the Queen Dowager and the Poonyang Jo clan by kidnapping Royal Noble Consort Eui’s attendant and forcing her to make a false confession. But King Cheoljong finds out about it and orders Prince Yeongpyeong and his men to rescue the attendant.
Episode 5: “A Heel That Can Easily Get Hurt”
Wanting to look cool in front of everyone, Queen Cheorin (Bong-hwan) saves King Cheoljong and Royal Noble Consort Eui from implicating themselves by revealing that she tried to take her own life at the lake. But to her dismay, later on, she finds out that the well has run out of water and the lake has not been filled up. Worse, the Grand Queen Dowager threatens to dethrone her as queen and to imprison her.
Despite Prince Yeongpyeong’s caution, King Cheoljong asks Queen Cheorin (Bong-hwan) about her motivations in saving him and Royal Noble Consort Eui. But out of anger and frustration of being unable to return to his own time, Queen Cheorin (Bong-hwan) hurls her hair pin at him.
In a secret meeting, the Queen Dowager tells Royal Noble Consort Eui that the Poongyang Jo clan ministers will petition that Queen Cheorin be dethroned. But as they talk, Royal Noble Consort Eui remembers her confrontation with Kim So-yong (Queen Cheorin) on the night she jumped into the lake; she remembers that she threatened to expose how Kim So-yong (Queen Cheorin) tried to kill King Cheoljong.
Episode 6: “Between Understanding and Misunderstanding”
After King Cheoljong saves her from drowning in the lake, Queen Cheorin (Bong-hwan) wonders if the lake is really the right way back to the future; she, thus, decides to resort to shamanism.
Kim Byeong-in is appointed as head of the Justice Department, but the Poongyang Jo clan ministers strike back by presenting their petition to dethrone Queen Cheorin, citing her erratic behavior and repeated attempts to end her life.
When Queen Cheorin finds out about the petition to dethrone her, she visits the Grand Queen Dowager and assures her that she will reform her ways.
Prince Yeongpyeong warns King Cheoljong again that he cannot trust Queen Cheorin. Meanwhile, a shaman tells the Queen Dowager that a wicked soul is inside Queen Cheorin’s body.
Episode 7: “Mask”
As Queen Cheorin’s attendant hurriedly fetches the Royal Physician, they meet King Cheoljong who’s on his way to Royal Noble Consort Eui’s quarters. Meanwhile, in present times, the medical staff revives Bong-hwan, but he remains in a vegetative state.
Kim Byeong-in finds out the connection between Prince Yeongpyeong and the silk mask of the man who attacked Queen Cheorin. Later, as he meets his father, Minister Kim Jwa-geun, he finds out what happened to Queen Cheorin. He goes to the Queen Mother’s quarters and catches the shaman, who’s performing an exorcism rite against Queen Cheorin.
After his men ransack the Royal Kitchen, Kim Byeong-in barges into Queen Cheorin’s quarters and demands that King Cheoljong step aside so that he can take Queen Cheorin with him. His men draw their swords and threaten King Cheoljong when he refuses to step aside.
Episode 8: “A Dangerous Relationship”
After going hunting, King Cheoljeong decides to visit Queen Cheorin. Meanwhile, Bong-hwan (Queen Cheorin) wonders why he has not only flashes of memories that belong to Queen Cheorin but also her talents; he also gains an extremely keen sense of smell. For his revenge against the chef who got him kicked out of the Blue House, he decides to gain the Grand Queen Dowager’s favor by using the large bribes that Queen Cheorin’s father has been hiding.
Minister Kim Jwa-geun orders his son Kim Byeong-in to prepare their evidence against the Queen Dowager. On the other hand, the Queen Mother asks the head of the Poonyang Jo clan to prepare a jade hair pin for their own counterattack.
Royal Noble Consort Eui finds out that King Cheoljong is on his way to visit Queen Cheorin in her ancestral house; she rushes there, afraid that Queen Cheorin will reveal to King Cheoljong what really happened during their childhood years.
In Queen Cheorin’s ancestral house, King Cheoljong becomes intrigued by a secret room hidden behind a folding screen. But, later, when he sees a well in the courtyard, memories of his family’s massacre come rushing into his mind. As he collapses to his knees, Queen Cheorin keeps him steady; Royal Noble Consort Eui arrives just then and sees them.
Notes:
1. In the early part of this episode, Queen Cheorin and her attendant play on a “neolttwigi” (Korean seesaw). Find out more about the “neolttwigi” (Korean seesaw) in the “Historical backgrounders” section below.
2. Spoiler alert: The videos below do not have English subs but show some potential spoilers.
Episode 9: “The Light and the Darkness”
Kim Byeong-in and his men withdraw to give King Cheoljong and Queen Cheorin all the privacy they need. Later, as Queen Cheorin sleeps, King Cheoljong searches for the secret ledger in the hidden room behind the folding screen. His search leads him to the well.
