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King and the Clown

Original title: Wang-ui namja / The King and the Clown

“Forbidden desire, sumptuous tragedy.”

2005 · 2 h 1 min
Directed by Lee Joon-ik · South Korea · Contemporary Asian Cinema
DramaHistoryThriller

Cast

Kam Woo-seong Jung Jin-young Kang Seong-yeon Lee Joon-gi Jang Hang-seon Yoo Hai Jin

Credits

Written by: Tae-woong Kim

Plot

Two clowns living in Korea's Chosun Dynasty get arrested for staging a play that satirizes the king. They are dragged to the palace and threatened with execution but are given a chance to save their lives if they can make the king laugh.

Sinekatalog’s take

Two traveling entertainers satirize the king, then must make him laugh to survive. This Korean period drama blends comedy, palace intrigue and a charged bond between the performers. Rich in color and feeling, it is a standout for fans of historical drama.Sinekatalog’s own editorial review – not a user or critic quote.

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Awards

Ratings

IMDb: 7.3 / 10 (6,376 votes)
IMDb rating and vote count from the IMDb ratings dataset (October 2026). Scores change over time.

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