The King: Eternal Monarch (Korean: 더 킹: 영원의 군주) is a 2020 South Korean fantasy-romance drama starring Lee Min-ho, Kim Go-eun, Woo Do-hwan, and Kim Kyung-nam. Written by Kim Eun-sook and produced by Hwa&Dam Pictures and Studio Dragon, it aired on SBS TV and Netflix on April 17, 2020.
The drama tells the story of Emperor Lee Gon of the Kingdom of Corea, who finds a portal to a parallel world where the Republic of Korea exists. He must stop his evil half-uncle, Lee Lim, and recover a magical item called Manpasikjeok that connects the two worlds.
The show gained attention for its big-name cast, high production value, and unique story. It broke SBS’s 2020 premiere ratings record, stayed number one on the Wavve drama chart for eight weeks, and became a top Korean drama on Netflix in countries like India, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and the U.S. However, some viewers criticized its screenplay and pacing, leading to mixed reviews in South Korea.
K-Drama Profile
- Drama Title (English): The King: Eternal Monarch
- Drama Title (Korean): 더 킹: 영원의 군주
- Revised Romanization: Deo king: yeongwonui gunju
- Genres: Fantasy, action, romance
- Date: April 17, 2020 ~ June 12, 2020
- Production: Studio Dragon, Hwa&dampictures
- Creator: Studio S
- Writer: Kim Eun-sook
- Director: Baek Sang-hoon, Jung Ji-hyun, Yoo Je-won
- Starring: Lee Min-ho, Kim Go-eun, Woo Do-hwan, Kim Kyung-nam, Jung Eun-chae, Lee Jung-jin
- Country: South Korea
- Language: Korean
- Episodes: 16
Plot Synopsis
Lee Gon (Lee Min-ho), the modern-day Emperor of the Kingdom of Corea, finds a portal to a parallel world where the Republic of Korea exists. There, he meets detective Jeong Tae-eul (Kim Go-eun), whom he remembers from an identity card linked to his father’s assassination when he was a child. Meanwhile, his half-uncle Lee Lim (Lee Jung-jin), who killed the previous king, is secretly gathering armies and moving between the two worlds, putting both realities in danger.
Main Casts
Lee Min-ho
- Name (English): Lee Min-ho
- Name (Korean): 이민호
- Revised Romanization: I Minho
- Birthdate: June 22, 1987
- Age: 38
- Birthplace: Seoul, South Korea
- Nationality: South Korean
- Occupations: Actor, singer
- Debut: 2006
- Agency: MYM Entertainment
- Height: 187 cm (6 ft 2 in)
- Blood Type: A
- MBTI: ENTP
- Website: Official website
- Social Media: Instagram, X
Lee Min-ho is a popular South Korean actor and singer. He became famous for his role as Gu Jun-pyo in Boys Over Flowers (2009), winning the Baeksang Arts Award for Best New Actor. He is also known for City Hunter (2011), The Heirs (2013), The Legend of the Blue Sea (2016), Gangnam Blues (2015), and The King: Eternal Monarch (2020). In 2022, he starred in the Apple TV+ drama Pachinko.
Lee Min-ho’s popularity made him the first Korean celebrity to have a wax figure at Madame Tussauds, with figures in Shanghai (2013) and Hong Kong (2014).
Kim Go-eun
- Name (English): Kim Go-eun
- Name (Korean): 김고은
- Revised Romanization: Gim Goeun
- Birthdate: July 2, 1991
- Age: 34
- Birthplace: Seoul, South Korea
- Nationality: South Korea
- Occupation: Actress
- Debut: 2012
- Agency: BH Entertainment
- Height: 167 cm
- Blood Type: B
- Website: Official website
- Social Media: Instagram
Kim Go-eun is a popular South Korean actress known for her work in both movies and TV dramas. She made her debut in Eungyo (2012), winning several Best New Actress awards. She is also well known for TV hits like Cheese in the Trap (2016), Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (2016–2017), Yumi’s Cells (2021–2022), and Little Women (2022), as well as films like Coin Locker Girl (2015) and Hero (2022).
In 2024, Kim received major recognition for her role in Exhuma, winning awards such as the Baeksang Arts Awards and Blue Dragon Film Awards.