The next day, in the palace, Kim Byeong-in wants to do a background check on all the royal guards, but Prince Yeongpyeong stops him.
Flashback ... Royal Noble Consort Eui reveals to the Queen Dowager what really happened to her and Queen Cheorin during their childhood years.
Queen Cheorin decides to come along with King Cheoljong as he goes undercover in the market; she wants to find out what food she can bring to the palace in order to gain the Queen Dowager’s favor. As she wanders off to a side street and King Cheoljong follows her, several thugs appear and accost them.
That night, in the palace, the Grand Queen Dowager confronts the Queen Dowager if she had anything to do with the previous King’s death. Meanwhile, in Queen Cheorin’s ancestral house, King Cheoljong begins to have visions of what happened to him at the well during his childhood years.
Notes:
1. During her confrontation with the Queen Mother, the Grand Queen Dowager mentions “Surit-nal.” She's referring to the “Dano” Festival.
From Wikipedia: Dano, also called Surit-nal is a Korean traditional holiday that falls on the 5th day of the fifth month of the lunar Korean calendar. It is an official holiday in North Korea and one of the major traditional holidays in South Korea. This year’s Dano celebration is on June 14.
2. Spoiler alert: The videos below show some scenes from Ep. 9; they have English subtitles that might spoil the episode for you.
Episode 10: “Living a Nightmare”
| Ep. 9 recap:
King Cheoljong searches for the secret ledger inside the deep, dark well; when he hears sounds from the mouth of the well, he begins having visions of what happened to him during his childhood ... The young Won Boem (future King Cheoljong) escapes as his family is being massacred. His mother hides him inside a well, pleading that he must live on. Feeling lonely and in despair during her mother’s memorial day, the young Kim So-yong (future Queen Cheorin) climbs down into the well to die. She meets Won Boem there, but despite their mutual desire to end their lives, they fail. Later, her brother Kim Byeong-in finds her in the well; before climbing up out of the well, she gives Won Beom her children’s book and tells him to give it back to her if he finds the will to live on. Kim So-yong’s father and Minister Kim Jwa-geun find out that Won Beom is hiding in the well; they order the servants to block the mouth of the well with heavy stones. Later, Kim So-yong and Kim Byeong-in return to unblock the well, but they run away when they hear some sounds nearby. Having regained his will to live, Won Beom climbs out of the well. He finds a young girl (Jo Hwa-jin, future Royal Noble Consort Eui) waiting for him. Not knowing how to read the name on the children’s book, he assumes that she’s the girl who gave him the book and the hope to live on. 
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Queen Cheorin rescues King Cheoljong from the well and brings him back to her quarters. The next day, they are ordered to go back to the palace by the Grand Queen Dowager.
At the palace, King Cheoljong orders Prince Yeongpyeong to look for the ledger by watching Queen Cheorin’s father. Meanwhile, Queen Cheorin prepares to choose the Royal Concubine, but the Grand Queen Dowager interrupts her plans.
At the lake, Queen Cheorin asks King Cheoljong what kind of women he likes — sexy, cute, or innocent — so that she can pick the right Royal Concubine. But King Cheoljeong demands that he choose the families from which the concubine can come from. Unknown to them, Royal Noble Consort Eui is also at the lake.
The ministers argue over a plan for a party to celebrate Queen Cheorin’s recovery. Later on, Minister Kim Jwa-geun finds out that the ledger is missing.
Royal Noble Consort Eui sends an urgent letter to King Cheoljong. But the letter ends up with the Queen Dowager, who then goes to see King Cheoljong at the library.
While crying over what’s happening between her and King Cheoljong, Royal Noble Consort Eui finds out that her attendant’s decomposing body has been found in a well.
Note: Spoiler alert - The videos below do not have English subs but show some potential spoilers.
Episode 11: “The Unforgiven”
As she hands over the secret ledger, Royal Noble Consort Eui begs the Queen Mother to end her problem with Queen Cheorin. Meanwhile, Bong-hwan/Queen Cheorin’s dream turns into a nightmare.
Queen Cheorin/Bong-hwan meets with the candidates for royal concubines; later, she goes through the family registries of candidates coming from the “Han” lineage, intent on taking vengeance against the official who got him fired from the Blue House.
Prince Yeongpyeong continues to investigate the death of Royal Noble Consort Eui’s attendant. Meanwhile, in the palace, King Cheoljong goes though the lists of foods that he wants the Royal Chef to prepare for the banquet.
The Queen Dowager shares with the head of the Poonyang Jo clan the good news about the secret ledger and how they can use it to destroy the Andong Kim clan. Meanwhile, Minister Kim Jwa-geun tells another member of the Andong Kim clan not to reveal to anyone that the ledger is missing. He also plans to sabotage King Cheoljong’s plans for the royal banquet.
Bong-hwan/Queen Cheorin sends letters to the newly appointed royal concubines through the food carriers. But when the cariers meet a eunuch, they become confused about their instructions.
