Browsing the Korean internet over this Lunar New Year break, one could not help but notice advertisements and news articles about one film: “The King’s Warden.” This historical film, which deals with the story of the Joseon King Dan-jong’s life in exile, has garnered more than eight million views since its release earlier this month and has brought attention to his plight in the context of Joseon history. 

The film begins in 1457, when 16-year-old Yi Hong-wi (posthumously known as Dan-jong)—former king of Joseon—is exiled after plots to restore him to the throne are discovered. Previously, in an event known as the Gyeu-jeongnan, Hong-wi had been overthrown by his uncle Yu, who took the throne instead and eliminated Hong-wi’s supporters. With the threat of Hong-wi possibly taking back the throne, Yu exiles him to a small island, Cheong-ryeong-po, in the province of Yeong-wol. 

Despite being traumatized and disillusioned by the circumstances he faced during his dethronement, Hong-wi forms strong bonds with the people of the island and rediscovers meaning in his life. In pursuit of gaining power to protect his friends, Hong-wi rebels against his uncle to restore himself to the throne, only to fail and be executed as a traitor. 

Although the Gyeu-jeongnan has been a popular subject for historical films in Korea, exploring the event through the perspective of Dan-jong was unprecedented. Previously, Dan-jong had been perceived by the Koreans merely as a helpless boy king who was killed by the ambitions of his uncle. In contrast, the film portrays Dan-jong as a hero: a victim in political battle, yet courageous enough to step up to protect his friends. 

“From a young age, Dan-jong was known to be the most legitimate heir to the Joseon throne,” Alina Lee (11), History Honor Society (HHS) member, said. “But suddenly, his uncle rebelled against him. He had a different public image than Dan-jong—he was seen as more of a violent dictator who pursued atrocious actions to achieve his goals.”

Ultimately, the film caused the public to obsess over Dan-jong. But why is Dan-jong’s story so provoking to the Korean audience? 

First of all, Dan-jong’s life is a typical revenge plot prevalent in classical literature. The situation of a prince rebelling against his uncle, who unlawfully ascended the throne, is reminiscent of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” wherein Hamlet is deprived of his rightful claim to be king after his uncle Claudius usurps the throne. Dan-jong’s story as a real-life example of dramatic Shakespearean tragedy evokes the sympathy of the audience. 

Another famous depiction of this arc is “The Lion King,” wherein the evil, ambitious lion Scar murders his brother Mufasa and usurps the throne while the legitimate heir, Simba, is banished until he returns to fight for his throne. 

Furthermore, the evil uncle and innocent nephew dynamic is a plot that repeatedly appears throughout history. A parallel is drawn between Dan-jong and the Princes in the Tower in British history. In 1470, 12-year-old King Edward V was overthrown by his uncle Richard III and imprisoned in the Tower of London along with his nine-year-old brother, Richard of Shrewsbury. They mysteriously disappear in the Tower, while Richard III is accused of killing his nephews to become king. Even now, some people resent Richard III for his alleged murder of the two boys. 

Ultimately, it is the iconization of Dan-jong as a lamb to the slaughter against a completely evil adult that draws the attention of many Korean spectators. 

However, the over-dramatization of history also incited scholarly criticism. Historian Shim Yong-hwan explained that the movie was unable to overcome the ‘Se-jong Complex,’ or the fairy-tale-like story of a good king who wholeheartedly cares for his people.

“It’s a shame that the common people in the movie didn’t take on a more proactive role,” Shim said. “They [were] merely portrayed as innocent and nice. I think overcoming the typical ‘good king and innocent commoners’ dynamic is something that should be done in the film industry.”

Although the nature of the film might be a little cliché, to audiences unaware of historical nuances and cinematography, the movie proved to be generally an enjoyable experience.