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Empress Ki (TV series)

Empress Ki (Korean: 기황후; Hanja: 奇皇后; RR: Gi Hwanghu) is a 2013–2014 South Korean historical drama television series starring Ha Ji-won as the titular Empress Ki. The 51-episode series aired on MBC TV from October 28, 2013, to April 29, 2014, on Mondays and Tuesdays at 21:55 (KST).

A domestic and overseas hit, the series received the Golden Bird Prize for Serial Drama at the 9th Seoul International Drama Awards. Ha Ji-won also won the Grand Prize at the MBC Drama Awards for her performance.

Title

The early working title was Hwatu (Korean: 화투; lit. Battle of Flowers) but the title was changed to prevent confusion with the similarly named playing cards.

Synopsis

The series revolves around Ki Seung-nyang (Ha Ji-won), a Goryeo-born woman who ascends to power despite the restrictions of the era's class system, and later marries Toghon Temür (emperor of the Yuan dynasty) to become a Yuan empress, instead of her first love, Wang Yoo (Joo Jin-mo). It managed to highlight the deep love the Emperor embedded in Lady Ki and depicts her loves and political ambitions.

Cast

Main

Ha Ji-won as Ki Seung-nyang / Ki Nyang, the future Empress Ki
- Jung Ji-so as young Ki Seung-nyang

A woman who was born in Goryeo but is sent to Yuan as a child with a group of tribute women. Her mother gets killed when the group tries to escape, but she manages to flee, growing up as a boy then man and becoming a great warrior. She is a great patriot of Goryeo and serves the country with her life, disguised as a man. Initially the fiancée of Wang Yoo, she is later forcibly taken to the Yuan court. She eventually becomes the wife of Ta Hwan, thus making her the Empress Consort of the Yuan dynasty, as which she greatly influences politics.

Joo Jin-mo as Wang Yoo, King Choonghye of Goryeo
- Ahn Do-gyu as young Wang Yoo

The King of Goryeo who is Ki Seung-nyang's first love and fiancé. He later dies in the Yuan dynasty.

Ji Chang-wook as Toghon Temür / Ta Hwan

The last Emperor of the Yuan dynasty and Seung-nyang's true love and later husband.

Baek Jin-hee as Tanashiri, daughter of Yeon Chul

A noblewoman who was the first wife and Empress Consort of Ta Hwan but when her crimes are revealed, is deposed from her throne and is executed in front of her people. Tanashiri serves as the main antagonist of the first chapter who plotted to kill Seung-nyang's friends and poison anyone who dare to take her throne.

Supporting

People in Yuan Dynasty

Imperial household

Kim Seo-hyung as the Empress Dowager; Ta Hwan's aunt. However, due to her greed, she attempted to kill Ta Hwan but failed and committed suicide as she is unwilling to accept defeat.
Lim Ju-eun as Bayan Khutugh, niece of Baek Ahn

The evil second wife and Empress Consort of Ta Hwan after Tanashiri's death. She was also deposed from her position due to her cunningness.

Jeon Se-hyun as Lady Oh; Ta Hwan's Mongolian concubine. She is the daughter of Governor Ohgwang of Yunnan.
Park Ha-na as Lady Bu; Ta Hwan's Mongolian concubine. She is daughter of Governor Busaqui of Lingbei.

Nobleman and ministers

Jeon Gook-hwan as Yeon Chul; Empress Tanashiri's merciless father and Yuan Dynasty's regent.
Kim Jung-hyun as Dang Ki-se; Yeon Chul's ruthless eldest son and Empress Tanashiri's oldest brother.
Cha Do-jin as Tap Ja-hae; Yeon Chul's greedy second son and Empress Tanashiri's second older brother.
Kim Young-ho as Baek Ahn

Empress Bayan Khutugh's uncle who succeeded Yeon Chul's position as Yuan Dynasty's regent. He was later killed by Tal Tal for being greedy and evil like Yeon Chul.

Jin Yi-han as Tal Tal

Empress Bayan Khutugh's cousin and Baek Ahn's nephew. Following his uncle's death, Tal Tal become the new Yuan Dynasty's regent.

