South Korea · Drama · 2024
Captivating the King
Binge Brief
- 16 episodes aired on tvN from January 21 to March 3, 2024, Saturdays and Sundays at 21:20 KST
- Directed by Cho Nam-guk, written by Kim Seon-deok, produced by C-JeS Studios
- Averaged a 5.609% nationwide rating, peaking at 7.763% for the episode 16 finale
- Stars Jo Jung-suk as King Yi In and Shin Se-kyung as Kang Hee-soo, a baduk player turned palace spy
- Rated 15+ (Teens 15 or older)
- Original Korean title: 세작, 매혹된 자들 (Sejak, Maehokdoen Jadeul); also released internationally as "Spy"
Synopsis
"Captivating the King" (세작, 매혹된 자들) is a 2024 tvN historical romance starring Jo Jung-suk as Yi In, Grand Prince Jinhan, and Shin Se-kyung as Kang Hee-soo. Held hostage during a foreign invasion in his youth, Yi In meets Hee-soo, who is disguised under the name Kang Mong-woo and is remembered for her skill at baduk (the board game Go). Their bond forms before he returns to the palace, where the reigning king, Yi Seon (Choi Dae-hoon), and the royal court shape the path Yi In must take toward the throne.
Years later, Yi In has become king, but he trusts almost no one around him. Believing the new king responsible for the ruin of her family, Hee-soo infiltrates the palace under a false identity, intending to get close to him and take her revenge from within the court. Her father, Chief State Councilor Kang Hang-soon (Son Hyun-joo), and figures such as Queen Dowager Park (Jang Young-nam) and Queen Kim (An Si-ha) add to the political pressure surrounding the throne, while Kim Myung-ha (Lee Shin-young) is drawn into the same web of court intrigue.
As Hee-soo's scheme brings her back into daily contact with Yi In, the plan for revenge is complicated by feelings neither of them expected. The series plays out across 16 episodes as a story about trust, deception and power inside the Joseon-era court, built around the question of whether two people working against each other can still choose one another.
"Captivating the King" aired on tvN every Saturday and Sunday at 21:20 KST from January 21 to March 3, 2024, and is rated 15+ (Teens 15 or older). It was directed by Cho Nam-guk and written by Kim Seon-deok, produced by C-JeS Studios.
Captivating the King cast
Episodes
| Ep | Title | Air date | Status | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | After years of exile forced by the Qing, Grand Prince Jinhan (Yi In) returns to a palace that treats him as an outsider. | 2024-01-21 | Aired | 3.977% |
| 2 | A game of baduk against Yi In leaves Kang Hee-soo unexpectedly drawn to him. | 2024-01-21 | Aired | 3.089% |
| 3 | Kim Myung-ha warns Hee-soo to abandon her plan just as a crisis strikes the royal family. | 2024-01-27 | Aired | 3.286% |
| 4 | After a clash with King Yi Seon, Yi In is placed on the throne. | 2024-01-28 | Aired | 6.016% |
| 5 | The new king Yi In summons Myung-ha to the palace and hands him a special assignment. | 2024-02-03 | Aired | 3.868% |
| 6 | Yi In gives Hee-soo a sharp warning when she becomes his baduk partner. | 2024-02-04 | Aired | 5.461% |
| 7 | Yi In starts to suspect there is more between Myung-ha and Hee-soo than they admit. | 2024-02-09 | Aired | 4.162% |
| 8 | Rumors that the king favors Hee-soo spread through the court. | 2024-02-10 | Aired | 4.733% |
| 9 | After a night together, Yi In and Hee-soo each try to make sense of what they feel. | 2024-02-11 | Aired | 6.369% |
| 10 | A demand from the Qing forces Yi In into a decision that pushes Hee-soo to act. | 2024-02-11 | Aired | 6.703% |
| 11 | As Jong-hwan closes in on exposing her disguise, Hee-soo chooses to trust Yi In. | 2024-02-17 | Aired | 4.100% |
| 12 | A fire started by lightning strikes Yi In as an omen. | 2024-02-18 | Aired | 5.938% |
| 13 | A sudden change of heart leaves Hee-soo badly hurt, and her injury raises questions about her true identity. | 2024-02-24 | Aired | 4.942% |
| 14 | In an unguarded moment, Yi In tells Hee-soo the secret behind how he became king. | 2024-02-25 | Aired | 6.675% |
| 15 | After a tragedy involving Senior Court Lady Dong, Yi In sets out to punish whoever is responsible. | 2024-03-02 | Aired | 5.609% |
| 16 | Despite Yi In's objection, Hee-soo sets out on a dangerous trip to see her father. | 2024-03-03 | Aired | 7.763% |
Soundtrack
Starting the player loads Spotify, which sets its own cookies.
| Track | Artist |
|---|---|
| Daydreaming, Part 1 | Shin Ji-hoon, 21 January 2024 |
| Drizzle, Part 2 | Kwon Jin-ah, 28 January 2024 |
| Wave, Part 3 | Taeil (NCT), 4 February 2024 |
| Peach Tree, Part 4 | Roy Kim, 18 February 2024 |
Awards
| Year | Ceremony | Category | Recipient | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 15th Korea Drama Awards | Grand Prize | Jo Jung-suk | Nominated |
Frequently asked questions
Who stars in Captivating the King?
Jo Jung-suk stars as King Yi In and Shin Se-kyung as Kang Hee-soo, a baduk player who infiltrates the palace under a false identity. Lee Shin-young co-stars as Kim Myung-ha.
How many episodes does Captivating the King have?
Captivating the King has 16 episodes. It aired on tvN from January 21 to March 3, 2024, Saturdays and Sundays at 21:20 KST.
Is Captivating the King based on a true story?
No. Captivating the King is an original screenplay by Kim Seon-deok; no novel, webtoon or historical event has been documented as its basis.
Will there be a Captivating the King season 2?
No season 2 has been announced. The series concluded as a single 16-episode season in March 2024.
Where can you watch Captivating the King?
Captivating the King is available on TVING in South Korea and on Netflix in select regions internationally.
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