The Emperor: Owner of the Mask explained

Image Upright:	1.15
Native Name:	Hangul: 군주 - 가면의 주인 Hanja: 君主 - 假面의 主人 Rr: Gunju - gamyeon-ui ju-in Mr: Kunju - kamyŏnŭi chuin Lk: Ruler - Master of the Mask
Creator:	Kim Kyung-hee
Music:	Jeon Chang-yeop
Country:	South Korea
Language:	Korean
Num Episodes:	40
Executive Producer:	Kim Kyung-hee
Camera:	Single-camera
Runtime:	30 minutes
Network:	MBC TV

The Emperor: Owner of the Mask is a South Korean television series starring Yoo Seung-ho, Kim So-hyun, Kim Myung-soo, Yoon So-hee, Huh Joon-ho, and Park Chul-min. It aired on MBC TV from May 10, to July 13, 2017, every Wednesday and Thursday at 22:00 (KST).^{[1] [2] [3]}

Plot

During the Joseon Dynasty, the long-awaited son of King Yi Yoon is born, but in exchange for his life, the king will hand over the power of the Bureau of Water Supply to the secret society "Pyunsoo Group" that controls the government. The king covers the Crown Prince's face with a mask and raises him secretly in order to protect him from the Pyunsoo Group.

Sixteen years later, Crown Prince Yi Sun, who grew up as a respectable young man, removes his mask and left the palace secretly to go to the town to find out why he has been masked since he was born. The purpose is to meet scholar Master Woo Bo who is the only person who knows why.

Crown Prince Yi Sun then meets high-ranking official's daughter Lady Han Ga-eun and a young man who has the same name as himself, Yi Sun, and deepens friendship with them.

After some time, the secret society Pyunsoo Group assassinates King Yi Yoon but Crown Prince Yi Sun escaped. The Pyunsoo Group put a fake king on the throne and controls this king and the whole Imperial Court by using a suspicious drug with poisonous properties. Having witnessed the people's suffering, the Crown Prince decides to devote himself to fight the Pyunsoo Group and reclaim his throne.

Cast

Main

• Yoo Seung-ho as Crown Prince Yi Sun^{[4] [5]}

The real Crown Prince of Joseon and also known as the Chief Peddler.

• Kim So-hyun as Lady Han Ga-eun^[6]

Daughter of Deputy Magistrate Han, one of the students of Master Woo Bo and childhood friend of commoner Yi Sun. She has wide knowledge of medicinal herbs.

• Kim Myung-soo as Commoner Yi-sun^[7]

Initially worked as a water deliverer at the Bureau of Water Supply, student of Master Woo Bo and a childhood friend of Lady Ga Eun. He was planted as a fake king by Pyeon-soo group and this slowly gave birth to his greed and desire to become the true king of Joseon in order to earn Ga-eun's feelings, as partially driven by his jealousy towards Crown Prince Yi Sun and the manipulation of Kim Dae-mok.

• Yoon So-hee as Kim Hwa-gun

Granddaughter of Pyunsoo Group leader Dae-mok and head of all the merchants in Joseon. She fell in love with the Crown Prince at first sight. And, remained loyal towards the Crown Prince till the end.

• Huh Joon-ho as Kim Dae-mok^[8]

Head of the secret society “Pyunsoo Group.” He controls King Yi Yoon and the imperial court by using a mysterious drug with poisonous properties. He forgives no one when they betray Pyunsoo Group, and he even went as far as to murder his own granddaughter for betraying him and showing loyalty to the Crown Prince.

• Park Chul-min as Master Woo-bo

A scholar in medicine and well-versed in Western knowledge.