The Queen Mother tells Queen Cheorin that the hunt during the Surit-nal (“Dano” Festival) is a day for defeating the evil spirits. In the past, people were actually killed, and their blood were used defeat the evil spirits. Now, a hunting event is used, with non-lethal arrows and with the court maids and eunuchs designated as tiger, bear, wolf, fox, and rabbit.
King Cheoljong formally opens the festival. But the Grand Queen Dowager wants to test if what the Queen Dowager said about King Cheoljong is true. Meanwhile, in the hunt, after she gets lost, Queen Cheorin meets Royal Noble Consort Eui.
Notes:
1. Spoiler alert: The teaser video below (with English subs) shows the major events of Ep. 11 and might spoil your viewing of the full episode.
2. Gangneung Dano Festival aka Surit-nal (UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity)
3. Spoiler alert:
Tessenjutsu (Japanese; lit. “iron fan technique”) is the martial art of the Japanese war fan (tessen). It is based on the use of the solid iron fan or the folding iron fan, which usually had eight or ten wood or iron ribs. The use of the war fan in combat is mentioned in early Japanese legends.
Episode 12: “Dancing On The Sword”
Kim Byeong-in recognizes King King Cheoljong as the man who attacked Queen Cheorin on the night she went to the gisaeng house. Meanwhile, in the woods, Royal Noble Consort Eui shoots her metal-tipped arrow at Queen Cheorin but misses.
After accusing Queen Cheorin of killing her attendant and as a court maid and the royal concubines arrive, Royal Noble Consort Eui shoots Queen Cheorin on the head with an arrow.
While the Grand Queen Dowager, the court ministers, and the families of the royal concubines wait in the courtyard for the food, chaos reigns in the Royal Kitchen as the kitchen staff have been poisoned.
Queen Cheorin’s attendant, Lady Choi, follows the man who was previously lurking near the jars in the Royal Kitchen. Meanwhile, Minister Kim Jwa-geun’s men sabotage the food supplies that Prince Yeongpyeong has gathered.
The Queen Dowager meets and plots with the head of the Poongyang Jo clan on the most opportune moment to reveal the existence of the secret ledger.
After everyone has eaten the hastily prepared food, Minister Kim Jwa-geun and Kim Byeong-in stun King Cheoljong and the others in the courtyard by presenting several men who have faked their identities in order to infiltrate the royal guards. When King Cheoljong and Prince Yeongpyeong protest, Minister Kim Jwa-geun claims that the men are part of a coup attempt.
Spoiler alert: The official teaser video below (with English subs) shows some of the major events of Ep. 12 and might spoil your viewing of the full episode.
Episode 13: “No Tomorrow”
Chaos erupts in the courtyard as King Cheoljong is thrown into the air by the explosion; the ministers scamper away, while the attendants hustle off to safety Queen Cheorin and the Grand Queen Dowager.
Minister Kim Jwa-geun assures the Grand Queen Dowager that he will take care of everything since he will be branded as the principal suspect. Later, he orders Byeong-in to execute the royal guards who faked their identities; he also blames Queen Cheorin’s father for keeping the secret ledger and losing it.
Queen Cheorin goes back to the lake; later, after visiting Byeong-in in his office, she goes to King Cheoljong’s quarters and finds his dictionary of her expressions.
Byeong-in tells the Grand Queen Dowager about the type and source of the gunpowder and who he thinks is the mastermind of the assassination attempt against King Cheoljong. Meanwhile, Royal Noble Consort Eui meets Minister Kim Jwa-geun and asks him to eliminate Queen Cheorin.
The Queen Dowager plants the secret ledger in Queen Cheorin’s quarters.
Spoiler alert: The official teaser video below (with English subs) shows some of the major events of Ep. 13 and might spoil your viewing of the full episode.
Episode 14: “The Woman That Should Die To Live”
| Ep. 13 recap:
After jumping into the lake, Queen Cheorin regains all of her memories. Through “Operation Red Phoenix,”King Cheoljong faked the assassination attempt. At the meeting of the ministers, he fires Minister Kim Jwa-geun and another minister, despite the Grand Queen Dowager's protest. The Grand Queen Dowager finds the secret ledger in Queen Cheorin’s quarters. She plots with Minister Kim Jwa-geun on poisoning Queen Cheorin, but her blind attendant hears everything and later leaves a secret message for someone in the palace. After finding out that King Cheoljong is well, Royal Noble Consort Eui visits him at his quarters. Meanwhile, in the Royal Kitchen, Queen Cheorin gets drunk. |
Queen Cheorin wakes up and finds King Cheoljong sleeping by her side.
Flashback ... King Cheoljong finds out that it was Queen Cheorin who saved the Royal Banquet. The message from the blind attendant says that Queen Cheorin is in danger.
A Buddhist monk tells the Queen Mother that someone will die in the palace today. Meanwhile, as she continues to reject and stay away from King Cheoljong, Queen Cheorin ends up by the lake; she wonders if Bong-hwan will disappear forever.
