Sageuk Lover

This drama is GOGURYEO. Goguryeo is NOT Goryeo so this is not Moon Lovers era. Six Flying Dragons is also epic, but they are definitely not the same era because 6fd is during the closing of Goryeo era and beginning of Joseon era. And this definitely is not the same era as My Country the New Age since my country occured during Lee Bang Won era (Lee Bang Won is the third king of Joseon era, very distant from Goguryeo). I'm commenting this here because I saw some people recommending some dramas (see recommendations) and mentioning this was same time period as those dramas when they weren't. (nothing wrong with recommending those dramas if you find something similar, just have to take note of the correct time periods those dramas are in are mostly different to this one). Do you know what drama has same time period as this one? The epic Jumong! It was part of the hallyu wave back in the 2000s but of course with the lengthy episodes plus not being available in most streaming sites (Netflix, Viu, etc) less people watched it. I'm actually excited for this show because it features Goguryeo (rare in kdramas) plus Kim So Hyun is a favorite actress of mine (ignoring my doubts on the male lead, hope he proves me wrong).
This is the korean historical periods (as far as I know and I'll put where this drama belongs):
1. GoJoseon - BC era, not much information, some parts of this history are believed as legend (ex: legend of Dangun)
= Dramas:
-> The Legend 2007 (Tae Wang Sa Shin Gi) = mostly feature King Gwanggaeto of
Goguryeo, but it also shows him and his two leading ladies as reincarnation of
figures from what I believe is Gojoseon era.
-> Arthdal Chronicles 2019 = mostly fictional, but the show also referred to itself as a
history of Korea so this can possibly be a mythical version of Gojoseon.
2. Three Kingdoms era - after GoJoseon, three powerful independent Kingdoms existed in the Korean peninsula (Goguryeo, Baekje, Silla).
A. Goguryeo 37 BC-668 AD - biggest and northernmost Kingdom
= Dramas:
-> Jumong 2006-2007 = about Gorguryeo's founder Jumong. Also features Soseono,
said to be the mother of Baekje founder Onjo.
-> The Legend 2007 (Tae Wang Sa Shin Gi) = same drama as one mentioned in Gojoseon
-> RIVER WHERE THE MOON RISES = THIS DRAMA
B. Baekje 18 BC-660 AD - kingdom in Southwestern Korea)
= Dramas:
-> Ballad of Seodong 2005-2006 = about the last King of Baekje, includes a romance
between him and the daughter of the enemy kingdom of Silla, Princess Seonhwa
(played by Lee Bo Young). This is the only drama I can remember of this particular
dynasty.
C. Silla (before unification is 57 BC-668 AD) - Southeastern Korea, the kingdom that
eventually conquered the other two to unify the Korean peninsula)
= Dramas:
-> Hwarang 2017= the youth of King Jinpyeong (personally not the drama I will
watch if I want to watch something about Silla Dynasty)
-> Queen Seon Deok 2009 = about the titular Queen, also highlights a very important
figure but whose existence today is debated, Mishil (really recommend this show)
-> Great King's Dream 2011 = focuses on the figures who eventually unified Korean
peninsula into unified Silla Dynasty, Kim Yu Shin and King Muyeol of Silla. Also
included here is the more historically accurate story on Queen Seon Deok's life.
3. Unified Silla 668 AD-935 AD
= Dramas:
-> Emperor of the Sea 2004-2005 = focuses on famous merchant Jang Bo Go that lived
in this time period. The main actor in Jumong is also here as the second main male
character (rival of the male lead). This is the only drama I can remember from this
period.
4. Later 3 Kingdoms 892-936 AD - (can't recall any dramas)
5. Goryeo 918 AD-1392 AD
= Dramas:
-> Moon Lovers 2016 = King Gwangjong's story
-> Empress Cheonchu 2009 = about the granddaughter of Goryeo's founder, she's the
wife of the king after King Gwangjong
-> Empress Ki 2013-2014 = during time period when Goryeo was under the
Yuan/Mongol empire. Features a korean woman married to the Yuan Emperor
->Six Flying Dragons 2015-2016 = began during the dusk of Goryeo dynasty. Features
the rise of Lee Seong Gye, eventual founder of Joseon.
6. Joseon Dynasty 1392 AD-1910 AD = last Korean dynasty before it was conquered by
Japan, Korean War, and modern history
= Dramas:
-> Six Flying Dragons 2015-2016 = (same drama as above) this continues from reign of
Lee Seong Gye as king until his son King Taejong (Lee Bang Won)
->Tree with Deep Roots 2011 = about King Sejong, creator of Hangul (I like Song Joong
Ki before, but I became a fan after his cameo in this drama)
->The Princess Man 2011 = a fictional Romeo and Juliet love story. The parents of the
main characters though, Kim Jong Seo and King Sejo/Grand Prince Suyang, are real
people and many of the political machinations (ex: deaths and assasinations of some
characters) were based in reality. (Personally for me is Moon Chae Won's best drama
in the 2010s era and her fans should watch and hype this first before Innocent Man
and Good Doctor).
->7 Day Queen 2017 = Kings Yeonsangun and Jungjong
-> Jewel in the Palace 2003 = King Jungjong era, about the first female doctor of the
King. She was also shown as cook in this drama. (my first kdrama).
-> Hwang Ji Ni 2006 = about a prominent gisaeng also during King Jungjong era
-> Splendid Politics 2015 = about King Gwanghae's half sister, Princess Jeongmyeong
-> Dong Yi 2010 = about King Sukjong and his women. Focuses on Queen Inhyeon's maid
Dong Yi, eventual mother of King Yeongjo
-> Jang Ok Jung Live in Love 2013 = also about King Sukjong and his women, from
perspective of Jang Ok Jung (she's often the villain in most dramas about this time
period, so this drama is a different perspective).
-> Secret Door 2014 = story of Crown Prince Sado (father of King Jeongjo)
-> Yi San 2007 = King Jeongjo
-> Painter of the Wind 2008 = about prominent painters on King Jeongjo era, Shin Yun
Bok and Kim Hong Do. Shin Yun Bok is a woman pretending to be a man in this drama.
(Moon Geun Young is the best).
-> Mr Sunshine 2018 = focuses on activists during the closing of the Joseon era. King
Gojong is the king mainly shown in this drama (drama is not about him though)

Soseono's descendants are of the Baekje kingdom, not Goguryeo. She married Jumong for political reasons, but her children were by another husband. Jumong's descendants are of a different wife. If you search Baekje, King Onjo is the first king and Soseono was his mother.

