With "The King's Warden" drawing over 1 million moviegoers nationwide in just five days, two historic sites are suddenly in the spotlight: Jangneung, the tomb of King Danjong, and Gwangneung, the tomb of King Sejo.
Set right after the 1453 coup known as the Gyeyu Jeongnan―when Sejo seized the throne from his nephew Danjong―the film fictionalizes Danjong’s exile and turns a national tragedy into a moving story.
Sejo (then Prince Suyang) never appears on screen. Instead, his closest ally Han Myeong-hoe (played by Yoo Ji-tae) steps in as the villain, channeling the audience’s outrage.
Unlike many period dramas, "The King's Warden" doesn’t leave Danjong as merely a tragic figure. Through the bond between Eom Heung-do (Yoo Hae-jin) and the villagers who stood by Danjong at the end, the film restores the young king’s dignity and presence―delivering an emotional punch.
Viewers aren’t stopping at posts on portals and movie forums. They’re also leaving emotion-packed reviews on the official pages for Jangneung, Gwangneung, and the tomb site for Han Myeong-hoe. At Jangneung, messages lean toward remembrance and mourning. At Gwangneung, comments bristle with anger and reproach―an eye-catching split in sentiment.
"The King's Warden" is set in 1457 in Cheongnyeongpo. It follows a village chief who volunteers for exile to revive his community and the young former king who has been deposed and banished. The film stars Yoo Hae-jin, Park Ji-hoon, Yoo Ji-tae, and Jeon Mi-do, and is directed by Jang Hang-jun of Forgotten and Rebound.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)
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