During a meeting of the royal court, the Grand Queen Dowager is forced to end her regency. Later, in her quarters, she’s furious about losing power, but Byeong-in undermines his father’s ability and promises to restore that power to her.
Minister Kim Jwa-geun meets with the other ministers; he assures them that he got the secret ledger and says that they should support him against King Cheoljong. His accomplice, later on, prepares the arsenic to be placed in an ice cube for Queen Cheorin’s tea.
After talking with his royal guards who were arrested and tortured, King Cheoljong finds out about the threat against Queen Cheorin. He rushes to the pavillion, but the tea with the poisoned ice cube has already been served.
Notes:
1. Surf to the “Historical backgrounders” section below to find out more about Ep. 14’s references to (a) ice being a valuable commodity during the Joseon Dynasty, and (2) the Donghak religion.
2. Spoiler alert: The official teaser video below (with English subs) shows some of the major events of Ep. 14 and might spoil your viewing of the full episode.
Episode 15: “The Crazy X in This Palace”
| Ep. 14 recap:
Dam Hyang, the little girl who has been frequenting the Royal Kitchen, finds out about the poisoned ice cube. She throws a rock at Queen Cheorin’s tea cup, spilling it. But the Grand Queen Dowager orders her arrested for threatening Queen Cheorin. Despite Queen Cheorin’s pleas, Dam Hyang is executed by poisoning.  |
After confronting his father, Minister Kim Jwa-geun, Byeong-in meets with members of the Andong Kim and Poongyang Jo clans to form an alliance between the rival clans.
In her plan for revenge, Queen Cheorin visits in succession the Grand Queen Dowager and the Grand Queen; afterwards, she confronts Royal Noble Consort Eui at the lake.
Queen Cheorin meets King Cheoljong for tea and then formalizes their alliance. But she also asks him why he tried to kill her and her father. Later on, she orders that the man who poisoned the water during the Royal Banquet to be brought before her.
Prince Yeongpyeong tells Royal Noble Consort Eui that the decomposing body found in the well wasn’t that of her beloved attendant. He also confronts her about the ledger that she gave to the Grand Queen.
Episode 16: “All In”
| Ep. 15 recap:
Queen Cheorin finds out from her father that the secret ledger contains the records of the Andong Kim clan’s corruption. Based on the clans’ agreement, Byeong-in is promoted as the Minister of War. |
Former Minister Kim Jwa-geun orders his spy (the eunuch with the scar) to monitor everything that Queen Cheorin is doing.
Upon learning of her father’s collapse, Queen Cheorin rushes to her ancestral residence. Later, she tells her father to reform his ways; her father starts by giving King Cheoljong a list of corrupt ministers.
King Cheoljong pushes through with his plan for an anti-corruption office; despite the ministers’ protest, he appoints Prince Yeongpyeong as the office’s head. He also informs them that he has appointed a secret royal investigator and sent him to the most corrupt place in the south. When the ministers speak of the “Donghak” movement and its followers who have been arrested, he says that he will investigate if there are innocent people among those arrested.
After meeting with the Andong Kim clan ministers in the pavillion, Queen Cheorin asks her attendants what books she can read so that she can understand Joseon better. Later, based on her knowledge of the future, she begins helping King Cheoljong and his trusted men in training their forces for the coming conflict.
Confusion breaks out among the Andong Kim clan ministers when Prince Yeongpyeong arrests the Left State Councilor for corruption. Incensed, the Grand Queen Dowager berates Byeong-in, but he assures her that their military forces will soon act. Later, he goes to Queen Cheorin’s quarters and finds the book that she gave to King Cheoljong when they were in the well eight years ago. He rips a page out of the book.
Notes:
1. King Cheoljong sends his trusted man Hong as a secret royal investigator to the most corrupt place in south Joseon. In his confrontation with a nobleman in a gisaeng house, Hong displays his “mapae.” Surf to the “Historical backgounders” atorssection below to know more about the Joseon Dynasty’s secret royal investigators.
2. During the Royal Portrait painting session, Queen Cheorin wonders about the difference between “Jo” and “Jong” in the posthumous (temple) names of the Joseon kings. Surf to the “Historical backgounders” section below to find out the difference between “Jo” and “Jong.”
Episode 17: “Pregnancy Is Beautiful”
| Ep. 16 recap:
The page that Byeong-in ripped from Queen Cheorin’s children's book contains the secret code of the Donghhak movement. |
Despite her disappointment over Queen Cheorin’s pregnancy, Royal Noble Consort Eui threatens the top leader of the Poongyang Jo clan that she will rally the other clan members around her and her father and seize control of the clan. And when she hears about the malicious rumor about Queen Cheorin’s pregnancy, she confronts the Queen Dowager and threatens to expose her.
But the Queen Dowager is unfazed by Royal Noble Consort Eui’s threat and spreads an even more malicious rumor. When the Grand Queen Dowager hears about the latest rumor, she orders Byeong-in to immediately bring back her regency.
