Empress Cheonchu
Encyclopedia
Empress Cheonchu (Alternate Title: The Iron Empress) is the title of a South Korean television historical drama based on the actual historical person.
of the Goryeo
, who fought against the Liao Dynasty
in order to achieve her Grandmother's personal dream of reclaiming old lands lost over the years to other associated tribes and countries such as the Silla
and Khitans.
The series largely revolves around her desire to influence and win back her son later known as Mokjong
from her brother Seongjong
when he decided to have his nephew succeed him as ruler. Seongjong deemed her unacceptable to raise the boy in preparation of his future as king and has his barren wife raise the boy as their son.
This causes a lot of conflict between Seongjong and his sister despite their continual working together to maintain the country from external and internal threats such as the Khitan invasion
and various royal court intrigues and power struggles.
There are several liberties taken in the series the most obvious is that Mokjong is depicted as having epilepsy
which is part of the reason General Gang Jo
later removes him from ruling the country. There is no known facts supporting that the historical Mokjong had epilepsy.
Synopsis
The drama is based on the historical Dowager Queen Empress CheonchuQueen Honae
Queen Heonae , also known as Queen Dowager Cheonchu , was the third queen consort of King Gyeongjong of Goryeo. She served as regent of Goryeo from 997 to 1009 during the minority of her son, King Mokjong of Goryeo...
of the Goryeo
Goryeo
The Goryeo Dynasty or Koryŏ was a Korean dynasty established in 918 by Emperor Taejo. Korea gets its name from this kingdom which came to be pronounced Korea. It united the Later Three Kingdoms in 936 and ruled most of the Korean peninsula until it was removed by the Joseon dynasty in 1392...
, who fought against the Liao Dynasty
Liao Dynasty
The Liao Dynasty , also known as the Khitan Empire was an empire in East Asia that ruled over the regions of Manchuria, Mongolia, and parts of northern China proper between 9071125...
in order to achieve her Grandmother's personal dream of reclaiming old lands lost over the years to other associated tribes and countries such as the Silla
Silla
Silla was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, and one of the longest sustained dynasties in...
and Khitans.
The series largely revolves around her desire to influence and win back her son later known as Mokjong
Mokjong of Goryeo
Mokjong of Goryeo was the seventh ruler of the Goryeo dynasty of Korea.-Reign:Mokjong is known for his reform of the Jeonsigwa , and for a plot by his mother, Queen Honae and Kim Chi-yang to overthrow him...
from her brother Seongjong
Seongjong of Goryeo
Seongjong of Goryeo was the sixth monarch of the medieval Korean kingdom Goryeo. He was the second son of Daejong, and a grandson of Emperor Taejo. He ascended the throne after Gyeongjong stepped down....
when he decided to have his nephew succeed him as ruler. Seongjong deemed her unacceptable to raise the boy in preparation of his future as king and has his barren wife raise the boy as their son.
This causes a lot of conflict between Seongjong and his sister despite their continual working together to maintain the country from external and internal threats such as the Khitan invasion
First Goryeo–Khitan War
The First Goryeo-Khitan War was a 10th-century conflict between the kingdom of Goryeo and Khitan forces near what is now the border between China and North Korea...
and various royal court intrigues and power struggles.
There are several liberties taken in the series the most obvious is that Mokjong is depicted as having epilepsy
Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disorder characterized by seizures. These seizures are transient signs and/or symptoms of abnormal, excessive or hypersynchronous neuronal activity in the brain.About 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy, and nearly two out of every three new cases...
which is part of the reason General Gang Jo
Gang Jo
Gang Jo was a Goryeo general who served under Emperor Mokjong of Goryeo and Emperor Hyeonjong of Goryeo. General Gang Jo was a general in charge of the Northern border army.-Rise to power:...
later removes him from ruling the country. There is no known facts supporting that the historical Mokjong had epilepsy.
Cast
- Chae Shi-raChae Shi-raChae Shi-ra is a South Korean actress. Since 1990, As Chae firmly established her acting career with Eyes of Dawn in the 1990s, she was referred to as a representative actress of the period along with Kim Hee-ae and Ha Hee-ra....
as "Empress Cheonchu" - Kim Suk Hoon as Kim Chi-yang
- Choi Jae-sungChoi Jae-sungChoi Jae-sung is a South Korean actor. Choi debuted with KBS TV drama series, Dairy of a High School Student in 1984...
as Gang JoGang JoGang Jo was a Goryeo general who served under Emperor Mokjong of Goryeo and Emperor Hyeonjong of Goryeo. General Gang Jo was a general in charge of the Northern border army.-Rise to power:... - Lee Duk Hwa as General Gang Gam-chanGang Gam-chanGang Gam-chan was a medieval Korean government official and military commander during the early days of Goryeo Dynasty . Even though he was a career scholar and government official, he is best known for his military victories during the Third Goryeo-Khitan War.-Goryeo-Khitan Wars:In 993, the Liao...