I love both her and Kim Yoo Jung so much.

Jumong era, that's how long ago it is. Gorguryeo began on BC (before common era) and ended 600 AD (somewhere along those years) when Queen Seon Deok's successors unified the Korean peninsula and created the Unifies Silla dynasty. Goryeo is between 918 AD - 1392 AD

Gotta wait at least until Vincenzo finishes before they announced when they will film this again. (Also heard SJK also has to finish his movie filming in that was halted Colombia due to covid).

you can watch his scenes in youtube first (the whole kdrama is there with english subtitles, it has some spoilers though and his most watched video in that drama is definitely big spoiler).

Opposite for me. Moon Chae Won is a better actress than Lee Seung Gi. She had a blue dragon award but Lee Seung Gi doesn't. She made a really great impression in Painter of the Wind (first thing I saw her in) while I didn't care for Lee Seung Gi in Famous Chil Princesses 2006 kdrama (first thing I saw him in).

Are you talking about Chae Soo Bin? Not this guy's fault, this actor was an actor first before Chae Soo Bin. He's been in a lot of epic productions (Emperor of the Sea, Jumong, Painter of the Wind, Dong Yi). Unfortunately, new kdrama fans don't watch these older dramas mentioned that's why he is less known.

watch Queen Seon Deok, that's his breakthrough role. He wasn't in the first 20 episodes, but the story is great anyway and you'll understand and like his character more. Also has a great veteran actress as villain role in that drama (Go Hyun Jung).

I like him a lot more than popular actors (lee min ho, kim soo hyun, hyun bin, etc). He was so epic in Queen Seon Deok.

They never watched old dramas, they didn't know how epic Kim Nam Gil's breakthrough role of Bidam in Queen Seon Deok. I know how underrated (and less trendy) he is compared to the two actors but he deserves a lot of respect. Considering he wasn't the main lead in his breakthrough role (not even in the first 1/3 of the show, but the moment he appeared, he stole everyone's attention). Kim Nam Gil is the veteran actor in this drama, waiting for him.

Yup, no one has nailed the crossdresser performance anywhere as MGY did in this drama (always get annoyed when they make list about kdrama crossdressing girls and MGY is not on the list).

Both of them are great actresses for me, but in this drama MGY truly shines, no wonder she won Daesang for this drama. Have to say though, I kinda ship MGY character more with Park Shin Yang's, but her and MCW chemistry together is really good (MCW really good here for me despite being a newbie when she did this).

She's the best actress in her age group, totally deserve her daesang. I also like MCW but MGY is seriously the best in this drama. Sad how newer kdrama fans don't know her anymore.

I loved her so much and Bae Soo Bin in Painter of the Wind 2008 drama then discovered they were in this 2009 drama but their roles were so disappointing. In a way that I know MCW will be hated by fans who watched this drama back then because she was the villain role (I love her so much in Painter of the Wind, hated the fact that people will dislike her here). As for Bae Soo Bin, I wish he was the lead role, it made worse when Dongyi happened and he is still second fiddle (when he could actually play a king himself since he was king in Painter).
Just my opinion

Moon Chae Won's best dramas aside from Flower of Evil though are from before 2015. If you want to check her out you have to check out those older dramas.

I just love her so much in Princess's Man, she's in hanbok where she's the prettiest, also shows her best acting (in my opinion the best until Flower of Evil). I wish this drama is the one people know more of her instead of Innocent Man and Good Doctor (not saying her performances in those dramas are not good, is just that Princess's Man is on a different level of good). I wish she's back with more historical dramas and movies because she's really great in them (not to mention extra prettier too). The other drama I really like of hers is Painter of the Wind. She's just a supporting character here but I love it too, plus lead actress Moon Geun Young is really amazing.

Great acting in Flower of Evil. So fantastic and scary. More villain roles for you.

If you love the actors, these are my suggestions:
If you really love Moon Chae Won (Cha Ji Won) acting, try The Princess's Man, it's a historical drama from 2011 and she's really good in it. Some people didn't like her acting in the first few episodes, but just continue, she becomes really great as the episodes continue. Her character there is really strong just like this one. This drama in general is also really great, it received a lot of awards and even nominated in Montecarlo France awards.
I am new to Lee Joon Gi (Do Hyun Su) and haven't seen other works of his except this one and Iljimae (2008 version). He's really good in Iljimae though, and you can watch it for him. You might find the beginning episodes a bit slow but he's still good in it. Another drama of his is "Two Weeks". I haven't watch it but he also plays a father there who is also a fugitive. Great reviews on his acting there.

I am so happy that most of the child actors here have been successful Kim Yoo Jung, Shin Se Kyung, Nam Ji Hyun, Lee Hyun Woo, Yoo Seung Ho, Park Eun Bin. Even if they are not as popular today, I am also happy for the great acting of former child actors Noh Young Hak and Park Ji Bin did in this drama.