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Jang Hyuk is set to play a formidable military commander in « Sword & Silence », a new historical drama set to premiere on November 14, 2026. With just a few weeks to go before its premiere, the production team has released new images featuring the characters who will either support or oppose his rise to power.
Amid political rivalries, loyalty to the king, wars, and family conflicts, the series promises to explore a pivotal period in Korean history: the unification of the Three Kingdoms by Silla and the upheavals that led to the fall of Goguryeo.
Jang Hyuk Faces Off Against Cho Seong-ha in a Struggle for the Throne of Goguryeo
Directed by Kim Yeong-jo, best known for «Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth,» «Sword & Silence» tells the story of how the kingdom of Silla managed to prevail against more powerful forces—including Goguryeo, Baekje, and China’s Tang Dynasty—to unify the Three Kingdoms.
At the heart of this historical epic is Yeon Gaesomun, played by Jang Hyuk. A military hero of Goguryeo, he uses his fighting skills and ruthless nature to gradually expand his influence. But as his power grows, his methods become increasingly authoritarian, causing tensions among the kingdom’s leadership.
His main adversary is King Go Geon-mu, played by Cho Seong-ha. Fearing that his authority is under threat, the king seeks to eliminate Yeon Gaesomun in order to regain control of the court. However, the military leader refuses to back down and launches a counterattack that puts the king himself in danger.
This rivalry between the ruler and his powerful general promises to become one of the series’ major conflicts. Their clash isn’t just between two men—it could permanently alter the fate of Goguryeo.
Baek Sung-hyun, Hong Kyung-in, and Yeon Gaesomun's sons at the center of the conflicts
The new images also feature Go Yeon-mu, played by Baek Sung-hyun, a general who is deeply loyal to King Go Geon-mu. Determined to protect his sovereign, he finds himself in direct confrontation with Yeon Gaesomun.
Impressed by his loyalty, the general initially decides to spare his life. But when Go Yeon-mu refuses to join his side, Yeon Gaesomun sends him to Liaodong. While the general defends this region, his rival strengthens his hold on Goguryeo and prepares for a bloody war against the Tang Dynasty.
The two characters thus embody two opposing visions of how to defend their kingdom: one remains committed to his oath of loyalty, while the other considers the concentration of power essential to his ambitions.
For his part, Hong Kyung-in plays King Bojang, whom Yeon Gaesomun places on the throne when he reaches the height of his power. But this new ruler has virtually no real authority. Portrayed as a puppet king, he can only watch helplessly as upheavals threaten his country.
The series will also explore the consequences of Yeon Gaesomun's death. After his death, his sons Yeon Nam-saeng (Kim Aaron) and Yeon Nam-geon (Jung Ji-hwan) engage in a power struggle that plunges Goguryeo into a civil war.
Their family rivalry then helps hasten the kingdom's downfall. This turn of events underscores one of the drama's central themes: the quest for absolute power can ultimately destroy those who seek to hold onto it.
«Sword & Silence» promises to be an epic historical drama about the fall of Goguryeo
Through these characters, «Sword & Silence» will not only tell the story of Silla’s unification of the Three Kingdoms. The drama also aims to explore the internal struggles that weakened Goguryeo and the choices its leaders made in the face of the political and military upheavals of their time.
The production team explained: «Alongside the story of Silla’s unification of the Three Kingdoms, the series will offer an in-depth portrayal of the major historical events surrounding the fall and revival of Goguryeo.»
She added that the stories of the kingdom’s leading figures will shed light on the human tragedies and the futility of absolute power that once seemed to dominate the world.
With Jang Hyuk, Cho Seong-ha, and Baek Sung-hyun at the center of these conflicts, the drama is expected to focus heavily on political confrontations and dilemmas of loyalty, while exploring the impact of personal ambitions on the fate of an entire kingdom.
«Sword & Silence» will air starting Saturday, November 14, 2026, at 9:20 p.m. (Korean time). No international streaming platforms have been announced at this time.
