Royal Family (South Korean TV Series)

Royal Family (Korean: 로열 패밀리; RR: Royul Paemily) is a South Korean television drama series that aired on MBC from March 2 to April 28, 2011. The series was broadcast on Wednesday and Thursday nights at 21:55. It follows the complex power struggles within a wealthy chaebol family and the intertwined lives of its central characters.

Promotional poster for the drama Royal Family

Plot Synopsis

The narrative centers on Kim In-sook (Yum Jung-ah), a woman who has endured 18 years of mistreatment and marginalization as a daughter-in-law within the powerful JK family. Following the death of her husband in a helicopter accident, the family matriarch, Kong Soon-ho (Kim Young-ae), initiates a conspiracy to strip In-sook of her status and custody of her son.

Han Ji-hoon (Ji Sung), an elite prosecutor who grew up in an orphanage, shares a deep connection with In-sook. Years prior, In-sook provided the legal support that cleared Ji-hoon of false murder charges, an act that fundamentally altered his life trajectory. Upon witnessing In-sook's plight, Ji-hoon becomes determined to help her rise to the head of the JK Group. As he succeeds in his goal, he discovers that his motivations extend beyond gratitude, evolving into romantic feelings. However, his investigation into a homicide case eventually leads him to uncover evidence that implicates In-sook, forcing him to confront a difficult moral dilemma.

Cast

Yum Jung-ah as Kim In-sook
Ji Sung as Han Ji-hoon
Kim Young-ae as Kong Soon-ho
Cha Ye-ryun as Jo Hyun-jin
Jeon No-min as Uhm Ki-do

Production

The series was directed by Kim Do-hoon and Kim Sang-hyub, with a screenplay written by Kim Young-hyun and Kwon Eum-mi. Royal Family occupied the Wednesday and Thursday 21:55 time slot on MBC, following the conclusion of My Princess and preceding The Greatest Love.