Woo Do-hwan
- Name (English): Woo Do-hwan
- Name (Korean): 우도환
- Revised Romanization: U Dohwan
- Birthdate: July 12, 1992
- Age: 33
- Birthplace: Anyang, Gyeonggi, South Korea
- Nationality: South Korea
- Occupation: Actor
- Debut: 2011
- Agency: Blitzway Entertainment
- Height: 180 cm
- Weight: 65 kg
- Blood Type: B
- MBTI: ESFJ
- Website: Official website
- Social Media: Instagram
Woo Do-hwan is a South Korean actor known for his versatile roles in both TV and film. He has starred in popular dramas like Save Me (2017), Mad Dog (2017), Tempted (2018), My Country: The New Age (2019), The King: Eternal Monarch (2020), Bloodhounds (2023), and Mr. Plankton (2024), as well as the film The Divine Fury (2019). Known for his strong screen presence and ability to play complex characters, Woo Do-hwan has become one of Korea’s most notable rising stars.
Kim Kyung-nam
- Name (English): Kim Kyung-nam
- Name (Korean): 김경남
- Revised Romanization: Gim Gyeongnam
- Birthdate: December 21, 1989
- Age: 35
- Birthplace: Nowon District, Seoul, South Korea
- Nationality: South Korean
- Occupation: Actor
- Debut: 2012
- Agency: King Kong by Starship
- Height: 182 cm
- Weight: 72 kg
- Blood Type: A
- Social Media: Instagram
- Website: Official website
Kim Kyung-nam is a South Korean actor known for his versatile roles in TV dramas. He has starred in popular series like Prison Playbook (2017–2018), Come and Hug Me (2018), Where Stars Land (2018), Special Labor Inspector (2019), The King: Eternal Monarch (2020), and Revolutionary Sisters (2021). His strong performances and range as an actor have made him a recognized and rising talent in the Korean entertainment industry.
Jung Eun-chae
- Stage Name (English): Jung Eun-chae
- Stage Name (Korean): 정은채
- Revised Romanization (Stage Name): Jeong Eunchae
- Birth Name (English): Jung Sol-mi
- Birth Name (Korean): 정솔미
- Revised Romanization (Birth Name): Jeong Solmi
- Birthdate: November 24, 1986
- Age: 38
- Birthplace: Busan, South Korea
- Nationality: South Korean
- Occupations: Actress, model, TV host
- Debut: 2010
- Agency: Project Hosoo
- Height: 172 cm
- Blood Type: B
- MBTI: INFP
- Social Media: Instagram
Jung Eun-chae, originally named Jung Sol-mi, is a South Korean actress, model, and TV host. She started her career as a model and gained recognition as an actress with her lead role in Nobody’s Daughter Haewon (2013), a film by director Hong Sang-soo that premiered at the 63rd Berlin International Film Festival. Known for her versatility and strong screen presence, Jung Eun-chae has become a respected talent in Korean film and television.
Lee Jung-jin
- Name (English): Lee Jung-jin
- Name (Korean): 이정진
- Birthdate: May 25, 1978
- Age: 47
- Birthplace: Nowon-gu, Seoul, South Korea
- Nationality: South Korean
- Occupation: Actor
- Agency: A2Z Entertainment
- Height: 184 cm
- Blood Type: A
- Social Media: Instagram
Lee Jung-jin is a South Korean actor known for his work in both television and film. He studied horticulture at Konkuk University before pursuing acting at Hanyang University. Lee started his career as a model and made his acting debut in the 1998 sitcom Soonpoong Clinic. He has appeared in popular dramas like Two Outs in the Ninth Inning, Love Story in Harvard, The Fugitive: Plan B, and A Hundred Year Legacy, as well as films including Once Upon a Time in High School, Mapado, Troubleshooter, Eun-ha, and Pietà, for which he received the Okgwan Order of Cultural Merit. He also appeared on the variety show Qualifications of Men (2009–2011) and played Lee Lim in the 2020 drama The King: Eternal Monarch.
