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'The Man Who Lives With the King' (provided by Showbox)

Danjong, the sixth king of the Joseon Dynasty, remains one of Korean history's most tragic figures. Ascending to the throne at age 10, he was deposed by his uncle Grand Prince Suyang and died at 16. In historical dramas, Danjong has traditionally been portrayed as weak and passive, with the spotlight typically falling on his usurping uncle. Director Jang Hang-jun's new film "The Man Who Lives With the King" challenges this convention. Set during Danjong's final four months in exile in Yeongwol, Gangwon Province in 1457, the film discovers moments of laughter and humanity within a tragic historical narrative.

The film's starting point is Eom Heung-do, a real historical figure. According to the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, Danjong's body was thrown into the Donggang River in Yeongwol, with a royal decree threatening the extermination of three generations of anyone who recovered it. Yet Eom Heung-do, a local government clerk, retrieved the body and buried it in his family's burial ground. Director Jang poses a question from this historical record: Why did Eom risk his family's annihilation? The film imagines that Danjong and Eom developed a human bond during the exile period.

In "The Man Who Lives With the King," Eom Heung-do (Yoo Hae-jin) is not a loyal subject but a pragmatic village chief. Lured by rumors that "when an exiled nobleman is later reinstated, the village prospers," he campaigns to make Yeongwol an exile destination—only to receive the deposed king Yi Hong-wi (Park Ji-hoon). Alongside the effectively dead king, Eom and the villagers gradually share meals and knowledge, creating what may have been the happiest period of Yi's life.

The most notable element is Park Ji-hoon's performance as Danjong. Director Jang explained his casting decision: "I watched the drama 'Weak Hero' and was drawn to his poignant acting. The fact that he didn't have a strongly defined image as an actor was actually an advantage." Park naturally transitions from a boy who has lost the will to live to a king who regains his strength and commands or praises the villagers. In an interview, he stated, "I wanted audiences to think, 'Ah, he was a king.' Rather than using a weak voice, I tried to project from my diaphragm." This creates a "new Danjong"—one who excels at archery and possesses dignity, departing from the frail portrayals in previous period dramas.

Yoo Ji-tae's interpretation of Han Myeong-hoe also offers fresh perspective. Traditionally depicted as the archetypal traitor, Han is reimagined by Director Jang as a charismatic power broker. "Contemporary records don't describe him as small or frivolous," Jang notes, presenting history's victor as a multidimensional character rather than a one-dimensional villain. Lee Jun-hyuk also contributes a special appearance as Prince Geumseong. Director Jang explained, "I needed an actor who could express the noble bearing of a righteous prince who protected Danjong to the end."

"The Man Who Lives With the King" demonstrates an evolving approach to reinterpreting historical figures in Korean period cinema. Rather than portraying tragedy solely as tragedy, it attempts to discover human dignity, solidarity, and laughter within. The fact that globally rising star Park Ji-hoon has taken on the traditional genre of historical drama suggests that young Korean actors are expanding their genre range.

The film has surpassed 100,000 advance ticket sales and is garnering attention as a highly anticipated Korean release for this Lunar New Year holiday. As an all-ages historical drama, it is well-positioned to attract family audiences. It will be worth watching how audiences receive this fresh perspective on historical tragedy, and what impact Park Ji-hoon's period drama performance will have on his career.

Sources

• Vogue Korea, "'The Man Who Lives With the King' Finds Laughter in Danjong's Tragedy", 2026.02.04

• Kyunghyang Shinmun, "Director Jang Hang-jun's Reimagining of Danjong's Final 4 Months", 2026.02.02

• Xports News, "Park Ji-hoon and Lee Jun-hyuk Complete the Royal Visual", 2026.01.21