Splendid Politics

Splendid Politics () is a 2015 South Korean television series starring Cha Seung-won, Lee Yeon-hee, Kim Jaewon, Seo Kang-joon, Han Joo-wan and Jo Sung-ha. It aired on MBC from April 13 to September 29, 2015 on Mondays and Tuesdays at 22:00 for 50 episodes.

The Korean title Hwajeong is a shortened version of Hwaryeohan Jeongchi (literally "Splendid Politics").

Plot

Prince Gwanghae (portrayed by Cha Seung-won), son of a concubine, usurps the Joseon throne from the direct bloodline of his father, King Seonjo (portrayed by Park Yeong-gyu).

After her younger brother, Grand Prince Yeongchang (portrayed by Jeon Jin-seo), is executed, Princess Jeongmyeong (portrayed by Lee Yeon-hee), who managed to flee the palace during the massacre, starts living as a commoner disguised as a man while plotting her revenge.

Cast

Main

Cha Seung-won as Yi Hon, Prince Gwanghae
Lee Tae-hwan as young Yi Hon
Lee Yeon-hee as Princess Jeongmyeong
Jung Chan-bi as young Princess Jeongmyeong
Heo Jung-eun as child Princess Jeongmyeong
Kim Jae-won as Prince Neungyang, later King Injo
Seo Kang-joon as Hong Joo-won
Yoon Chan-young as young Hong Joo-won
Choi Kwon-soo as child Hong Joo-won
Han Joo-wan as Kang In-woo
Ahn Do-gyu as young Kang In-woo
Lee Tae-woo as child Kang In-woo
Jo Sung-ha as Kang Joo-sun, Kang In-woo's father

Supporting

Royal Household

Park Yeong-gyu as King Seonjo
Shin Eun-jung as Queen Inmok
Choi Jong-hwan as Prince Imhae
Jang Seung-jo as Prince Jeongwon, Prince Neungyang's father
Kim Gyu-sun as Princess Jeonghye
Jeon Jin-seo as Grand Prince Yeongchang
Lee Seung-ah as Queen Inryeol
Baek Sung-hyun as Crown Prince Sohyeon
Shin Ki-joon as child Crown Prince Sohyeon
Kim Hee-jung as Crown Princess Minhoe
Lee Tae-ri as Grand Prince Bongrim, later King Hyojong
Song Jun-hee as child Grand Prince Bongrim
Kim Min-seo as Jo Yeo-jeong / Royal Consort So-yong of the Okcheon Jo clan
Choi Woo-jin as Yi Jing, Prince Sungseon

Northern Faction (Gwanghae Group)

Jung Woong-in as Lee Yi-cheom
Kim Yeo-jin as Court Lady Kim Gae-shi
Jo Jung-eun as young Kim Gae-shi
Shin Rin-ah as child Kim Gae-shi
Han Myung-koo as Chung In-hong
Yoo Seung-mok as Yoo Hee-boon
Jung Kyu-soo as Lee Choong
Lee Jae-gu as the Chief Eunuch

Western Faction (Injo Group)

Jo Min-ki as Kim Ja-jeom
Park Jun-gyu as Kim Ryu
Jang Gwang as Yi Gwi
Kim Hyung-beom as Kim Kyung-jing, Kim Ryu's son
Lee Seung-hyo as Lee Si-baek
Kim Seo-kyung as Lee Si-bang
Jung Wook as a State Ceremony Eunuch

People around Princess Jeongmyeong

Im Ho as Choi Myung-gil
Lee Jae-yong as Kim Sang-hun
Kim Chang-wan as Lee Won-ik
Kim Seung-wook as Lee Hang-bok
Um Hyo-sup as Hong Yeong, Hong Joo-won's father
Kim Young-im as Court Lady Jung
Gong Myung as Ja-gyung
Kang Chan-hee as young Ja-gyung

Other subordinates

Ahn Nae-sang as Heo Gyun
Lee Sung-min as Lee Duk-hyung
Nam Da-reum as young Duk-hyung
Park Ji-il as Kim Je-nam, Queen Inmok's father
Jung Hae-kyun as Kang Hong-rib

Cameo

Park Won-sang as Jang Bong-soo
Kim Kwang-kyu as Yi Yeong-bu
Kwak Dong-yeon as Yi Ui-rip
Jo Jae-ryong as Bang-Geun
Lee Seung-hyung as Yi-seo
Kim Hyun as Court Lady Inspector
Hwang Young-hee as Ok-joo
Baek Su-ryeon as Soo Ryun-gae
Lee Jae-gu
Kim Ki-bang as Gu-bok
Kim Kyu-chul
Kang Shin-il
Jung Ji-so as Eun-seol
Kang Dae-hyun as Su-Deok
Kang Moon-young as Lady Yoon, Kang Joo-sun's wife
Kim So-yi as Court Lady Choi
Baek Soo-ryun as Soo Ryun-gae
Jang Hyuk-jin as Maruno
Jung Sung-woon as Hong Taiji
Kim Joon-bae as Yong Gol-dae

Ratings

In the table below, <span style="color:blue">the blue numbers</span> represent the lowest ratings and <span style="color:red">the red numbers</span> represent the highest ratings.