The Princess' Man is a romance drama set during the Joseon

Joseon

Joseon, Chosŏn, Choseon or Chosun are English spellings of the Korean *word for "Korea". It may refer to:*Korea*Gojoseon, the first Korean kingdom, from 2333 BC to 108 BC.*Joseon Dynasty of Korea, from AD 1392 to 1910....

 Dynasty.It tells about a tragic love story between the daughter of Grand Prince Suyang (later as King Sejo

Sejo of Joseon

Sejo of Joseon was the seventh king of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. He produced a coup d'etat and became king himself in 1455.-Reign:...

) and Kim Jongseo's son.

Plot

The Grand Prince SuYang attempts to build an alliance with his brother King MunJong's trusted prime Minister, Kim Jeong Soo's family. He proposes a marriage between his eldest daughter SeRyung and Jeong Soo's son, Kim Seung Yoo. Learning of this, SeRyung's curiosity regarding her prospective husband is piqued. On hearing that Kim Seung Yoo is going to take over as her cousin Princess Kyung Hee's new tutor, she persuades her to swap places with her so that she can catch a glimpse of her intended. Her first impression is not favourable and she is convinced that he is an arrogant womanizer. Later, as she attempts to master her current obsession with riding a horse, her horse runs away with her and Seung Yoo arrives in the nick of time to rescue her from being thrown off a precipice.

Meanwhile, Kim Jeong Soo rejects SuYang's proposal because he knows the Prince's aspirations regarding the throne and allies himself firmly with the King MunJong. King MunJong is impressed with Seung Yoo as a capable teacher and sees merit in having him on his side as a son-in-law, who is strong enough to protect the Crown Prince. He announces that Seung Yoo has been chosen as the Prince Consort. Seung Yoo is glad of the decision because of his growing feelings for SeRyung. Beginning to understand her passion to escape the confines of her cloistered life, he offers to teach her how to ride. Their blissful time together is cut short, by an unexpected attack by bandits sent by SuYang to assassinate Seung Yoo as revenge against Kim Jeong Soo. Seung Yoo is injured and as SeRyung risks her life to save him, the Chief Magistrate of the Capital's Police Bureau, Shin Myeon, chances to pass by and saves them. Shin Myeon also happens to be Seung Yoo's best friend, along with Jung Jong, whose noble family has fallen on harsh straits. Meanwhile, Seung Yoo and SeRyung meet outside the palace again.Even though Shin Myeon senses his friend's growing admiration for SeRyung, he too finds himself drawn to the brave and beautiful girl. His dilemma grows when Grand Prince SuYang offers SeRyung's hand in marriage to him in the hope of building an alliance with his politician father.

SeRyung learns that Seung Yoo is chosen as the candidate for Prince Consort and is devastated. Her cousin, Princess Kyung Hee understands the political import of marrying Seung Yoo and orders her not to meet Seung Yoo again, suspecting that the two are falling in love. Meanwhile, Seung Yoo and SeRyung meet outside the palace again. However, they are tailed by SuYang's spies. Following their time together, Seung Yoo writes a letter to SeRyung and sends it to the real Princess. Kyung Hee understanding that they met despite her orders, is furious. At the next lesson, she locks up SeRyung and takes her place, thereby revealing the deception to Seung Yoo. However she hides SeRyung's identity from him by calling her a palace maid who took her place.

The letter discarded by Princess Kyung Hee falls into the hands of SuYang. Using the letter, he demands that Seung Yoo be disqualified as a candidate for Prince Consort, insinuating that he dishonoured the Princess by meeting her outside the palace. When interrogated, Seung Yoo says he did not meet the Princess outside but hides SeRyung's part in it to spare her danger. Learning of the danger to Seung Yoo's life, SeRyung begs Princess Kyung Hee to intercede for Seung Yoo. Despite her intercession, the penalty for Seung Yoo's transgression is death. SuYang discovers SeRyung when she secretly visits Seung Yoo in prison and is horrified to learn of their dalliance. Relieved that Seung Yoo does not know who she is, he agrees to save Seung Yoo if she never meets him again and never reveals her identity to him. Kim Jeong Seo, desperate to save his son, approaches SuYang for help and agrees to pay the humiliating price of resigning his Vice Premiership. Seung Yoo's sentence is commuted to temporary exile. In place of Seung Yoo, Jung Jong is chosen as Prince Consort, bringing a drastic change in his fortunes. He is smitten with the Princess from the beginning; however, she detests him. SeRyung's relationship with Kyung Hee is also strained, with the Princess blaming her cousin for all the misfortunes she has undergone.

