MLSHR: The Cast And Characters of Moon Lovers - Scarlet Heart: Ryeo

First posted on 6.01.18

THE CAST AND THE CHARACTERS OF MOON LOVERS-SCARLET HEART: RYEO

CAST / CHARACTER	CHARACTER DESCRIPTION
THE MAIN CAST
Lee Joon Gi as Wang So / The Fourth Prince / Emperor Gwangjong (925-975)	The passionate and intense Fourth Prince who became Emperor  Gwangjong was the son of Queen Yoo. She abhorred him but favoured her other sons, Wang Yo, the Third Prince and Wang Jung, the Fourteenth Prince. In Shinju where he was sent as a hostage, he lived a like a wild beast and was derogatorily referred to as ‘Wolfdog.’  Upon his return to Songak, with Hae Soo’s care and concern, he transformed into a civilised prince. At first, he was unambitious. But due to certain circumstances, he was compelled to fight for the throne. He ascended the throne at 24 and ruled for 26 years (949-975).
Choi Hyun Jin as the young Prince Wang So	The young prince’s face was scarred by his mother, Queen Yoo during her quarrel with King Taejo. He was sent to Shinju ostensibly to be adopted by the Kang Family of Shinju. In fact, he was sent   there as a hostage to end hostilities between the Wang Royal Family and the Kang Family.  Lady Kang, one of the concubines of King Taejo, had a miscarriage. Was it due to the evil doings of Queen Yoo?
I U as Go Ha-jin / Hae Soo, the sister-in-law of Wang Wook - a fictional character	Wang So’s love of a lifetime.  The 25 year-old girl of the 21st century, Go Ha-jin teleported to the 10th Century Goryeo Dynasty.  She drowned in an accident and when she woke up,   she found herself trapped in the body of 16-year old Hae Soo, the cousin of Lady Hae.
Kang Ha Neul as Wang Wook (Daejong) / The Eighth Prince (Death: 969)	The son of Queen Hwangbo and the blood brother of Yeon Hwa.  He was a well-mannered, warm-hearted and unambitious scholar-prince who turned evil as he struggled for the throne.
Hong Jong Hyun as Wang Yo / The Third Prince (923-949)	The evil and overly ambitious son of Queen Yoo, the third consort of Taejo.  He was the blood brother of Wang So, the Fourth Prince and Wang Jung, the Fourteenth Prince.  He became the third king, King Jeongjong (945-949) after Wang Mu’s death. He ruled for 5 years.
THE OTHER WANG PRINCES
Kim San Ho as Wang Mu (912-945) / The Heir Apparent (According to Wikipedia, the title of Crown Prince was only a peerage title for the sons of the king)	The Prince who became King Hyejong, the second monarch of Goryeo (943-945). He ruled Goryeo for three years. He went into battles with Taejo, helped his father to found the Goryeo Dynasty and had a special place in his father’s heart. His maternal grandfather helped Taejo establish Goryeo. He was the son of Taejo’s second wife, Queen Janghwa who was from the Oh clan in Naju, South Jeolla Province.  Queen Janghwa came from a relatively humble family, compared to the powerful family of Wang Geon's third wife, Queen Yoo. Poisoned by his conniving brothers, Wang Yo, Wang Wook, Wang Won, and Chae Ryung, the maid-turned-court lady, King Hyejong became sickly.  He was finally killed by Wang Yo.
Yoon Sun Woo as Wang Won / The Ninth Prince	The sly, snaky and treacherous 9th Prince who was interested in alchemy and learnt about mercury poisoning.  He took advantage of his former maid, Chae Ryung whom he planted in the Damiwon Palace to help the other plotters poison King Hyejong.
Byun Baek Hyun as Wang Eun / The Tenth Prince	Wang Eun was playful, immature and simple-minded.  According to history, he and his sister (the consort of Wang Jung, the 14th prince) were the children of Queen Jeonduk.  Although he was unambitious and never wanted to be king, he became the victim of his ambitious and powerful grandfather, Wang Gyu, who sought to make him king.
Nam Joo Hyuk as Baek Ah, The Thirteenth Prince	His mother’s family was of Silla origins.  He was cultured and scholarly. Being musically-inclined, he played various musical instruments including the zither. He was also artistic and could draw.  His love affairs were star-crossed. He loved Lady Hae but she loved another. His one true love, Woo Hee committed suicide. Baek Ah was Hae Soo’s soulmate as they shared the same liberal beliefs.
Ji Soo as Wang Jung / The Fourteenth Prince	The youngest son of Queen Yoo. His blood brothers were Wang So, the Fourth Prince and Wang Jo, the Third Prince.  He possessed excellent martial arts skills and later, became a Grand General.  Many princes loved Hae Soo but Wang Jung was the one who married her.  He and the Tenth Prince were good buddies.
THE OLDER MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY
Jo Min-ki as King Taejo of Goryeo or Taejo Wang Geon (877-943)	The founder of the Goryeo Dynasty who ruled over Goryeo from 918-943, for over 25 years. He was born to a prominent merchant family in Songak (Kaesong).   He contracted political marriages (29 consorts) to ensure peace with warring groups.
Park Ji-young as Queen Yoo or Queen Simyeongsunseon (900-951) of the Chungju Yoo clan	The third consort of King Taejo who was ambitious, cruel and manipulative. She was a biased mother who favoured her sons, Wang Yo and Wang Jung but was irrationally cruel and cold towards Wang So,  sending him as a hostage to Shinju.
