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On Thursday, September 12, the second part of the historical K-drama Queen Woo season 1 was released via the TVing TV network. The new episodes of the second part were aired following the release of the series’ first part on August 29. The show has a total of eight episodes, with four in each part.
Ever since the first half aired, viewers have been raising their eyebrows at the show being inspired by the real story of Queen U, aka Queen Woo. As per records of Korean history, Queen U belonged to the U clan, and she was married to the King of Goguryeo, Go Nammu in 180 AD. The show is a fictionalized retelling of Queen Woo's life and legacy.
The history also included the untimely demise of the king and showed how the queen struggled to sustain her position as the queen in the male-oriented state. A similar plot has been recreated by the show’s production team in the latest drama.
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After the death of Go Nammu in 197 AD, Queen U met with his brother Prince Bal-gi to discuss the throne's successor. Bal-gi was convinced of his eventual ascension to the throne, and his impolite demeanor and ambition unsettled U.
Subsequently, she encountered Bal-gi's younger sibling, Prince Yeonu, whom she perceived as pleasant and kind, in contrast to Bal-gi. The queen chose to back Yeonu and conspired to charge Bal-gi with treason.
As per the Korean chronicle Samsuk Sagi, the queen married Yeonu, who later ascended the throne as King Sansang following the death of Prince Bal-gi. Queen U is renowned for exercising ultimate control over Goguryeo and solidifying her position as a self-reliant female ruler.
She became the first female to remarry in Goguryeo. This second marriage of Queen U underlined the rare Korean custom of levirate marriage.
Queen Woo season 1 starred Ji Chang-wook, Jeon Jong-seo, Lee Soo-hyuk, and others in latest period drama
Similar to historical records, the recent K-drama Queen Woo is also set in the Goguryeo period between 37 BC–668 AD. The leading actors of the series are Jeon Jong-seo (Queen Woo), Ji Chang-wook (King of Goguryeo), Lee Soo-hyuk (Bal-gi), and Kang Yeong-seok (Go Yeonu).
Ji Chang-wook, who plays Go Nam-moo, is a prominent figure in the Korean entertainment industry, with his performances in dramas such as Suspicious Partner, The K2, and Healer contributing to his success as an actor. He was most recently seen in the crime thriller film Revolver, in addition to his role in the series Welcome to Samdal-ri, which concluded in early 2024.
Jeon Jong-seo (Queen Woo) portrayed the main character in the 2024 romantic comedy series Wedding Impossible. She previously captivated audiences with her performance in the crime thriller film Ballerina.
Korean actor and model Lee Soo-hyuk (Bal-gi) made his acting debut in 2006 with My Boss, My Teacher. Following this, he had appeared in several dramas like Scholar Who Walks The Night, Tomorrow, Doom At Your Service, and more.
Although TVing is the original network for the period drama, interested viewers can watch it on Viu and Paramount+.
Read more: Queen Woo Season 1: Ending explained and season 2 renewal possibilities explored