Despite being warned by his trusted men, King Cheoljong rides out to lead the fight against the Donghak believers.
Episode 18: “The Counterattack of Memories”
| Ep. 17 recap:
Royal Noble Consort Eui asks King Cheoljong to depose her. The Queen Dowager spreads the rumor that Byeong-in is the father of Queen Cheorin’s baby. |
Former Minister Kim Jwa-geun reappears in the palace and tells the Grand Queen Dowager how she can dominate the ministers from the rival clans.
Byeong-in blocks all entrances into the rhe capital and into the palace; he also locks up Prince Yeongpyeong and Hong. Intrigued, however, by Prince Yeongpyeong’s words, Queen Cheorin decides to secretly leave the palace at night and search for King Cheoljong. But, as she’s on her way out of the palace, Byeong-in catches her.
Episode 19: “The Man Who Came Back From The Dead”
| Ep. 18 recap:
As an insurance, Byeong-in forces the ministers from the rival clans to sign and seal a document that implicates all of them in a treasonous act. But his father former Minister Kim Jwa-geun finds out about the document. Byeong-in’s soldiers catch up with Queen Cheorin and her attendants on the mountain. |
King Cheoljong rescues Queen Cheorin and brings her to a village where Donghak believers have gathered. But Queen Cheorin is disappointed that they only have about a thousand people ready to fight. Later on, however, through an insider from the palace, they learn of a way of sneaking into the palace.
In the capital, Jo Hwa-jin (former Royal Noble Consort Eui) secretly posts flyers stating that King Cheoljong is alive and that the Andong Kim clan is staging a coup by enthroning a new king.
In the palace, former Minister Kim Jwa-geun tells the Grand Queen Dowager that King Cheoljong and Queen Cheorin are alive. He also orders his assassin-spy to kill King Cheoljong if he ever shows up in the palace.
King Cheoljong asks Queen Cheorin what happens to him in history. Later, they prepare to sneak into the palace, but the very young boy chosen as the next king has arrived in the palace for the coronation.
Episode 20, Finale (with spoilers): “My Life Without Me”
| Ep. 19 recap:
Byeong-in is killed by his father’s assassin-spy. Queen Cheorin reunites with her attendants in the Donghak village that’s led by Dam Hyang’s father. Through the Royal Chef, she and King Cheoljong find out about the produce delivery cart for the Grand Queen Dowager. They hide inside the cart, but after passing through the palace gate, the cart is stopped by former Minister Kim Jwa-geun. |
The Donghak believers attack the city gates. As the Grand Queen Dowager and former Minister Kim Jwa-geun rush through with the coronation of the new king, they find out, to their dismay, that the Royal Seal is missing.
King Cheoljong and Queen Cheorin reach the main palace courtyard, but the assassin-spy shoots them both. As Queen Cheorin lies on the ground bleeding, she returns to the present times as Jang Bong-hwan.
Prince Yeongpyeong and Hong escape from their jail cell and give the Royal Seal to King Cheoljong, who proceeds to disrupt the coronation ceremony. Later on, with the treasonous document from Byeong-in, he dismisses and sentences the ministers from the rival clans.
Queen Cheorin survives through the night, with her baby also safe. Later on, she exerts her authority over the Inner Court and confines both the Grand Queen Dowager and the Queen Dowager to the Western Palace.
Present times ... Bong-hwan is surprised that he’s hailed by the police as a hero for catching Secretary Han who has been embezzling the Blue House for years. He’s even more surprised but extremely pleased that King Cheoljong turned out to be one of the Joseon Dynasty’s most benevolent rulers.
Historical / cultural backgrounders and other information
“Mr. Queen” is fictional, falling under the following genres: historical, comedy, time travel, and body swap. But its characters and background events are inspired by historical figures and events. For example, the lead character (King Cheoljong) and his background facts (growing up destitute on Ganghwa Island, puppet of the Andong Kim clan, relatives persecuted as Catholics, etc.) are all based on history. Also, the conflict between the Andong Kim clan and Poonyang Jo clan is historical; read the section below on “sedo” politics.
But the drama’s fictional use of historical figures and events has been criticized in Korea, as you can read in ‘Mr. Queen’ rating continues to rise despite criticism for ‘distorting history’ (The Korea Times) and in K-drama Mr Queen slapped with ‘administrative guidance’ by South Korean commission (Straits Times). Among the things that has been criticized is the drama’s portrayal of the Queen Dowager (Queen Shinjeong in history) as being heavily involved in shamanism.
1. King Cheoljong (Wikipedia): The 25th king of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea (25 July 1831 – 16 January 1864), he was a second cousin to the heirless Heonjong of Joseon, as well as a great-great grandson of Yeongjo of Joseon. He was chosen to become King by Senior Dowager Queen Sunwon (King Sunjo’s widow) and the powerful Andong Kim clan because he was illiterate and thus easy to manipulate.