Jung Kyung-soon as Queen Shinjeong / Queen Hwangbo (900-983) of the Hwanju Hwangbo Clan	The fourth consort of King Taejo and the mother of Wang Wook, the Eighth Prince and Yeon Hwa.  Ambitious and determined, she encouraged her children to rise to the top.  Her daughter, Yeon Hwa became Gwangjong's queen.
Woo Hee Jin as Royal Concubine Oh Soo Yeon / Court Lady Oh Sang-Gung	She was Taejo’s love of a lifetime. She had a miscarriage. Because of her love for Taejo, she voluntarily became a court lady, serving the members of the Royal Family in the Damiwon Palace.  She was involved in preparing herbal treatment for the royal family’s illnesses, including Prince Wang Mu’s sickness.
Park Jung Hak as Wang Shik Ryeom, King Taejo’s cousin brother	As the king’s cousin, he was in charge of defences of the western capital (Pyeongyang). He conspired with Queen Yoo to put his nephew, Wang Yo, on the throne.
THE COURT OFFICIALS / ROYAL AIDES
Kim Sung Kyun as Choi Ji-Mong, the Royal Astronomer	He became King Taejo’s right-hand man because of his forecast that Taejo would unify the Later Three Kingdoms. King Taejo suspected that he was different from the other Goryeon people. According to history, the family of Taejo Wang Geon was greatly influenced by geomancy. They believed in the geomantic prophesy that if they planted trees on Mt Songak in Gaesong and moved their house to the southern slopes of the mountain, one of their descendants would unite the three kingdoms. The prophesy came true.
Sung Dong Il as Grand General Park Soo Kyung	A military commander who once fought wars together with Taejo to found Goryeo. He was promoted to the post of Grand General.  Being the doting father of Park Soon Duk, he orchestrated the marriage of his daughter to her favourite prince, Wang Eun.  He sided with Wang So in his struggle to become king.
Choi Byung Mo as Park Young-Gyu, Wang Yo's father-in-law	Formerly from Hubaekje or Later Baekje, he was compelled by Woo Hee, the last Princess of Hubaekje or Later Baekje to help in her plot to kill King Taejo.  Woo Hee threatened to reveal some of the crimes that he had committed against Hubaekje or Later Baekje in the past, if he did not help her.
? as Wang Gyu, the maternal grandfather of Wang Eun	Wang Gyu was one of the most powerful figures during Taejo’s reign.  According to history, he had not only married two of his daughters to King Taejo but also a third daughter to King Hyejong. Wang Gyu was ambitious. and King Hyejong lived out the rest of his life under constant threat and pressure from Wang Gyu.  Wang Gyu was determined to put his grandson, Wang Eun on the throne. Wang Gyu and his family were purged when Wang Yo ascended the throne.
Kim Kang-il as Kang Shin Cheon	As the representative of Shinju’s Kang Family, he led a convoy of men to send Wang So safely back to Songak. He was a Goryeo court official during Gwangjong’s reign.
THE PRINCESSES / ROYAL CONSORTS
Kang Han Na as Princess Hwangbo Yeon Hwa	The princess was the overly ambitious and manipulative daughter of Queen Hwangbo and the blood sister of Wang Wook, the Eighth Prince. Wang So married Yeon Hwa (his half-sister) who became his first queen, Queen Daemok.  Their eldest son, Wang Ju succeeded him as the fifth king, Gyeongjong (955-981).
Park Shi Eun as Lady Hae / Hae-ssi bu-in / Myung Hee	Prince Wang Wook's consort, who fell deeply in love with him at first sight. He had no love but only affection for her.  She was Hae Soo's 6th cousin sister.  Being a long suffering and loving consort, she even arranged for Wang Wook to marry his beloved Hae Soo.
Z.Hera as Park Soon Duk	She was Grand General Park Soo Kyung's tomboyish daughter who married Wang Eun, the Tenth Prince, her first love.  Her love and loyalty was unappreciated by the immature prince. Skilled at martial arts, she was equal to any male warrior.
Lee Chae Mi as Princess Gyeong Hwa (Kyung Hwa)	The princess was the eldest daughter of King Hyejong, the second monarch.  To prevent her from being married off to the barbarian Khitan chief (Liao Dynasty), Wang So made her his child bride, and second consort.  But, she was sent off to live in the temple after the arranged marriage.
Seo Ga Eun as the young daughter of Gwangjong and Hae Soo	The princess, the offspring of Gwangjong and Hae Soo, was born in Wang Jung’s household.  She was brought up by the Fourteenth Prince and  treated like his very own daughter.
Seohyun as Woo Hee, not a Goryeo princess but the last princess of Hubaekje / Later Baekje	After Hubaekje / Later Baekje fell into the hands of King Taejo, Woo Hee masqueraded as a gisaeng in Songak to wreak vengeance on King Taejo. She tried to kill Taejo with the help of Wang Yo and his father-in-law, Park Young Gyu, who was of Hubaekje origins.
THE MAID-TURNED-COURT LADY
Jin Ki Joo as Chae Ryung, a Maid-turned Court Lady	She was Hae Soo's maid and friend. As a poverty-stricken child, she was given money by Wang Won.  At first, she worked in Wang Won’s household. The Ninth Prince romanced her and courted her to be his spy. She was educated and taught Chinese calligraphy by Wang Won. As Damiwon’s court lady, she was the spy for the Ninth Prince and helped him, Wang Yo and Wang Wook to kill King Hyejong using mercury.  Gwangjong had her beaten to death for all her crimes as a warning to the others.