King MunJong collapses on the day of his daughter's wedding and his health takes a turn for the worse. Seung Yoo is summoned back by his brother, in order to assist their father in safeguarding the interests of the king. Seung Yoo runs into SeRyung on his return but coldly severes all ties with her. However, SeRyung's concern for her cousin coupled with the fact Jung Jong is Seung Yoo's friend, force the two to meet again. Both find it hard to repress their feelings and finally Seung Yoo declares his love for her. However, at exactly the same time, King MunJong expires. SuYang and his cronies arrive at the palace, jubilant that they can now control the Crown Prince. However, their plans are thwarted by Kim Jeong Seo, who was reinstated by the dead king to protect his son from SuYang's machinations. Furious, SuYang vows to kill Kim Jeong Seo.

As SeRyung and Seung Yoo blissfully revel in their love, SuYang prepares to stage a coup against Kim Seung Yoo. SeRyung stumbles on the plot too late and is foiled by her parents in her attempts to warn Seung Yoo and his family by her parents. Supported by Shin Myeon, SuYang ruthlessly murders his opponents, including Seung Yoo's father and brother. Seung Yoo barely escapes with his life. Reeling from his best friend's betrayal, he tries to kill SuYang, only to be shocked to discover that SeRyung is his daughter. Seung Yoo is sentenced to be killed. However, a last minute intercession by the Crown Prince saves his life and he is exiled to Kang Hwa island, along with the rest of SuYang's enemies. When SeRyung visits him in prison on the eve of his exile, his fury gets the better of him and he nearly chokes her to death. SeRyung admits her identity and begs him to survive, even if it is just so that he can kill her.

En route Kang Hwa island, the ship is sunk to ensure that none of SuYang's enemies survive. However, aided by a fellow prisoner, Ju Seok Ju, Seung Yoo manages to escape and return. Taking refuge at the gisaeng house Bing Og Gwan, owned by Seuk Ju, Seung Yoo plots his revenge. Meanwhile, SeRyung learns that Seung Yoo's ship sank. Despite her mourning, her parents fix the date of her wedding with Shin Myeon.

In an attempt to bait SuYang, he kidnaps SeRyung on the day of her wedding. He is mercilessly cruel to her, and reveals her father's part in the sinking of the ship. SuYang shows up to claim his beloved daughter but he survives Seung Yoo's arrow because of his armour. Meanwhile, Shin Myeon shoots an arrow at Seung Yoo, which is intercepted by SeRyung who takes the brunt of it. Shaken by her sacrifice on his behalf, Seung Yoo is shell shocked and he escapes only because Seuk Ju and his friend NohGul save him by forcibly dragging him away from her prone body.

SeRyung is taken home by her father and Shin Myeon is suspicious because she took the arrow on behalf of her kidnapper. However, the encounter with Seung Yoo and the kidnapping changes SeRyung's attitude to her father and Shin Myeon, now that she is aware of the extent to which they will go for power. Seung Yoo reveals that he is alive to Jung Jong and he is relieved to have an ally in the fight against SuYang. Foiled in his attempt to kill SuYang, Seung Yoo starts assassinating those who were privy to his family's murder. He leaves behind the alias of his deceased general father, Great Tiger, at each site to stir fear among his enemies.Se Ryung's attempts to atone for her father's atrocities gradually melts Seung Yoo's anger, especially when he learns that she saved his sister-in-law and niece's lives in the reprisal against the members of the rebel nobles' families. Grand Prince SuYang forces King Danjong to abdicate, and becomes crowned King Sejo of Joseon. SeRyung refuses to be crowned Princess and continues to bravely defy her father.

Seung Yoo gives up his vigilante assassinations at the behest of his old teacher, who urges him to join the larger cause of de-throning SuYang and restoring Dan Jong. SeRyung inadvertently learns of the plot and is caught in a terrible dilemma. Saving her father comes at the cost of her love and vice versa. However, the rebellion which was led by Six Scholars of the Hall of Worthies, including Seung Yoo's teacher fails, leading to their deaths and the exile of Princess Kyung Hee and her husband Jung Jong.

Seung Yoo manages to escape, but Shin Myeon discovers his identity. King Sejo (SuYang) learns that Seung Yoo is alive and that SeRyung may have had knowledge of the plot. The rift between father and daughter grows. SeRyung in a symbolic move, cuts her hair and renounces her tie to her father. When she takes refuge in a temple after leaving the palace, Seung Yoo takes her with him to Bing Og Gwan. However, Shin Myeon and his guards nearly tear apart the place searching for her, she surrenders herself up to them. In his rage, King Sejo sentences her to become a slave of ShinMyeon. However, Seung Yoo and his friends rescue her in the nick of time. Shin Myeon refuses to give up his quest to possess SeRyung and follows the pair to Princess Kyung Hee and Jung Jong's place of exile. In the course of Jung Jong protecting the pair, Shin Myeon comes to learn that Jung Jong is plotting yet another rebellion. He is arrested and executed, leaving behind a devastated and pregnant Kyung Hee.