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| This is the only surviving portrait of King Cheoljong, as well as of Joseon-era royal military attire. (Wikipedia) |
When the envoys (dispatched in order to seek for the future king) arrived on Ganghwa Island, they found the exiled remnants of the royal clan barely surviving in wretched poverty, and in the midst of that degradation, 19-year old Yi Won-beom was proclaimed King. Though from the start of the Joseon Dynasty Korean kings had given top priority to the education of their sons, Cheoljong could not even read a single word on the notice delivering congratulations to him on his elevation to the royal throne.
As part of the Andong Kim’s manipulation of Cheoljong, in 1851, the clan married Cheoljong to Kim Mun-geun’s daughter, known posthumously as Queen Cheor’in.
Cheoljong died at the age of 32 in 16 January 1864 (by suspected foul play by the Andong Kim clan, the same clan which made him king), without any surviving male heirs. Once again, it became necessary to search far back in the Yi lineage to find a candidate for the throne.
2. Queen Cheorin: wife of King Cheoljong, also known as Queen Dowager Myeongsun (27 April 1837 – 12 June 1878).
3. Grand Dowager Queen: Queen Sunwon (8 June 1789 – 21 September 1857), also known as Queen Dowager Myeonggyeong, was the spouse of Sunjo of Joseon. She served as regent of Korea from 1834–1841 and from 1849–1852.
4. Queen Dowager: Queen Shinjeong, also known as Queen Dowager Hyoyu, (21 January 1809 - 4 June 1890) was the only wife of Crown Prince Hyomyeong of Joseon and mother of King Heonjong of Joseon.
5. Andong Kim clan, Poongyang Jo clan, and “sedo politics” (royal in-law politics)
At the beginning of the 19th century, the Andong Kim clan, who had provided the Joseon state with several queens, had seized power almost everywhere in Korea. The social stagnation that resulted was a breeding ground for unrest. Corruption and embezzlement from the treasury and its inevitable exploitation were taken to extreme levels, and reached staggering proportions. One rebellion after another was accompanied by natural disasters.
The only aim of the Andong Kim clan was the preservation of their influence. Their fierce campaign to dominate the royal house had led to a situation in which almost all of the representatives of the royal family fled from Seoul. When the royal family produced intelligent and appropriate candidates for the accession, they were either accused of treason and executed or sent into exile, so when Heonjong died, leaving no son, no acceptable candidate could be found to succeed to the throne.
From “Exactly how much power did the Andong Kim Clan have in the Joseon court? How did they attain such power?” (Quora):
“How did the Andong Kim clan attain power? By intermarrying with the royal family, enthroning young and easy to control men as king, purging political rivals, and, very likely, killing off any king when they begin to threaten their power.”
“After Queen Jeongsun stepped down [in 1805 as regent of King Sunjo], Queen Sunwon’s father, Kim Jo-soon, began to make his move. Kim Jo-soon, who at that time was already of high rank within the royal court, began to purge all his political rivals to help secure the position of his family and political faction. At the same time corruption in the civil service examination increased, likely in the form of bribes to the Kim clan.”
“Sedo politics” (royal in-law politics)
This term describes the period 1800 to 1863 when national politics in Joseon was exclusively led by a few powerful royal in-law families, most notably the Andong Kim and Pungyang Jo clans.
For more information about “sedo politics,” please read “Collusive Oligopolistic Politics: Sedo and the Political Structure of Early-Nineteenth-Century Choson Korea” by Tae Yeon Eom (2012 thesis, University of British Columbia).
This domination by the Andong Kim clan ended when King Cheoljong died in 1864 without an heir, and the right to designate the new king resided with Dowager Queen Sinjeong, as she was the oldest of the dowagers. With the help of her Pungyang Jo clan (political rival of the Andong Kim clan), Queen Sinjeong chose Yi Myeong-bok, later known as King Gojong.
Notes:
(a) Queen Sinjeong was portrayed by Chae Soo-bin in the 2016 hit “Moonlight Drawn By Clouds” aka “Love in The Moonlight." Queen Sinjeong’s husband Crown Prince Hyomyeong (King Munjo) was portrayed by Park Bo-gum in the same drama.
(b) In Ep. 4, Season 2 of “Kingdom,” Crown Prince Lee Chang visited in Ganghwa Island his distant relative Prince Noseong, an impoverished member of the royal family. The drama portrays Prince Noseong as a lowly fisherman but who’s a well-read man. This character was based on King Cheoljong (1831-1864), the last puppet king of the Andong Kim clan. Unlike the drama, however, in history, King Cheoljong was illiterate, which made it easy for him to be controlled by the Andong Kim clan.
6. Persecution of Catholics during the Joseon Dynasty
A. In Ep. 8, at around the 43:00 mark, Bong-hwan (Queen Cheorin) remembers what he learned in history classes about King Cheoljeong; among other things, he remembers that King Cheoljong’s “grandmother and aunt got killed by getting baptized.”
