Bloody Heart (Korean: 붉은 단심; RR: Bulgeun dansim) is a 2022 South Korean television series starring Lee Joon, Kang Han-na, Jang Hyuk, Park Ji-yeon, Heo Sung-tae, and Choi Ri. It aired on KBS2 from May 2 to June 21, 2022, every Monday and Tuesday at 21:30 (KST) for 16 episodes. It is also available for streaming on Disney+ in selected regions.
Contents
Synopsis
Bloody Heart is a fictional historical drama about King Seonjong who ascends to the throne due to a rebellion, and Lee Tae who becomes the king after him.
It follows the story of Lee Tae—a king who has to abandon the woman he loves to survive, Yoo Jeong—a woman who has to become the queen to survive, and Park Gye-won—the first vice-premier and the real head of power in Joseon.
Cast
Main
Lee Joon as Lee Tae
Park Ji-bin as young Lee Tae
He becomes the King of Joseon after King Seonjong. He dreams of absolute monarchy and becoming a powerful ruler, unlike his father. He believes any action is justifiable to achieve his goal.
Kang Han-na as Yoo Jeong
Shin Eun-soo as young Yoo Jeong
A free-spirited woman whom Lee Tae falls in love with. Lee Tae picks her as his crown princess and she gets tangled up in the battle for power, which leads to a crisis in her family.
Jang Hyuk as Park Gye-won
The first vice-premier who is a living symbol of power and a figure that everyone obeys. He is a "king maker" who is determined to create a wise and benevolent king, in order not to shake the foundations of Joseon by a tyrant ever again.
Park Ji-yeon as Choi Ga-yeon
King Seonjong's Queen Consort whose first love is Park Gye-won.
Heo Sung-tae as Jo Won-pyo
Minister of War whose ambitions are blocked by Park Gye-won.
Choi Ri as Jo Yeon-hee
Jo Won-pyo's daughter who is immature and arrogant.
Supporting
Ha Do-kwon as Jung Eui-kyun
Ahn Nae-sang as King Seonjong
Woo Mi-hwa as Queen Inyeong
Yoon Seo-ah as Ddong-geum
Park Sung-yeon as Court Lady Choi
Ryu Seung-soo as Im Jin-sa
Jo Hee-bong as Ma Seo-bang
Kim Sun-hwa as Ma Seo-bang's wife
Lee Tae-ri as Park Nam-sang
Seo Yoo-jung as Madam Yoon
Jung Young-sub as Park Song-baek
Kang Shin-il as Kim Chi-won
Cha Soon-bae as Heo Sang-seon
Jo Young-hoon as Jo Sa-hyung
Park Ji-a as Court Lady Han
Lee Seon-hee as Court Lady Kim
Lee Seung-hoon as Noh Kyung-moon
Go Geon-han as Kim Do-ryung
Oh Seung-hoon as Hye Kang
Kang Yeo-jung as Eum Jeon
Extended
Lee Chang-jik as Minister of Interior
Seo Hye-won as Hyang-yi
Special appearance
Hahm Eun-jung as Yoon Jung-jeon
Production
Filming locations of the series include Yeongwol County, and Yeolhwajeong Pavilion—located in Ganggol Village, Deungnyang-myeon, Boseong County.
On February 3, 2022, it was announced that filming was canceled for that day after a staff and an unnamed actor tested positive for COVID-19. All production crew members subsequently underwent PCR test. A day later, it was revealed that Park Ji-yeon and Yoon Seo-ah tested positive for COVID-19.
On February 11, 2022, it was confirmed that actor Heo Sung-tae also tested positive for COVID-19, forcing filming to be canceled for that day. Later on February 16, Heo fully recovered from the contagion and resumed his filming schedules.
On March 11, 2022, Ha Do-kwon's agency announced that the actor tested positive for COVID-19 on the afternoon of the 10th, and all his filming schedules were cancelled.