Meanwhile, in addition to their grief over the loss of Jung Jong, the lovers face more obstacles. The rebel leaders with whom Seung Yoo continues the plan for the attack refuse to accept her, because of her link to King Sejo. Seung Yoo and SeRyung pledge their love as husband and wife and agree to separate till the battle is over. However, when Shin Myeon plans to use SeRyung as bait to lure Seung Yoo, she escapes and warns her husband. In the battle that follows, Shin Myeon is killed and Seung Yoo's side wins. Seung Yoo moves forward with his plan to assassinate the king and nearly succeeds, but for a momentary distraction caused by learning of SeRyung's pregnancy. Both SeRyung and Seung yoo are sent to jail. Seung Yoo nearly dies and SeRyung accepts her fate. However, SeRyung's mother orchestrates their escape.

Years later, we see that Seung Yoo has become blind after his brush with death. However, both of them now have a lovely daughter and are happy, even if they are poor. In the backdrop of their bliss, we see an aged King Sejo who has let go of his bitterness and who watches his daughter's happiness in secret.

Cast

• Moon Chae Won as Lee Se Ryung

The eldest daughter of Grand Prince Suyang is a bright and sweet person, with an adventurous streak. She persuades her cousin, Princess Kyung Hee to exchange places with her during a tutoring session by Kim Seung Yoo, on learning her father's initial plans to arrange her marriage with him. A harmless prank to sneak a peek at her intended husband spirals out of control as they fall deeply in love with each other, ignorant of the deep and deadly political enmity that slowly develops between their fathers. As Kim Seung Yoo becomes chosen by the King as a candidate for Prince Consort, Grand Prince Suyang promises SeRyung's hand in marriage to Shin Myeon, Kim Seung Yoo's best friend. As the truth of her father's machinations and atrocities gradually dawns on her, she begins to resist her father's power and Shin Myeon's advances. However, she is trapped by the knowledge that saving Kim Seung Yoo's life implies the death of her family, while the price of his life is the cost of saving them. As she learns more about her father's cruel grasp for power, she battles her loyalty to her family versus the love she bears for Seung Yoo, as well as the knowledge that his cause is the right one.

• Park Shi Hoo as Kim Seung Yoo

As the second son of the premier Kim Jeongsoo, he is a carefree Teacher in the Royal Academy, whose main interests are having a good time with the ladies and spending time with his close friends, Shin Myeon and Jung Jong. He meets his match in the spirited SeRyung whom he thinks is the Princess, and he is drawn to her from their very first meeting. Not knowing about this deception, it seems to him that the road to love is propitious, especially when the King selects him as the candidate for Prince Consort. As he falls harder for her, his love for her is put to the ultimate test when he learns that she is not the Princess, but rather the daughter of the man who kills his father and brother and devastates his family. After Grand Prince SuYang kills his father and brother, and sentences him to exile, Seung Yoo escapes and transforms himself into a cold and ruthless assassin. Bent on exacting vengeance for the murder of his family, he steels his heart against his love for Se Ryung, believing that she was party to his betrayal.

• Song Jong Ho as Shin Myeon

As the Magistrate Officer at the Capital Bureau, his work is the main passion of this quiet and serious man. He enjoys a deep camaraderie with his friends, especially sparring with Kim Seung Yoo. When he saves Kim Seung Yoo and Se Ryung from an attack by bandits, the girl's bravery arouses his interest. What begins as a crush on his best friend's girl has devastating consequences when his father strikes an alliance with Grand Prince Suyang and marriage is on the cards for both of them. Finding himself wanting SeRyung more and more,he ultimately decides to betray his own friend... even attempting to kill him. As SeRyung rejects his advances, his obsession with her grows. He becomes willing to pay any price SuYang requires of him.

• Hong Soo Hyun as Princess Kyung Hye

Se Ryung's cousin and friend is King Munjong's daughter, who is indulged by her father and who revels in the adulation she receives as the most beautiful woman in the land. But the sudden knowledge of her father's illness and Grand Prince SuYang's political threat to her young brother who is next in line for the throne, destroys her sheltered and uncomplicated life. Convinced of the importance of allying with Kim Jeong Soo's family, she tries to separate Seung Yoo and SeRyung. However, as the political machinations of Grand Prince SuYang unfold, she finds herself trapped in an unwanted marriage with Jung Jong. But as SuYang systematically destroys her allies one by one, she begins to find solace and comfort in Jung Jong's love.

