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" King Munmu the Great »is set to immerse viewers in the heart of one of the most tumultuous periods in Korean history.". With just a few months to go before its premiere, KBS’s new historical drama has unveiled a particularly dark first teaser, in which Lee Hyun-wook, Jang Hyuk, and Park Sung-woong find themselves in the midst of a war that will determine the fate of the Three Kingdoms.
Directed by Kim Yeong-jo, best known for «Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth,» the drama will tell the story of how the kingdom of Silla—though less powerful than its adversaries—managed to confront Goguryeo, Baekje, and the Tang Dynasty before the unification of the Three Kingdoms.
Lee Hyun-wook Faces a Decision That Will Change the Fate of Silla
The teaser opens with a particularly striking atmosphere. Kim Pom-min, played by Lee Hyun-wook, stands on a battlefield plunged into darkness by a total solar eclipse. The man who will become the 30th king of Silla appears to be grappling with the weight of the decisions that lie ahead.
The words of two key figures in his inner circle echo in his mind. General Kim Yu-sin (Park Sung-woong) asks him: «Where is your will leading you?», while her father, Kim Chun-chu (Kim Kang-woo), the 29th king of Silla, asks her: «Have you made up your mind?»
Two questions that highlight Kim Pom-min's inner conflict, as he is torn between his responsibilities as a ruler, his personal convictions, and the need to protect his kingdom.
But the threat quickly takes on a concrete form with the arrival of Yeon Gaesomun, played by Jang Hyuk. Portrayed as Goguryeo’s fearsome god of war and a ruthless ruler, he immediately commands attention when he declares: «Can't you hear the sounds of war?»
A massive war is brewing between the Three Kingdoms
The second half of the teaser suddenly shifts in scale. Entire columns of soldiers march across desolate lands as the armies begin to move. Kim Yu-sin and Yeon Gaesomun also appear on their way to the battlefield, suggesting that the clashes will be particularly intense.
Amid this violence, Kim Pom-min looks out over a blood-soaked battlefield and reflects on the cost of the ambitions that pit the various kingdoms against one another.
«Everyone's desires and grudges turned into a raging fire and began to engulf the Three Kingdoms in flames.», ", he observes, as the images show men willing to risk their lives for their country.
The teaser thus ends with a future king gripping his sword tightly. More than just a story of military conquest, «The Great King Munmu» seems intent on exploring the choices, sacrifices, and human conflicts behind a pivotal period in Korean history.
With Lee Hyun-wook, Jang Hyuk, Park Sung-woong, and Kim Kang-woo At the heart of this sweeping historical epic, the drama promises a large-scale showdown. «The Great King Munmu» is scheduled for release in November 2026.