Cha Kwang-soo as Go Yong-bo
Lee Gye-young as Busaqui
Jang Soon-gook as Seol Do-kan
Park Tong-il as Haeng Sung-joo

Servants and maids

Lee Won-jong as Dok-man; Goryeo-born who become the Yuan eunuch in Aekjung Palace.
Shin Seung-hwan as Kkwe-bo
Choi Moo-sung as Park Bul-hwa; Goryeo-born who become the Yuan eunuch.
Jung Yoon as Kook-soo
Lee Eung-kyung as Court Lady Noh
Seo Yi-sook as Court Lady Seo; Empress Tanashiri's right-hand servant. The one who reveals Prince Maha's birth mother.
Yoon A-jung as Yeon-hwa / Court Lady Yeon – The evil servant who tortures Seung-nyang. After conniving with Tanashiri and Lady Seo to steal the baby from the maid by poisoning them, she was granted a Court Lady position.
Lee Ji-hyun as Hong-dan
Kim Myung-gook as Jang Soon-yong

People in Goryeo Dynasty

Royal household

Kwon Tae-won as Wang Man, King Choongsook
Ryu Hyun-kyung as Princess Kyunghwa; Yuan-born who become King Choongsook's wife.
Lee Jae-yong as Wang Go, Prince Yeonan, King Simyang; a Royal Family member and the head of Chirwon Faction.
Choi Jung-won as Wang Gi, Grand Prince Gangneung, later King Gongmin

People around Wang Yoo

Lee Moon-sik as Bang Shin-woo; Goryeo's eunuch.
Kwon Oh-joong as Choi Moo-song; a man who died in Yuan Dynasty together with Wang Yoo.
Yoon Yong-hyun as Jeom Park-yi; Goryeo Kings' assistant and servant.
Yoo In-young as Yeon Bi-soo / Batoru; a woman warrior who leading the Göktürks (?), who were controlling Yuan's western frontier and the silk road. She admired Wang Yoo but later died protecting him.
Seo In-woo as Soo-ri; Batoru's aide.
Song Kyung-chul as Mak-saeng / Jeok-ho; a village chief in Goryeo Dynasty who become the Yuan Emperor's eunuch.

Others

Kim Myeong-su as Ki Ja-oh, King Yeongahn, Ki Seung-nyang's father and a royal commander.
Kim Jin-seong as Prince Maha; Wang Yoo and Seung-nyang's son who is adopted by Tanashiri.
- Seol Wo-hyung as young Prince Maha
Jung Woong-in as Yeom Byung-soo
Kim Hyung-bum as Jo-cham
Jo Jae-yoon as Golta; the main antagonist in the series and a Yuan's eunuch.
Kim Jin-woo as Ayushiridara (Biligtü Khan); Ta Hwan and Seung-nyang's son.
- Lee Shi-woo as young Ayushiridara
Jo Woo-jin as Wang Go's soldier.

Special appearances

Kim Ye-ryung as Lady Lee; Seung-nyang's mother.
Lee Jung-sung as Kim Soon-jo
Oh Kwang-rok as Heuk-soo
Kim Moo-young as Na-moo
Han Hye-rin as Park Oh-jin; Ta Hwan's Korean concubine. She was a court lady in the Yuan Palace before she became a concubine. Her life as a concubine became tragic.
Shim Yi-young as a fortune teller (Ep. 28)
Park Hae-mi as a shaman (Ep. 34–35)
Seo Bum-shik as Won-jin
Jung Byung-ho as Joo Gook-chung
Jung Soo-in as a Courtesan
Seo Ji-yeon as an Inspector Court Lady
Son Kwang-up as the killer Mak-son
Yoon Young-mok as a coward captain
Jung Jae-min as Yirinjilban
Choi-hyun as Ballachupmokah
Kim Hyo-won as Emperor Myungjong of Yuan; the former emperor of Yuan.

Original soundtrack

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Reception

The series attained high ratings during its run, ranking first in its timeslot with a peak viewership rating of 33.9 percent. According to a report by Taiwan's drama channel ETTV, the series was ranked as the best foreign program for 2014 with 5.35% viewership rating, becoming the second Korean drama after Jewel in the Palace (2003) to do so. It also received positive reviews for its strong acting skills, gripping background and elaborate scenes.

Despite its popularity, the series was criticized for its inclusion of fictional elements regarding the characters and storyline. Much concern was raised over the series' depiction of the titular Empress Ki, who was portrayed as a brave warrior in the series. Historians were worried that the audience would overlook the fact that the real-life Empress Ki was responsible for attacking her native land.