• Lee Min Woo

  Lee Min Woo

  Lee Min Woo , mononymously credited as M as a solo artist, was born on 28 July 1979. He is a South Korean entertainer, known as a member of six-member boy band Shinhwa. Lee was the fourth member picked for the group. As part of Shinhwa, he has recorded nine studio albums as a vocalist and a rapper...

  
   as Jung Jong

  Jungjong of Joseon

  Jungjong of Joseon , born Yi Yeok, ruled during the 16th century in what is now Korea. He succeeded his half-brother, Yeonsangun, because of the latter's tyranical misrule, which culminated in a coup placing Jungjong on the throne.-Jo Gwang-jo's reforms:On the day Yeonsangun was deposed, soldiers...

  
  

This gentle and perpetually debt ridden friend of Seung Yoo and Shin Myeon, finds himself deep in love at first sight when he crashes into a palanquin bearing the Princess and is promptly slapped by her. His fortunes take a turn for the better and in an amazing twist of destiny, finds himself as the Prince Consort. However, his new bride, helplessly carrying the burden of her father's illness and the danger to her brother's life, initially has no time or inclination for his love. Jung Jong finds that he cannot remain apolitical and neutral and he too must take a stand in the political struggle. Just as his relationship with his wife begins to improve, his life is endangered in an attempt to resist SuYang.

• Kim Yeong-cheol
  Kim Yeong-cheol
  Kim Yeong-cheol is a South Korean actor. One of his earliest appearances was in White Smile . Other notable film roles include playing an underworld boss in A Bittersweet Life .-Television:-Film:...
  
   as Prince Suyang
  Sejo of Joseon
  Sejo of Joseon was the seventh king of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. He produced a coup d'etat and became king himself in 1455.-Reign:...
  
  

The brother of King Munjong has his eyes firmly fixed on the throne. He is a ruthless politician,who will not countenance anyone standing in his way. SeRyung, his eldest daughter, is his weakness. But when she falls in love with the son of his enemy, he has no compunctions in eliminating Kim Seung Yoo and his entire family. He brutally eliminates the supporters of King Danjong, the young son of Munjong and finally forces him to abdicate the throne. He becomes King Sejo of Joseon.

• Lee Soon-jae
  Lee Soon-jae
  -Biography:Lee was born in Hoeryong, North Hamgyeong, now part of North Korea. When he was 4 years old, his family moved to Seoul where Lee's grandparents were living. Lee's grandfather ran a small real estate business, while his father produced and sold soaps. Lee was raised in the neighborhood of...
  
   as Kim Jong Seo

The brilliant Prime Minister and most trusted advisor of King Munjong alienates Grand Prince SuYang when he accepts the proposal of the King's daughter over SuYang's as bride for his son. He pays the price of his misalliance with his life and the destruction of his family.

Extended Casts

• Uhm Hyo Sup as Lee Gae
• Lee Joo Suk as Prince Anpyeong
• Heo Jung Kyu as Kim Seung Gyu
• Ga Deuk Hi as Lady Ryu
• Kim Yoo Bin as Kim Ah Kang
• Kim Seo Ra as Lady Yoon
• Yoo Ha Joon as Im Woon
• Jung Dong Hwan as King Munjong
  Munjong of Joseon
  King Munjong was the fifth King of the Joseon Dynasty, who ruled Korea from 1450 to 1452. He was the eldest son of King Sejong the Great, and succeeded him in 1450, but died of disease two years later. He was succeeded by his son, Danjong of Joseon.Most of Munjong's achievements were performed...
  
  
• No Tae Yub as King Danjong
  Danjong of Joseon
  Danjong of Joseon was the sixth king of the Joseon Dynasty.Danjong succeeded his father, Munjong of Joseon, at the age of 12...
  
  
• Min Ji as Yeo Ri
• Ban So Young as Eun Geum
• Lee Hyo Jung as Shin Sukju
• Lee Dae Yeon as Kwon Ram
• Yoon Seung Won as Ohn Nyeong Goon
• Kwon Tae Won as Min Shin
• Kim Ik Tae as Jo Geuk Gwan
• Kim Young Bae as Jun Gyoon
• Lee Hee Do as Han Myung-hoe (Grand Prince Suyang's advisor)
• Kim Roe Ha as Jo Suk Joo
• Yoon Jong Hwa as Jun Noh Kyul
• Choi Moo Sung as Ham Gwi
• Jung Geun as Mak Son
• Lee El as Mae Hyang