Supporting

• Kim Byung-chul as Kim Woo-jae. He is the only son of Dae-mok and also the leader of Pyungsoohwe group. He is the father of Hwa-gun. He is foolish and often despised by his father Dae-mok, but he is very caring towards his daughter.
• Kim Jong-soo as Joo Jin-myung
• Do Yong-goo as Choi Sung-gi
• Jung Kyu-soo as Heo Yoo-gun
• Kim Young-woong as Jo Tae-ho. The head of Water Bureau.
• Kim Seo-kyung as Gon, the loyal bodyguard of Lady Hwa-gun. Later, it was revealed that he was in love with his Lady, Hwa-gun. Out of love for Hwa-gun, he granted her last wish before her death by switching his allegiance to the Crown Prince and protects him from Dae-mok.
• Park Ki-ryung as Mr. Jang

People around Crown Prince Yi Sun

• Shin Hyun-soo as Yi Chung-woon, Crown Prince Lee Sun's loyal personal bodyguard. He is the son of the dead king Yi Yoon's personal bodyguard, Bum Woo. Crown Prince Yi Sun and Chung woon grew up together.
• Bae Yoo-ram as Park Moo-ha, adjunct official who was arrested together with Deputy Magistrate Han. He was loyal towards the Crown Prince till the very end.
• Lee Chae-young as Mae-chang, a court lady who disguises as a gisaeng. Joseon's expert on poetry and an experienced gayageum player. Initially, she was a lady of mysterious origin and identity. But, later it reveals that she is the daughter of the head eunuch and she tries to help the Crown Prince, but her father forbids her to. She used to work on Pyungsoohwe field of poisons at an early age, but she escaped.

Family of commoner Yi-sun

• Park Hyun-suk as Yoo Sun-daek, commoner Yi-sun's mother.
• Jung Hae-kyun as commoner Yi-sun's father
• Go Na-hee as Kko-mool, commoner Yi-sun's younger sister

Royal palace

• Kim Myung-soo (1966)^[9] as King Yi Yoon, Crown Prince Yi Sun's father. He wanted to become the king and thus his greed made him to become a part of Pyungsoo group. He assassinated his father and became the king.
• Kim Sun-kyung as the Queen, Crown Prince Yi Sun's legal mother (Royal Mother). She was the one to poison the Crown Prince.
• Choi Ji-na as Lady Yi Young-bin, Crown Prince Yi Sun's biological mother
• Jung Doo-hong as Yi Bum-woo. He was the personal and loyal bodyguard as well as a childhood friend of the old king, Yi Yoon.
• Song In-guk as Hyun-suk. Initially it is seen, that he is a loyal friend and bodyguard of the fake king Commoner Yi Sun. But later, it was revealed that he was a lackey of Dae-mok.
• Jung Ah-mi as Court Lady Han. She was forever loyal towards the Royal Mother.
• Lee Dae-ro as Chief Eunuch. He is the father of Ma Chaeng. He is neither for the late king nor for the Crown Prince nor for Dae-mok. He was supposedly loyal towards Crown Prince's grandfather/late king's father.

Extended

• Jeon No-min as Deputy Magistrate Han Kyu-ho, father of Lady Ga Eun. He was a kind and righteous official who was later being executed due to the manipulation of Pyeon-soo group.
• Jin Ki-joo as Choi Kang-seo^[10]
• Gong Jung-hwan
• Min Pil-joon as Park Cheon-soo

Production

• Despite differences in tone, the media noted the drama's similarities with KBS2's hit series Love in the Moonlight (2016) as both are set in Joseon era with young lead actors born in 1993 (Moonlight's Park Bo-gum, Emperor's Yoo Seung-ho) and 1999 (Moonlight's Kim Yoo-jung, Emperor's Kim So-hyun).^{[11] [12]} Emperor also co-stars Park Chul-min who had a supporting role in Moonlight.^[13] Interestingly, Park Chul-min portrays an antagonist and corrupt official in Moonlight, but in contrast, he plays a righteous man who was a trusted ally of the protagonist Crown Prince Yi Sun in Emperor.
• The first script reading took place on December 23, 2016 at MBC Broadcasting Station in Sangam, Seoul, South Korea. The series was pre-produced with filming commencing in December 2016, and lasted six months.^{[14] [15] [16] [17]} The series reunited Kim So-hyun and Yoo Seung-ho who starred in Missing You (2013), and Kim Myung-soo and Yoon So-hee in The Day After We Broke Up (2016).^{[18] [19]}
• The series was promoted heavily by MBC, with the first teaser released six months before its premiere at the MBC Drama Awards, where leads Yoo and Kim also served as presenters.^[20] There were also several exclusive Naver features and V Live broadcasts before and during its run.^{[21] [22] [23]}