- Shin AeShin AeShin Ae is a South Korean actress and model.-Career:Although debuting as an actress on SBS drama series Medical Center in 2000, as well as being a model for major endorsement companies such as Cyon and Olay, Shin Ae mainly portrayed supporting characters on television, her biggest roles being in...
as Hwangbo Seol / Empress Heonjeong (the empress's younger sister) - Im Hyuk as Seo HuiSeo HuiSeo Hui was a Korean politician and diplomat during the early days of the Goryeo Dynasty of Korea . Seo is best remembered for his diplomatic skills that led 60,000 Khitan troops to withdraw from Goryeo without a battle.-Family:...
(Minister of Foreign Affairs)
Extended Cast
- Choi Woo HyukChoi Woo HyukChoi Woo Hyuk is a South Korean actor under Bel Actors Entertainment and was popularly known as the young "Yoon Junseo" in 'hit' Korean drama Endless Love 1:Autumn in my heart. He debuted as an actor on 1993.- Biography :...
as Young Seongjong - Kim Ho Jin as Wang Uk / Prince Gyeongju (Gyeongjuwongun)
- Ban Hyo Jung as Empress Sinjeong (Taejo's 4th wife)
- Kim Myung Soo as SeongjongSeongjong of GoryeoSeongjong of Goryeo was the sixth monarch of the medieval Korean kingdom Goryeo. He was the second son of Daejong, and a grandson of Emperor Taejo. He ascended the throne after Gyeongjong stepped down....
(The 6th King and the empress's older brother) - Choi Chul Ho as GyeongjongGyeongjong of GoryeoGyeongjong of Goryeo was the fifth ruler of the Goryeo dynasty of Korea. He was the eldest son of Gwangjong, and was confirmed as Crown Prince in the year of his birth....
(The 5th King) - Moon Jung Hee as Empress Munhwa / Lady Kim (Seongjong's 2nd wife)
- Lee Hyun Kyung as Empress Mundeok / Lady Yu (Seongjong's 1st wife)
- Lee In as King MokjongMokjong of GoryeoMokjong of Goryeo was the seventh ruler of the Goryeo dynasty of Korea.-Reign:Mokjong is known for his reform of the Jeonsigwa , and for a plot by his mother, Queen Honae and Kim Chi-yang to overthrow him...
- Lee In Hye as Empress Seonjeong (Mokjong's wife)
- Lee Young AhLee Young AhLee Young Ah is a South Korean actress and model. She is best known for playing the role of Nguyen Jin Joo from Golden Bride, a 2008 drama that extended 14 episodes due to its popularity and is in Top 5 of Korean Dramas of the Year 2008 in Nielson Ratings and Top 7 in TNS, and on the popular...
as Empress Daemok (Gyeongjong's mother) - Kim Ji HoonKim Ji Hoon (actor)Kim Ji Hoon is a South Korean actor. He was born May 9, 1981.-Filmography:*Stars Falling From The Sky *Empress Cheonchu *Love Marriage *Why Did You Come to My House as Jo Gi Dong...
as HyeonjongHyeonjong of GoryeoHyeonjong of Goryeo was the 8th ruler of the Goryeo dynasty of Korea. He was a grandson of Emperor Taejo. He was appointed by the military leader Gang Jo, whom the previous Emperor Mokjong had called upon to destroy a plot by Kim Chi-yang.In 1010, The Khitan attacked again during an internal...
(The 8th King and Empress Heonjeong's son) - Park Si Eun as Empress Wonjeong (Hyeonjong's wife)
- Shim Hye-jinShim Hye-jinShim Hye-jin is a South Korean actress and model. Shim was regarded as a representative actress that dominated the screen of the 1990s in South Korea. Shim started her career as a model, and entered stardom with a Coca-Cola commercial in the late 1980s...
as Empress Xiao (Khitan Queen) - Kim So Eun as Young Cheonchu / Hwangbo Soo
- Park Ji Bin as Young Mokjong
- Park Eun Bin as Young Hwangbo Seol
- Kim Min JiKim Min JiKim Min Ji is a South Korean actress. She was formerly the host for Music Bank.- TV series :* That Person is Coming as Kim Min Ji, * Empress Chun Chu as young Lady Kim,...
as Young Lady Kim - Lee Chae YoungLee Chae YoungLee Chae-young is a South Korean actress. She debuted in a music video called "Come On" by the Hip-hop group Turtles in 2003. The following year, she appeared in Rain's “I Do” music video and in 2007, Yoon Mi Rae's “Did You Forget It”. Her first television drama was Witch Yoo Hee, a romantic...
as Saila