Netflix K-drama Captivating the King: Jo Jung-suk, Shin Se-kyung in attractive period drama that has yet to set all its pieces

Name: Captivating the King | Official Trailer | Netflix [ENG SUB]
Uploaded: 2024-01-24T11:15:10.000Z
Description: Captivating the King | Official Trailer | Netflix [ENG SUB]

This Netflix Joseon-era Korean drama follows board game champion Kang Hee-soo, played by Shin Se-kyung, who is disguised as a man

She believes only the Grand Prince, played by Jo Jung-suk, can beat her, and when they meet she becomes embroiled in royal intrigue

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Jo Jung-suk as Grand Prince Lee In in a still from Netflix K-drama “Captivating the King”. Shin Se-kyung and Lee Sin-young co-star.

Pierce Conran

Published: 7:15pm, 24 Jan 2024

Lead cast: Jo Jung-suk, Shin Se-kyung, Lee Sin-young

Latest Nielsen rating: 4 per cent

Jo Jung-suk (Hospital Playlist) and Shin Se-kyung (Run On) team up for Captivating the King, which, following Knight Flower, is the second period drama of the year set in the Joseon era (1392-1910) in Korea about a woman posing as a man.

However, that coincidence aside, these are quite different shows. For one, while Lee Hanee’s Joseon lady in disguise in Knight Flower carries around a sword at night, Shin’s court lady Kang Hee-soo walks around with a baduk (also known as go) game board during the day, trouncing all the male opponents who challenge her.

Captivating the King | Official Trailer | Netflix [ENG SUB]

Hee-soo has never been beaten, save by her father who taught her – the chief state Councillor Kang Hang-soon (Son Hyun-joo). The only person in the kingdom she believes might be able to challenge her is Grand Prince Lee In (Jo), the king’s brother, who has just returned from exile and is a legendary baduk player.