Original soundtrack

The Emperor: Owner of the Mask OST
Type:	Soundtrack
Artist:	Various artists
Released:	2017
Genre:	Soundtrack
Language:	Korean
Label:	Plus Media Danal Entertainment (digital) LOEN Entertainment (physical)^[24]
Producer:	Lee Sung-kwon

Chart performance

Title	Year	Peak chart positions	Sales	Remarks
		KOR Gaon
"The Man That Couldn't Cry" (Yang Yo-seob (Highlight))	2017	77	KOR: 27,015^[25]	Part 1
"From The First Time You and Me" (Bolbbalgan4)		4	KOR: 524,397+^[26]	Part 2
"For A While" (Hwang Chi-yeul)		64	KOR: 24,671^[27]	Part 3
"The Person Who I Love" (K.Will)		89	KOR: 21,644^[28]	Part 8

Reception

Despite being touted as "the next Love in the Moonlight" which became a "youth sageuk sensation",^[29] The Emperor: Owner of the Mask failed to emulate the success of Love in the Moonlight and only averaged modest ratings of 12.4%.^{[30] [31]} Additionally, even though it topped ratings in its time slot, it was overtaken by its competitor in the important 20-49 year old demographic, as well as streaming, popularity, and brand reputation charts for consecutive weeks.^{[32] [33]} With the extensive promotion and hype the series received before premiere, its figures were underwhelming.^{[34] [35] [36]} Performances of the cast were praised, though audiences also stated their dissatisfaction with the story and the production as a whole.^{[30] [37]} William Schwartz of HanCinema stated that the series is "irredeemably stupid", adding that "...the obstacles the characters run into are never clearly defined. It's one of the reasons why the resolutions in this drama are so unsatisfying. There's no tension."^[38]

Ratings

In the table below,

the blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and the red numbers represent the highest ratings.

