Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth

 

Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth is a South Korean television series starring Park Seo-joon, Go A-ra, and Park Hyung-sik. It revolves around an elite group of young men called "Hwarang", who discover their passion, friendship and love in the turmoil of the Silla Kingdom (57 BC–AD 935).^[2] The series aired every Monday and Tuesday at 22:00 (KST) on KBS2, from December 19, 2016 to February 21, 2017.

The show was noted for its star-studded cast, which includes industry veterans, such as Sung Dong Il, as well as popular young actors, such as Park Seo-joon, Go Ara and Park Hyung-sik. The cast were praised for their performances and the show garnered multiple acting award nominations. This includes Choi Won-young's win for "Best Supporting Actor" and Park Seo-joon's nomination for the prestigious "Top Excellence Award, Actor" at the 31st KBS Drama Awards.

 

Plot

Queen Ji So has been ruling the Kingdom of Silla as regent since King Beopheung died, keeping her young son Sam maek jong hidden outside of the capital Seorabeol and safe from enemies and assassins. As Sam maek jong comes of age, nobles, citizens, officials and Sam maek jong himself, have all grown impatient for her to cede power. However, the powerful nobles that tried to usurp power in the Kingdom continue to eye the throne and Ji So fears the consequences of her ceding it.

In order to break the power of the nobles, who have grown accustomed to their privileges under the bone rank system, Ji So plans to create a new elite group, the Hwarang, that will cut across the existing power factions, and to bind them to protect Sam maek jong and the throne. As this new elite group of male youths bond and grow,^[9] they are unaware that within their number is their future king, Sam maek jong, and Kim Seon-u, a commoner with a secret even he is not aware of.

 

Cast

Main

·         Park Seo-joon as Moo-myung / Kim Sun-woo/ Kim Isabu / Dog-Bird

A young man of low birth who rises above his situation in life to become a legendary hwarang warrior. He assumes the identity of his best friend Kim Sun-woo, Ah-ro's biological brother, after he is killed by one of the Queen Dowager's men. Later, he realized he was of the sacred bone, belonging to the royal family.

·        Go Ara as Kim Ah-ro

A "half-breed" (derogative term for aristocrat (jin-gol)—lower class offspring) with a cheerful and straightforward personality, whose father is of jin-gol birth while her mother a servant. She works multiple part-time jobs to support her family; in particular as physician to the Hwarang. She easily make friends. Later she fell in love with Sun-woo.

·         Park Hyung-sik as Sammaekjong / Kim Ji-dwi  / King Jinheung

The young and distrustful king who goes into hiding due to assassination attempts and secretly becomes a hwarang warrior, gaining strength and leadership ability in the process. He joins the hwarang under the assumed identity Kim "Ji-dwi" as the Hwarang Chief Kim Wi-hwa's fake "nephew."

Supporting

Hwarangs

·         Kim Tae-hyung as Suk Han-sung

The youngest hwarang of the lot who has a warm personality and gets along well with everyone. He is a bright and innocent boy who carries a heavy burden as the last jin-gol of his clan, Wolseong. Dan-se's younger half brother. He treats Sun-woo as his brother.

·         Sung Dong-il as Lord Kim Wi-hwa 

The first Chief (pungwolju) of the hwarang who acts as a fatherly figure towards the boys. Secret adviser of Ji-dwi.

·         Choi Min-ho as Kim Soo-ho

A jin-gol aristocrat born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Hot-blooded and chivalrous, he aces in swordplay and is seen as a shameless playboy but is devoted in love. Kim Soo-yeon's overprotective brother.

·         Do Ji-han as Park Ban-ryu

Having been taught politics (by his two fathers – Park Young-shil and Park Ho as his adoptive and biological fathers respectively) from an early age, he is a cold-blooded jin-gol, who is competitive and seeks for more power. He takes interest in Soo-ho's younger sister, Soo-yeon.

·         Jo Yoon-woo as Kim Yeo-wool

A man who "has a mysterious charm and loves dressing up more than most women," but is also extremely thoughtful and caring. Hence, beautiful and mysterious, he possesses a sharp tongue. His mother is the sister of the previous king while his jin-gol father's identity still remains as a mystery, which makes him a half seong-gol, but he takes no interest in the throne. He is often seen carrying a fan.