In Ep. 10, at around the 46:57 mark, the Royal Chef tells Queen Cheorin (Bong-hwan) that he lives alone because all of his family were killed in 1839. Queen Cheorin (Bong-hwan) then recalls that he was referring to the “Gihae Persecution.”
B. Some of the well-known persecution of Catholics during the Joseon Dynasty were the Sinyu Persecution of 1801, the Gihae Persecution of 1839, the Byeongo Persecution of 1846, and the Byeongin Persecution of 1866.
C. Relevant discussions:
From “A Brief History of the Catholic Church in Korea” (Wall Street Journal): The Sinyu Persecution - In 1801, more than 300 people were killed as the ruling Joseon Dynasty, under newly ascended King Sunjo, staged a clampdown on the Catholic Church in Korea, ostensibly because the religion clashed with ideals of Neo-Confucianism and threatened the social hierarchical system. Yi Seung-hun was among those executed.
From “Korean Catholicism marked by volatile history“ (Korean JoongAng Daily): Catholic believers suffered numerous rounds of persecution - the Sinhae Persecution (1791), the Sinyu Persecution (1801) and the Byeongin Persecution (1866) to name just a few - with about 10,000 missionaries and believers killed over a century.
7. In the early part of Ep. 8, Queen Cheorin and her attendant play on a “neolttwigi” (Korean seesaw).
From Folkency: Neolttwigi (lit. jumping on a board) refers to seesawing, a traditional entertainment practiced mainly by women during the Lunar New Year season. A large rectangular board is supported in its middle by a round hay bundle and two players take turns pushing hard on their end of the board with their feet in order to make the other end spring up.
It is thought that Yangban women developed “neolttwigi” to see over the walls that surrounded their homes, as women in traditional Korea were rarely allowed out of their living compounds, except at night. (Wikiedia, citing Rodney P. Carlisle, Encyclopedia of Play in Today’s Society, Volume 1)
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| “Neolttwigi” from National Geographic by W. Robert Moore, circa 1931 |
8. In Ep. 12, King Cheoljong presides over the Royal Banquet during the celebration of the Surit-nal (Dano Festival). His ceremonial robe is called “gujangbok,” while the head gear is called “myeonryugwan” (The Talking Cupboard). The robe and head gear were worn by the King and the Crown Prince during special events; with the head gear, the more the number of strings, the higher the rank. The jade object that he’s holding is called the “hol” (or “okgyu” depending on the type of jade used to make it).
9. In Ep. 14, the Grand Queen Dowager tells Queen Cheorin (Bong-hwan) that ice is a valuable commodity in Joseon.
“Summer on ice: How ice became an essential part of summer life in Korea” (Korea Herald):
During the Joseon era (1392-1910), ice was a national asset under the control of the king, and accordingly, a luxury for noblemen.
Harvested from rivers and ponds in the winter, ice blocks were stored at facilities called “binggo.” They were used for ancestral rituals, for medical purposes and to keep food cool. Seoul districts Seobinggo and Dongbinggo have their origins in the history of ice storage.
“Keeping food cool, the ancient way” (Korea JoongAng Daily):
Since the year 505, or the 6th year of King Jijung’s reign, until the arrival of freon and electricity centuries later, Koreans used stone bunkers to store blocks of ice throughout the year. These seokbinggo, literally “stone ice storage,” were located around the country. Local governments sometimes delivered ice to palaces, but mostly used ice as a means to prevent special local products from spoiling on the way to a palace.
“Feeling the heat: The luxury of ice” in Joseon (Korea Times) by Robert Neff:
The Korean government maintained two large ice storage facilities at Seobinggo and Dongbingo, where huge slabs of river ice (nearly two meters long and about 12.5 centimeters thick) were covered with straw and preserved throughout the year. Court officials and others who possessed “bingpae” ― an ice ration card ― were regularly able to obtain a certain amount of this valuable commodity (based on their rank) for their own use.
The common people, however, had to either purchase ice on the black market or from ice merchants. The black market ice ― obtained illegally from one of the government ice storage facilities ― was probably considered to be safer but much more difficult to obtain and so most people had to rely on local ice vendors.
10. Donghak (religion, movement, peasant revolution)
In Ep. 14, the ministers threaten King Cheoljeong that if he does not order the execution of Dam Hyang (the little girl who saved Queen Cheorin from being poisoned), they will consider him as a supporter of the “Donghak” religion and its followers.
From Wikipedia: Donghak (lit. “Eastern Learning”) was an academic movement in Korean Neo-Confucianism founded in 1860 by Choe Je-u. The Donghak movement arose as a reaction to seohak (“Western learning”), and called for a return to the “Way of Heaven.” While Donghak originated as a reform movement and revival of Confucian teachings, it gradually evolved into a religion known today as “Cheondoism” in Korea under the third patriarch.
Choe was alarmed by the intrusion of Christianity (Catholicism), and the Anglo-French occupation of Beijing. He believed that the best way to counter foreign influence in Korea was to introduce democracy, establish human rights and create a paradise on Earth independent of foreign interference.
