Character names and descriptions

Jan 4, 2026 01:35 am

[The info is from namuwiki and kbs official website. Apologies for any mistakes]

1. Hong Eun-jo
Actor: Nam Ji-hyun (Child actor: Kim Youn-seul)
Description: A child born between a noble father and a commoner mother. She possesses a spirited and resilient character. Though her status is that of a commoner, she was cherished and educated like a daughter by her father, Hong Min-jik. After her family's sudden downfall, she becomes a public physician to earn a living. Witnessing the suffering of the people, she begins to secretly steal from corrupt yangban (nobles) to help the sick, becoming known by the alias "Gildong."

Relations: She's Hong Min-jik and Chun-seom's daughter, and Hong Dae-il's younger half-sister. ~~She is set to marry to marry into the Im household as a concubine.~~

2. Yi Yeol
Actor: Moon Sang-min (Child actor: Park Hoo)
Description: The Prince Dowol (Dowol Daegun). Possessing outstanding looks, a stately posture, and innate dignity, he deliberately acts like a dissolute good-for-nothing, a troublemaker, and a rogue to hide his intelligence—a plan conceived to protect his mother after a warning from his half-brother, the Crown Prince. He enjoys playing as an investigator at the police bureau, showing off his deductive skills with a mix of bravado and endearing arrogance.

Relations: King Yi-gyu's younger half-brother. Son of the Queen Dowager.

3. Im Jae-i
Actor: Hong Min-ki
Description: The second son of Chief State Councilor Im Sa-hyung. He lives in his father's shadow, never revealing himself, obediently accepting what is given and taken away. His life was one of compliance, where even his own desires had to belong to his father, until the woman Eun-jo enters the annex of his house. Through clashing with her, he begins to dream of a desire he has never known, perhaps even affection.

Relations: Second son of Im Sa-hyung. Younger brother of Im Seung-jae. Bethrothed to Shin Hae-rim, and has a connection to No-eul, a gisaeng he refers to as his 'concubine' in the first episode.

4. Shin Hae-rim
Actor: Han So-eun
Description: Im Jae-i's fiancée, a nobleman's daughter from a renowned family. As with most arranged marriages among the aristocracy, her opinion was not considered; it was purely strategic. She harbored a small hope that their relationship might begin with affection, but this is shattered. Having lost her parents early and raised under her strict older brother, she suppressed other emotions, leaving only a gentle nature—or so she thought, until she met Eun-jo and Yeol.

Relations: Sister of Shin Jin-won. Both parents deceased. Im Jae-yi's bethrothed.

5. Im Sa-hyung
Actor: Choi Won-young
Description: Im Jae-i's father. The Chief State Councilor and leader of the conservative Hungu faction. He unabashedly calls flattery a loyal heart and himself a sycophant and a treacherous minister. The sole survivor of a past purge through flattery, he now wields power second only to the king. Behind a firm face lies black intentions, and within a soft tone lies poison. He was a lifelong friend of Hong Min-jik (Eun-jo's father), a relationship that became a seed of misfortune. He admired yet secretly envied Hong Min-jik's upright character and innate talent, and it pained him to see himself dim in comparison. Yet, cruelly, it was only by Hong Min-jik's side that he shone.

Relations: Father of Im Jae-yi and Im Seung-jae. Close connection to King Yi Gyu.

6. Yi Gyu
Actor: Ha Seok-jin
Description: The King of Joseon. Appears indifferent and languid. His childhood was spent under the pressure of hiding the blood of his disgraced mother, the deposed Queen Kim. Naturally intelligent, he used his wit shrewdly. While Crown Prince, he wore a mask of benevolence, and all believed he would be a sage king, but upon ascending the throne, he unleashed all his repressed cruelty, becoming the present tyrant. He believes he is skillfully checking and controlling his ministers, and behind his indifferent expression lies constant self-assurance.

