The Crowned Clown (2019 South Korean Drama)

The Crowned Clown (Korean: 왕이 된 남자; RR: Wang-i Doen Namja) is a 2019 South Korean historical drama series that aired on the cable network tvN. The series is a television adaptation of the 2012 film Masquerade. It follows the story of a clown who is brought into the royal court to impersonate a king facing threats of assassination.

Promotional poster for The Crowned Clown — Promotional poster for the series.

Plot Synopsis

Set during the Joseon Dynasty, the kingdom is plagued by political instability, power struggles, and civil unrest. King Lee Hun (played by Yeo Jin-Goo) lives in constant fear of assassination. To protect himself, he employs a clown named Ha Sun (also played by Yeo Jin-Goo), who bears a striking physical resemblance to the monarch. Ha Sun, who grew up with a troupe of performers after losing his parents to an epidemic, is forced to take the king's place. As he navigates the dangerous environment of the palace, he finds himself falling in love with Queen Yoo So-Woon (Lee Se-Young) while struggling to keep his true identity hidden.

Production

The series was directed by Kim Hee-Won and written by Kim Sun-Deok and Shin Ha-Eun. The first script reading was held on October 8, 2018, in Sangamdong, Seoul. A traditional gosa ceremony, intended to bring good fortune to the production, took place on November 30, 2018, on the set in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province. The series premiered on January 7, 2019, and concluded on March 4, 2019, airing on Mondays and Tuesdays at 21:30.

Yeo Jin-Goo as Ha Sun — Yeo Jin-Goo portrays the dual roles of Ha Sun and King Lee Hun.

Cast

The series features a large ensemble cast, including:

Yeo Jin-Goo as Ha Sun and King Lee Hun
Lee Se-Young as Queen Yoo So-Woon
Kim Sang-Kyung as Lee Kyu
Jang Gwang as Eunuch Jo
Yun Jong-Seok as Jang Moo-Young
Kwon Hae-Hyo as Shin Chi-Soo

Lee Se-Young as Queen Yoo So-Woon — Lee Se-Young in her role as Queen Yoo So-Woon.

Broadcast Details

The Crowned Clown occupied the Monday and Tuesday 21:30 time slot on tvN, succeeding Mama Fairy and the Woodcutter. It was followed by He is Psychometric on March 11, 2019. Due to the Lunar New Year holiday, the broadcast schedule for episode 10 was adjusted to air on Monday, February 11, 2019, instead of the originally scheduled Tuesday, February 5, 2019.