The King and I

In the Joseon Dynasty period, the kingdom was enveloped in a political maelstrom. Cheo Seon was born as a posthumous child and separated from his mother immediately. When he meets So Hwa, the daughter of a powerful noble, he falls in love with her immediately. He voluntarily becomes a eunuch to be close to So Hwa. Entering the royal palace, he sees King Sung Jong and So Hwa spend their first night together. He becomes So Hwa's loyal protector. As the political battles rage on among the courtesans and wives in the palace, So Hwa is chosen by the king to be his queen and Cheo Seon vows to be her loyal servant. But So Hwa is eventually dethroned as the queen and leaves the palace in disgrace. Cheo Seon helplessly watches these events unfold and he secretly helps So Hwa. But in a cruel twist of fate, he is the one chosen to execute So Hwa's death sentence by serving her a bowlful of poison. After So Hwa dies, he looks after her son King Yeon San as if he were his own son.

Directed by Yu Dong-Yun, The King and I leans on a strong ensemble — Koo Hye-sun, Go Joo-won, Oh Man-seok — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The series landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 2007.