Queen Woo

2024 South Korean television series

Queen Woo
Promotional poster

Hangul	우씨왕후
Hanja	于氏王后
Revised Romanization	Ussiwanghu
McCune–Reischauer	Wussiwanghwu

Genre	Sageuk^[1] Action^[1]
Written by	Lee Byoung-hak^[2]
Directed by	Jung Se-kyo^[2]
Starring	Jeon Jong-seo Kim Mu-yeol Ji Chang-wook Jeong Yu-mi Lee Soo-hyuk Park Ji-hwan
Country of origin	South Korea
Original language	Korean
No. of episodes	8
Production
Running time	50 minutes^[3]
Production companies	Andmarq^[4] Compass Pictures^[4] CJ ENM Studios^[4]
Budget	₩30 billion^[5]
Original release
Network	TVING
Release	August 29 (2024-08-29) – September 12, 2024 (2024-09-12)

Queen Woo (Korean: 우씨왕후) is an ongoing South Korean sageuk action television series starring Jeon Jong-seo, Kim Mu-yeol, Ji Chang-wook, Jeong Yu-mi, Lee Soo-hyuk and Park Ji-hwan. The series is about a struggle to establish a new king within 24 hours.^[6] It premiered on TVING on August 29, 2024.^[7] It is also available for streaming on Viu and will be on Paramount+ in selected regions.^[8]^[9]

Synopsis

As soon as the death of King Gogukcheon of Goguryeo is announced, a fierce battle between tribes will begin. Queen Woo, who became the target of five tribes seeking power, struggles to establish a new king within 24 hours. So begins the journey of the life of 'Woo', who became the first woman in history to become queen twice.^[10]

Cast

Main

Jeon Jong-seo as Woo Hee / Queen U of Goguryeo^[11]

The queen of Goguryeo who has beauty and intelligence. She tries to protect her family and tribe by marrying one of her husband's younger brothers when the king dies.

Kim Mu-yeol as Eul Pa-so^[12]

Prime minister of Goguryeo and the king's soldier.

Ji Chang-wook as Go Nam-mu / King Gogukcheon of Goguryeo^[12]

Woo Hee's husband who is the king of Goguryeo with a brilliant mind.

Jeong Yu-mi as Woo Sun^[12]

Woo Hee's older sister.

Lee Soo-hyuk as Go Bal-gi^[12]

Prince of Goguryeo who is one of three candidates for succession to the throne.

Park Ji-hwan as Mugol^[12]

A commander who protects King Go Nam-mu.

Supporting

Jeon Bae-soo as Woo So^[13]

Head of Woo family.

Jo Han-chul as Woo Do^[13]

Head of Woo family.

Kim Do-yoon as Song Woo^[13]

The king's closest aide.

Lee Hae-woo as Mochi^[13]

A member of the royal guard.

Kang Young-seok as Go Yeon-u / Sansang of Goguryeo^[14]

Fourth prince of Goguryeo.

Jung Jae-kwang as Go Gye-su^[14]

Fifth prince of Goguryeo.

Song Jae-rim as Go Pae-ui^[14]

Dethroned prince.

Park Bo-kyung as Jolbon^[14]

A woman who is trying to destroy the Go royal family.

Won Hyun-jun as Noeum^[15]

The leader of the White Tiger Tribe.

Reception

The clothing, hairstyles, and accessories of the main characters have been criticized as anachronistic and historically inaccurate for resembling styles from the Chinese Qin dynasty and Warring States period.^[16] For instance, the appearance of Eul Pa-so has been noted to closely resemble a character from The Qin Empire.^[17]

Viewers have also criticized the gratuitous use of intimate scenes, claiming that they often feel out of place and interrupt the storyline. Unlike nationwide broadcasting channels which limit 19+ content, the rise of OTT platforms in Korea have led to an increase in "vulgar and filthy" scenes that objectify women and rely on shock value to gain viewership.^[18] Reviews have noted an excessive amount of degrading violence against women. An often cited scene is when the king's younger brother, Go Bal-ki, bends his wife over a table and, while having intercourse, impales her in the back with his sword. A few minutes later, he stabs a wall in frustration, accidentally killing a woman on the other side, and orders his guards to chop off the heads of all the remaining maids in the palace.^[19]

