Captivating the King

Captivating the King (Korean: 세작, 매혹된 자들) is a South Korean television series that aired on tvN from January 21 to March 3, 2024. The drama, directed by Jo Nam-Kook and written by Kim Sun-Deok, consists of 16 episodes and was broadcast in the Saturday and Sunday 21:20 time slot.

Plot

The story follows Prince Yi In (played by Cho Jung-Seok), whose loyalty to his brother, King Yi Sun, leads to his imprisonment as a hostage by the Qing Dynasty. Upon his return, the King views his brother's survival and perceived influence as a betrayal, causing deep emotional turmoil for the Prince. During this period, Yi In encounters a mysterious baduk player. Following a series of political shifts, Yi In ascends to the throne. While he projects the image of a powerful monarch, he remains internally vulnerable. Kang Hee-Soo (played by Shin Se-Kyung), the baduk player who once fell in love with the Prince, eventually returns to the palace as a spy, driven by a desire for revenge against the King.

Cast

The series features an ensemble cast including:

• Cho Jung-Seok as Yi In
• Shin Se-Kyung as Kang Hee-Soo
• Lee Sin-Young as Kim Myung-Ha
• Choi Dae-Hoon as King Yi Sun
• Son Hyun-Joo as Chief State Councilor Kang Hang-Soon

Production

Captivating the King replaced the series Maestra: Strings of Truth in its time slot and was succeeded by Queen of Tears on March 9, 2024.