7. Dae-choo
Actor: Lee Seung-woo
Real Name: Seo Do-hyung
Description: Yeol's bodyguard. Born into a family of military officials, becoming a warrior was his natural dream. Good-natured and easygoing, but when he must wield his sword, he moves more sharply and agilely than anyone. Even under Yeol's complaints, he speaks his mind, which is why Yeol liked him from their first meeting. His official post is a Training Institute Pan-gwan (junior 5th rank). Yeol gave him the nickname "Dae-choo" (dried jujube) claiming he looked like one, though his appearance is objectively handsome.

8. The Queen Dowager
Actor: Kim Jeong-nan
Description: Yeol's mother and the king's stepmother. A figure with strong maternal instincts, constantly worried about Yeol's aimless behavior. Usually benevolent, she can quickly lose her composure at Yeol's thoughtless remarks. She entered the palace as a concubine of the late king and became the new queen after the deposition of the incumbent queen (Lee Gyu's birth mother). Witnessing the brutal process of a queen being discarded, she was shocked by the cruelty of the royal family. She hid her feelings and tried to protect the young Crown Prince Lee Gyu, whom he briefly regarded as a mother. After the purge, she laments her failure to see his tyrannical nature and now guards against Lee Gyu, striving to protect Yeol from him.

9. Hong Min-jik
Actor: Kim Seok-hoon
Description: Eun-jo's father. A high-ranking official of utmost integrity listed in the "Record of Clean-handed Officials." The spiritual teacher of the Sarim faction. Stern yet warm and thoughtful. He was dismissed and had his assets confiscated for offering frank advice to the king. The shock caused him to collapse, and he rose again after three years. He cherishes his commoner daughter Eun-jo, raising her as his own despite criticism. He feels guilty that his unbending character brought hardship to his family and now wishes for Eun-jo to live a happy life away from him.

10. Chun-seom
Actor: Seo Young-hee
Description: Eun-jo's mother, Hong Min-jik's concubine, and Hong Dae-il's nanny. A woman whose family's happiness is her everything. Submissive and patient, not out of ignorance but deep understanding. She was a maidservant raised in Hong Min-jik's household, stayed by his side after he lost his wife, and later became his concubine. She feels endlessly sorry for giving birth to a brilliant daughter like Eun-jo from her lowly status. She also raised Dae-il like her own son, often taking his side over Eun-jo's.

11. Hong Dae-il
Actor: Song Ji-ho
Description: Eun-jo's older brother. Immature and loves to play. Feels an inferiority complex towards Eun-jo, who excels him in every way, believing he lost his father's affection to her. He often grumbles and speaks bluntly but is inherently good-natured and cannot truly hate her. Secretly regards her as a sister but acts arrogantly in front of her. He has a deficiency from losing his birth mother and is self-centered, but in critical moments, he is a good person who strives to protect his family like his father.

12. Dongjoo-daek
Actor: Lee Jin-hee
Description: An outer-residence slave of the former Chief Censor (Daesagan). Blunt and outspoken. After becoming a widow, her voice only grew louder while her heart became more timid. Eun-jo was her confidante. She lost her husband in war and is raising an infant.

13. Seok-sam
Actor: Hong Woo-jin
Description: A male slave of the former Chief Censor's household. A gossip and a braggart, half of his words are boasts. Later distributed as a slave to Im Sa-hyung after his master's downfall, where he helps Eun-jo. Has a subtle affection for Dongjoo-daek.

14. Jeom-baek
Actor: Oh Jung-taek
Description: A government slave at the Public Medical Clinic (Hyeminseo). Handles all sorts of odd jobs. Stubborn and likes to give unsolicited advice. Roughly an uncle's age to Eun-jo, but they interact without formality. Mistakenly believes Dongjoo-daek has feelings for him.