Drama OSTs
I Just Want To Stay With You
- Song Title (English): I Just Want To Stay With You
- Artist Name (English): Zion.T
- Artist Name (Korean): 자이언티
- Release Date: April 18, 2020
Orbit
- Song Title (English): Orbit
- Artist Name (English): Hwa Sa
- Artist Name (Korean): 화사
- Release Date: April 19, 2020
Gravity
- Song Title (English): Gravity
- Song Title (Korean): 연
- Artist Name (English): Kim Jong-wan (of Nell)
- Artist Name (Korean): 김종완 (넬)
- Release Date: April 24, 2020
Maze
- Song Title (English): Maze
- Artist Name (English): Yongzoo
- Artist Name (Korean): 용주
- Release Date: April 25, 2020
I Fall In Love
- Song Title (English): I Fall In Love
- Artist Name (English): Ha Sung-woon
- Artist Name (Korean): 하성운
- Release Date: May 2, 2020
Please Don’t Cry
- Song Title (English): Please Don’t Cry
- Artist Name (English): Davichi
- Artist Name (Korean): 다비치
- Release Date: May 3, 2020
You Can’t Stop It From Bloomming
- Song Title (English): You Can’t Stop It From Bloomming
- Song Title (Korean): 꽃이 피는 걸 막을 순 없어요
- Artist Name (English): SWJA
- Artist Name (Korean): 선우정아
- Release Date: May 9, 2020
Dream
- Song Title (English): Dream
- Artist Name (English): Paul Kim
- Artist Name (Korean): 폴킴
- Release Date: May 10, 2020
Heart Break
- Song Title (English): Heart Break
- Artist Name (English): Gaeko, Kim Na-young
- Artist Name (Korean): 개코, 김나영
- Release Date: May 15, 2020
My Day Is Full Of You
- Song Title (English): My Day Is Full Of You
- Song Title (Korean): 나의 하루는 다 너로 가득해
- Artist Name (English): Zico, Wendy
- Artist Name (Korean): 지코, 웬디
- Release Date: May 16, 2020
My Love
- Song Title (English): My Love
- Artist Name (English): Gummy
- Artist Name (Korean): 거미
- Release Date: May 23, 2020
Quiet Night
- Song Title (English): Quiet Night
- Song Title (Korean): 모두 잠든 밤
- Artist Name (English): Hwang Chi-yeul
- Artist Name (Korean): 황치열
- Release Date: May 30, 2020
You’re My End and My Beginning
- Song Title (English): You’re My End and My Beginning
- Song Title (Korean): 너는 나의 시작이자 마지막이다
- Artist Name (English): Lim Han-byeol, Kim Hae-hwan
- Artist Name (Korean): 임한별, 김재환
- Release Date: June 6, 2020
Audience Ratings
The King: Eternal Monarch was a commercial hit and popular with viewers worldwide. It stayed No.1 on the Wavve drama chart for eight weeks and was one of the most talked-about shows in South Korea in early 2020. On Netflix, it was the most-watched Korean drama in India, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore, and ranked in the top two in the U.S.
The series also helped Studio Dragon reach $135 million in sales for Q2 2020, and product placements in the show even boosted sales for brands like BBQ Chicken, which sold 550,000 sets in a month.
Critics had mixed opinions. Many praised the unique story, ambitious plot, and strong performances, especially Woo Do-hwan’s dual role. Fans also enjoyed Lee Min-ho’s comeback and the writing by Kim Eun-sook. On the other hand, some viewers found the parallel-world plot confusing, pacing slow, and product placement excessive.
Despite the mixed reviews, the drama was a global success and captured the attention of K-drama fans everywhere.
- IMDb: 8.1 / 10
- Douban: 7.1 / 10
- Watcha: 3.1 / 5
Awards
At the 2020 SBS Drama Awards, The King: Eternal Monarch received several nominations and wins:
- Lee Min-ho: Won Top Excellence Award for Actor
- Kim Go-eun: Nominated for Top Excellence Award for Actress
- Lee Jung-jin: Nominated for Excellence Award for Actor
- Woo Do-hwan: Nominated for Excellence Award for Actor
- Jung Eun-chae: Nominated for Excellence Award for Actress
- Kim Yong-ji: Nominated for Best Supporting Actress
- Lee Min-ho & Kim Go-eun: Nominated for Best Couple Award
The awards show the series’ popular cast and strong performances.
Viewership
The King: Eternal Monarch aired from April 17 to June 12, 2020, with a total of 16 episodes, each split into two parts. The drama premiered with strong ratings, recording 10.1% nationwide and 11.4% in the Seoul metropolitan area for the first part of Episode 1. Ratings fluctuated over the series but generally stayed around 6–8%, with some episodes reaching double digits in the second parts.
- Average nationwide rating: 7.6%
- Highest rating: 11.6% (Episode 2, Part 2)
- Lowest rating: 5.2% (Episode 11, Part 1)
- Ratings source: Nielsen Korea
Despite some fluctuations, the drama maintained a strong following throughout its run, reflecting its popularity and viewer interest in its unique fantasy-romance storyline.
Watch The King: Eternal Monarch on Netflix