In 1892 the small groups of the Donghak movement were united into a single Peasant Guerrilla Army or Donghak Peasants’ Army. The peasants worked in the fields during the day, but during the night, they armed themselves and raided government offices and killed rich landlords, traders, and foreigners. They confiscated their victims’ properties for redistribution.
Choe Je-u was executed as a criminal by the government. The movement was continued by Choe Si-Hyeong (1829–1898), who systematized its doctrine. He too was executed.
For more information, surf to “Gov’t to commemorate Donghak Peasant Revolution for 1st time” (Korea.net).
11. Difference between “Jo” and “Jong” in the posthumous (temple) names of the Joseon kings
In Ep. 16, during the Royal Portrait painting session, Queen Cheorin wonders about the difference between between “Jo” and “Jong” in the posthumous (temple) names of the Joseon kings. The subtitles say that “jo” is added to the name of a king who’s honored for doing something great; on the other hand, “jong” is added to the name of a king who’s honored for his virtue. Well, this is just one of two reasons for the difference.
The website “dramasROK” in its in-depth article cites Korean historian Sul Min Suk who gives two reasons for the difference:
(1) Relationship of the king to his predecessor:
“If the successor was the king’s son – or next in line to the throne – then that king was given a posthumous title ending in JONG.
“BUT if the king was not next in line to the throne and started a new line within the Yi dynasty then his posthumous name was JO.”
(2) “The ending JO was given to the founder of the dynasty – Taejo – for great achievements establishing a new dynasty. And then his descendants were supposed to be named JONG. So in a way, the title JO could be considered superior to JONG. And from now on this was the case. JO was seen as a more elite title to JONG. It started with King Seonjo…”
Relevant discussions: Why was King Sejong named "Sejong" instead of "Sejo"? and Rulers of the Joseon Dynasty and KDrama Interpretations.
12. Secret Royal Investigators during the Joseon Dynasty
In Ep. 16, King Cheoljong sends his trusted man Hong as a secret royal investigator to the most corrupt place in south Joseon. In his confrontation with a nobleman in a gisaeng house, Hong displays his “mapae.”
“They were undercover officials directly appointed by the king and were sent to local provinces to punish corrupt officials and comfort the sufferings of people while traveling incognito. The amhaeng-eosa system was one of the most excellent inspection systems in the world, the likes of which is very unique and hard to find in other countries.”
The “mapae” was the badge of the secret royal inspectors, and the number of horses carved on it indicated the number of horses that they could requisition from the royal stables (“saboksi”) in pursuit of their assignment. The secret royal inspectors also used the “mapae” to summon soldiers.
The book “Corea, The Hermit Kingdom” (1888) by William Elliott Griffis states several interesting things about the secret royal inspectors. They were called “The Messengers on the Dark Path,” and to prevent them from abusing their powers, they were secretly monitored by a “yashi” or “Night Messenger.” Griffis states:
“An E-sa, or commissioner, who is to be sent to a distant province to ascertain the popular feeling, or to report the conduct of certain officers, is also called ‘The Messenger on the Dark Path.’ He receives sealed orders from the king, which he must not open till beyond the city walls. Then, without even going to his own house, he must set out for his destination, the government providing his expenses. He bears the seal of his commission, a silver plate having the figure of a horse engraved on it. In some cases he has the power of life and death in his hands.
“Yet, even the Messenger of the Dark Path is not free from espionage, for after him forthwith follows his ‘double’ the yashi or Night Messenger, who reports on the conduct of the royal inspector and also on the affairs of each province through which he passes. The whereabouts of these emissaries are rarely discoverable by the people, as they travel in strict disguise, and unknown.
“This system corresponds almost exactly to that of the ometsuke (eye-appliers), for many centuries in use in Japan, but abolished by the Mikado’s government at the revolution of 1868. It was by means of these E-sa or spies that many of the Corean Christians of rank were marked for destruction. The system, though abominable in free countries, is yet an excellent medium between the throne and the subject, and serves as a wholesome check on official rapine and cruelty.”
Lessons in photography from “Mr. Queen”
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| Bokeh (aesthetic quality of the blurred areas of a photograph) |
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| Reflection |
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| Low angle shot, linear perspective |
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| Low angle shot, shape |
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| High angle shot, cast shadows |
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| Reflection |
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| Symmetry and balance |
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| Low angle shot |
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| Background blur |
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| Lines of direction |
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| Natural frames |
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| Natural frame, foreground blur |
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| Reflections |
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| Rule of Odds, low angle shot |
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| Partial frame, high angle shot |
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| Natural frames |
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| Conveying depth through overlapping forms |
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| Reflection |
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| Rule of Odds, symmetry and balance |
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| Background blur |
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| Dutch angle |
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| Out of focus foreground element as partial frame |
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| Dutch angle or Dutch tilt |
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| High angle shot |
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| Natural frames |
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