The first episode of “The Queen Who Crowns” saw peak household ratings of 5.9% in the Seoul metropolitan area, opening on a positive note. The series will be released in two versions: 19+ (adults only) and 15+ (suitable for teenagers) on TVING and tvN respectively.
The tvN x TVING original drama “The Queen Who Crowns” premiered on January 6th.
The show delves into the passionate and tumultuous relationship between Queen Wongyeong (played by Cha Joo-young) and her husband King Taejong Lee Bang-won (played by Lee Hyun-wook), exploring power struggles, secrets and fiery dynamics hidden beneath their political alliance.
While historical documents offer spoilers, “The Queen Who Crowns” reimagines the story of this politically influential couple from Queen Wongyeong’s perspective, adding depth and intrigue.
The narrative highlights how Queen Wongyeong’s powerful family, the Yeoheung Min clan, played a vital role in Lee Bang-won’s ascension to the throne. The Min family was one of the most prestigious clans of the late Goryeo period. However, after ascending the throne, Lee Bang-won executed Queen Wongyeong’s relatives, including her four brothers, out of mistrust of her in-laws’ political influence.
Despite this, Queen Wongyeong remained married to Lee Bang-won for 40 years, giving birth to 12 children – seven sons and five daughters – making her the most prolific queen of the Joseon Dynasty. Surprisingly, she gave birth to her youngest child at the age of 47, even after two of her brothers had already been executed.
Lee Bang-won is also known as the first Joseon king to formalize the practice of concubinage. This revelation sparked reactions from viewers, who labeled the drama a “love-hate saga”, a “real-life version of Red Velvet’s Psycho” and a story of “conflicted affection”.
Director Kim Sang-ho said at the press conference: “Although it is known that Lee Bang-won became king with Wongyeong’s support, we imagined and dramatized the nature of their marital relationship. Historically, Lee Bang-won had one of the highest numbers of concubines among the Joseon kings. Before they became king and queen, they were husband and wife and we wanted to represent the complex dynamics of their love-hate relationship.”
The first episode attracted attention with its bold and explicit scenes, including intense bedroom moments, Lee Bang-won’s relationships with concubines, and even explicit nude scenes. These elements heightened the tension of the drama and showcased the intricate emotions between the characters.
These provocative scenes are presented differently depending on the platform.
The 19+ version is available exclusively on the OTT TVING platform, while the 15+ version airs on tvN. TVING releases two episodes every Monday, for a total of 14 episodes, while tvN airs one episode every Monday and Tuesday at 8:50 PM KST, for a total of 12 episodes. This dual-version format caters to audiences’ different viewing preferences, as part of a joint strategy by tvN and TVING.
Episode 1 of tvN’s “The Queen Who Crowns” averaged 5.1% and peaked at 5.9% in the Seoul metropolitan area, with a national average of 4.9% and peaked at 5.7%, securing the top spot among cable channels and general programming channels during its time slot (based on Nielsen Korea’s pay platform metrics, including cable, IPTV and satellite).
With a strong start at 5.9% in the Seoul metropolitan area, “The Queen Who Crowns” has drawn attention to how its story will unfold and unfold in the coming weeks.