References

^ ^a ^b Park, Seung-hoon (July 31, 2024). "살아남아야 해"...전종서, 치열한 '우씨왕후' 생존기 ["I have to survive"... Jeon Jong-seo, fierce 'Queen Woo' survival story] (in Korean). iMBC. Retrieved July 31, 2024 – via Naver.
^ ^a ^b Jo, Hye-jin (July 31, 2024). 왕 지창욱의 죽음, '우씨왕후' 전종서 '치열한 사투' 시작 [King Ji Chang-wook's death, 'Queen Woo' Jeon Jong-seo's 'fierce fight' begins] (in Korean). Xports News. Retrieved August 7, 2024 – via Naver.
^ "Queen Woo". CJ ENM. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
^ ^a ^b ^c Kim, Yang-su (July 12, 2023). '우씨왕후' 전종서x김무열x지창욱→박지환 캐스팅...2024년 공개 ['Queen Woo' Jeon Jong-seo x Kim Moo-yeol x Ji Chang-wook → Park Ji-hwan cast...Coming 2024]. Joy News 24. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
^ Han, Hye-seon (August 27, 2024). "전종서 학폭·중국사극 모두 NO"..'우씨왕후' 논란 딛고 300억 대작 탄생[종합] ["Jeon Jong-seo says no to school violence or Chinese historical dramas"...'Empress Wu' overcomes controversy, 30 billion won blockbuster is born [Comprehensive]]. star.moneytoday.co (in Korean). Retrieved August 27, 2024 – via Naver.
^ Choi, Ji-yoon (April 20, 2023). 운수오진날·우씨왕후, 파라마운트+ 타고 세계로 [The Day of Misfortune and Queen Woo goes to the world on Paramount+]. Newsis (in Korean). Retrieved January 25, 2024.
^ Jo, Hye-jin (July 31, 2024). 왕 지창욱의 죽음, '우씨왕후' 전종서 '치열한 사투' 시작 [King Ji Chang-wook's death, 'Queen Woo' Jeon Jong-seo's 'fierce fight' begins] (in Korean). Xports News. Retrieved August 29, 2024 – via Naver.
^ Salma, Nisrina (August 2, 2024). "Sinopsis Queen Woo" [Synopsis Queen Woo]. Viu. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
^ "International Originals Travel to Paramount+ Globally" (Press release). CBS. August 7, 2023. Retrieved August 7, 2023 – via The Futon Critic.
^ Choi, Yun-na (August 1, 2023). "전종서·김무열→지창욱·정유미 '우씨왕후', 대본리딩 현장 공개" [Jeon Jong-seo, Kim Moo-yeol → Ji Chang-wook, Jung Yu-mi, 'Queen Woo', script reading site revealed]. Sports Donga (in Korean). Retrieved January 25, 2024.
^ Moon Ji-yeon (April 18, 2023). [공식] 전종서 '우씨왕후'로 첫 사극 도전..고구려 왕후 된다 [[Official] Jeon Jong-seo's first historical drama challenge with 'Queen Wu'... Becomes a Goguryeo queen] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Archived from the original on April 18, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2023 – via Naver.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Choi Na-young (July 12, 2023). '우씨왕후' 전종서∙김무열∙지창욱∙정유미∙이수혁∙박지환, 캐스팅 발표..왕좌 놓고 싸운다 ['Queen Woo' Jeon Jong-seo, Kim Mu-yeol, Ji Chang-wook, Jeong Yu-mi, Lee Soo-hyuk, and Park Ji-hwan, casting announcement...fight for the throne]. Osen (in Korean). Retrieved January 25, 2024.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Lee, Min-ji (August 1, 2023). '우씨왕후' 전종서→김무열-지창욱, 대본리딩부터 연기 배틀 ['Queen Wu' Jeon Jong-seo → Kim Moo-yeol - Ji Chang-wook, acting battle from script reading] (in Korean). Newsen. Archived from the original on August 1, 2023. Retrieved August 1, 2023 – via Naver.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Choi Na-young (August 1, 2023). '우씨왕후' 전종서∙김무열∙지창욱∙정유미 캐스팅..불꽃 튀는 대본리딩 현장 공개 ['Queen Woo' Jeon Jong-seo, Kim Mu-yeol, Ji Chang-wook, and Jeong Yu-mi casting...Sparkling script reading site revealed]. Osen (in Korean). Retrieved January 25, 2024.
^ Park, Jung-sun (August 7, 2024). 원현준, 티빙 시리즈 '우씨왕후' 출연 [Won Hyun-jun to appear in TVING series 'Queen Woo'] (in Korean). JTBC. Retrieved August 7, 2024 – via Naver.
^ Nath, Nikita (August 7, 2024). "Drama 'Queen Woo' embroiled in controversy for historical inaccuracies". Yahoo News. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
^ Park, Jin-hai (August 9, 2024). "Drama 'Queen Woo' embroiled in controversy for historical inaccuracies". The Korea Times. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
^ Conran, Pierce (August 31, 2024). "K-drama Queen Woo Part I review: Jeon Jong-seo, Ji Chang-wook in turgid period drama". South China Morning Post. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
^ Shin, Youngeun (August 29, 2024). "TVing Original Series 'Queen Woo' Part 1 (1-4 times) Review". Maeil Business Newspaper. Retrieved August 31, 2024.