Secret Royal Inspector & Joy

Secret Royal Inspector & Joy (Korean: 어사와 조이; RR: Eosawa Joyi) is a South Korean historical comedy-drama series that aired on the cable network tvN. The series premiered on November 8, 2021, and concluded on December 28, 2021, consisting of 16 episodes. It occupied the Monday and Tuesday 22:30 time slot, succeeding the drama High Class and preceding Ghost Doctor.

Plot

The story follows Ra Yi-Eon (played by TaecYeon), a man who aspires to lead a quiet, simple life running a small dumpling restaurant. Despite his personal ambitions, his intelligence leads him to pass the state examination, resulting in his appointment to the Office of Special Advisors. He is subsequently tasked with the role of a royal secret agent. Although the position is considered a prestigious honor, Ra Yi-Eon prefers to maintain his laid-back lifestyle while fulfilling his official duties.

His life takes a turn when he encounters Kim Joy (played by Kim Hye-Yoon), a woman with a progressive outlook for the Joseon period. Kim Joy is actively seeking a divorce from her husband, who is a gambler and a dependent of his mother. Together, the unlikely pair forms an investigative team to solve various cases.

Promotional poster for Secret Royal Inspector & Joy — Promotional artwork for the series.

Cast

The series features an ensemble cast, including:

TaecYeon as Ra Yi-Eon
Kim Hye-Yoon as Kim Joy
Min Jin-Woong as Yook-Chil
Park Kang-Sub as Goo-Pal
Lee Sang-Hee as Gwang-Soon
Chae Won-Bin as Bi-Ryung
Jung Bo-Suk as Park Seung
Cha Hak-Yeon as Choi Seung-Ryul

TaecYeon as Ra Yi-Eon — TaecYeon in his role as Ra Yi-Eon.

Kim Hye-Yoon as Kim Joy — Kim Hye-Yoon in her role as Kim Joy.