15. Han Seung-rok
Actor: Choi Kwang-il
Description: The Chief State Councilor (Yeonguijeong). A figure who steadfastly maintained his position amidst King Lee Gyu's tyranny and Im Sa-hyung's abuses. Mocked as a titular minister, he bowed his head and smiled before the tyrant and the treacherous minister with a heart-wrenching feeling, for a dangerous ambition he held in his heart.

16. Queen Shin
Actor: Kim Ji-soo
Description: The King's Consort, Shin Hae-rim's aunt. Gentle but principled. Hopes for King Lee Gyu to return to the semblance of a sage king he showed as Crown Prince. After the purge, she offered loyal admonitions and scoldings to the king in place of the sycophantic ministers, causing the king to distance her, with Geum-nok taking her place. She is hostile to Im Sa-hyung, who blocks the king's ears.

17. Geum-nok
Actor: Song Ji-woo
Description: The king's concubine, but in reality, Im Sa-hyung's agent. Loyal to Im Sa-hyung, who brought her to the palace and gave her family wealth. A "live and let live" optimist who dislikes serious atmospheres. Has high social skills honed from long years as a gisaeng. Skilled at reading the king's mood and occasionally playfully calls him by his childhood name. The king finds her boldness interesting and raised her to the rank of Suk-yong. She enjoys the power the king wields. She is not upset that the king treats her as a pretty ornament, as she likewise sees him as a top customer from her gisaeng days. However, upon entering the palace, she had one wish: to never meet her first love, Kang Yoon-bok.

18. Im Seung-jae
Actor: Do Sang-woo
Description: Im Sa-hyung's eldest son. He ranks all human relationships and determines his attitude accordingly. His valuation of people is the same. Consequently, he is terribly mean and fierce to those of lower status.

19. Kang Yoon-bok
Actor: Moon Tae-yu
Description: Police Bureau (Podocheong) investigator. Simple and honest. Despite a somewhat stiff tone, a coarse voice, and a rough, manly appearance, he is sentimental. He struggles as a somewhat incompetent officer but is hardworking. His original dream was to be an artist who loved music and instruments. He was once in love with the former gisaeng Geum-nok but she left due to his family's intense opposition, leaving him with emotional baggage.

20. Officer Park
Actor: Park Chan-woo
Description: A police officer, Kang Yoon-bok's subordinate.

21. Shin Jin-won
Actor: Lee Kyu-han
Description: Director of the Public Medical Clinic (Hyeminseo), Shin Hae-rim's older brother. Accurate in judgment and values principles. Strictly raised the orphaned Hae-rim to keep her from going astray. Extremely dislikes women engaging in public activities, but makes an exception for the diligent Eun-jo.

22. Kkot-sim
Actor: Bang Eun-jung
Description: Shin Hae-rim's slave maid. Has served Hae-rim since childhood, becoming highly perceptive of her moods. A sister-like presence who likes Hae-rim's good heart and tries to protect her.

23. Kim Seung-baek
Actor: Baek Jae-woo
Description: A friend of Jae-i and Dae-il. Arrogant. Likes to be treated well and is susceptible to praise. Has a strong sense of privilege as a yangban. Has an inferiority complex towards Jae-i and looks down on Dae-il.

24. No-eul
Actor: Yoo Soo-yeon
Description: A gisaeng from Uiju. Frank with her emotions. Her family fell into ruin, she became a government slave, and was later sold as a gisaeng. Originally from an interpreter family, she had little interest in men to begin with, and even less after life as a gisaeng.

25. Heuk-geom (Black Sword)
Actor: Kang Yong
Description: A warrior in a bamboo hat. An assassin who follows Im Sa-hyung like a shadow from unseen places. Appears to protect him whenever he is in danger.

26. (Unnamed) Palace Maid
Actor: Han Ji-hye

27. Royal Secretary
Actor: Kim Seon-je

Special Appearances (Episode 1)

· Son Byung-ho as the Inspector General (Daesagan)
· Seol Ji-won as the Inspector General's daughter