	Broadcast date	Average audience share
		TNmS Ratings^[39]		AGB Nielsen^[40]
		Nationwide	Seoul	Nationwide	Seoul
1	May 10, 2017	8.8% (9th)	10.0% (5th)	9.7% (6th)	10.5% (5th)
2		10.1% (6th)	10.9% (4th)	11.6% (4th)	12.1% (4th)
3	May 11, 2017	10.4% (8th)	11.5% (6th)	10.5% (6th)	11.2% (5th)
4		10.8% (6th)	11.9% (5th)	12.6% (4th)	13.4% (4th)
5	May 17, 2017	8.5% (12th)	10.4% (6th)	11.2% (5th)	11.8% (5th)
6		9.2% (10th)	11.0% (5th)	12.5% (4th)	12.9% (4th)
7	May 18, 2017	10.4% (6th)	11.8% (5th)	12.0% (5th)	12.9% (5th)
8		11.6% (5th)	13.1% (4th)	13.4% (4th)	14.2% (3rd)
9	May 24, 2017	10.6% (8th)	10.9% (6th)	11.9% (6th)	12.7% (5th)
10		11.7% (5th)	12.6% (4th)	13.8% (4th)	15.2% (3rd)
11	May 25, 2017	11.1% (7th)	11.7% (5th)	12.1% (6th)	13.2% (5th)
12		12.3% (5th)	13.3% (4th)	13.8% (4th)	15.1% (3rd)
13	May 31, 2017	11.8% (6th)	13.8% (4th)	11.7% (6th)	12.2% (4th)
14		12.8% (6th)	15.7% (3rd)	13.6% (4th)	14.5% (3rd)
15	June 1, 2017	12.0% (6th)	14.5% (5th)	12.0% (6th)	12.6% (5th)
16		13.4% (5th)	15.8% (2nd)	13.6% (4th)	14.2% (3rd)
17	June 7, 2017	11.6% (6th)	13.0% (5th)	10.9% (7th)	11.6% (5th)
18		12.4% (5th)	14.0% (3rd)	11.9% (5th)	11.0% (6th)
19	June 8, 2017	11.0% (7th)	13.0% (5th)	11.2% (6th)	11.2% (6th)
20		11.4% (6th)	14.0% (4th)	12.2% (5th)	12.1% (5th)
21	June 14, 2017	11.8% (5th)	13.0% (5th)	11.3% (5th)	11.8% (5th)
22		13.0% (4th)	14.5% (2nd)	13.0% (4th)	13.8% (3rd)
23	June 15, 2017	10.3% (5th)	11.3% (5th)	11.3% (5th)	11.3% (5th)
24		12.0% (4th)	13.2% (3rd)	13.4% (4th)	13.2% (4th)
25	June 21, 2017	10.3% (8th)	11.5% (5th)	10.6% (6th)	10.8% (7th)
26		11.8% (5th)	13.0% (4th)	13.2% (4th)	13.5% (3rd)
27	June 22, 2017	10.0% (9th)	11.9% (5th)	10.8% (6th)	11.4% (5th)
28		11.6% (5th)	14.1% (3rd)	12.2% (4th)	12.4% (4th)
29	June 28, 2017	9.6% (7th)	11.0% (5th)	10.2% (6th)	10.1% (5th)
30		11.2% (4th)	13.7% (3rd)	12.2% (4th)	12.3% (4th)
31	June 29, 2017	10.5% (6th)	12.6% (4th)	11.9% (5th)	11.9% (5th)
32		12.2% (4th)	14.5% (2nd)	14.4% (4th)	14.6% (3rd)
33	July 5, 2017	12.1% (6th)	14.0% (4th)	12.6% (5th)	13.3% (5th)
34		14.0% (4th)	14.6% (3rd)	13.6% (4th)	14.5% (4th)
35	July 6, 2017	12.9% (5th)	15.2% (4th)	12.8% (5th)	13.5% (5th)
36		14.7% (4th)	16.6% (3rd)	14.9% (3rd)	15.2% (2nd)
37	July 12, 2017	15.5% (5th)	18.0% (2nd)	13.2% (5th)	13.9% (5th)
38		17.6% (3rd)	20.3% (1st)	14.5% (4th)	15.2% (2nd)
39	July 13, 2017	14.4% (5th)	16.1% (4th)	13.3% (5th)	13.5% (5th)
40		16.0% (3rd)	18.4% (2nd)	14.4% (3rd)	14.7% (3rd)
Average		11.5%	13.51%	12.4%	13.19%

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Recipient	Result	Ref
2017	10th Korea Drama Awards	Best Drama	The Emperor: Owner of the Mask		^[41] ^[42]
		Best Production Director	Noh Do-cheol
		Best Screenwriter Award	Park Hye-jin
		Excellence Award	Jeon No-min
		Best New Actor	Kim Myung-soo
		KDA Award	Heo Jun-ho
	1st The Seoul Awards	Best New Actress	Yoon So-hee		^[43]
	19th Mnet Asian Music Awards	Best OST	Bolbbalgan4 ("You and Me from the Start")
	9th Melon Music Awards
	Korea Hallyu Awards	Popular Culture Awards	Kim So-hyun		^[44]
	44th MBC Drama Awards	Grand Prize (Daesang)	Heo Joon-ho		^[45] ^[46] ^[47] ^[48]
			Yoo Seung-ho
		Drama of the Year	The Emperor: Owner of the Mask
		Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries	Heo Joon-ho
			Yoo Seung-ho
		Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries	Kim So-hyun
		Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries	Kim Myung-soo
		Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries	Yoon So-hee
		Golden Acting Award, Actor in a Miniseries	Park Chul-min
		Golden Acting Award, Actress in a Miniseries	Kim Seon-kyung
		Male Popularity Award	Kim Myung-soo
		Female Popularity Award	Kim So-hyun
		Best New Actor	Kim Myung-soo
		Best Character Award, Fighting Spirit Acting	Kim Myung-soo
		Best Character Award, Best Villain	Heo Joon-ho
2018	12th Soompi Awards	Actor of the Year	Yoo Seung-ho		^[49]
		Best Idol Actor	Kim Myung-soo
		Best Supporting Actress	Yoon So-hee
		Best Couple	Yoo Seung-ho and Kim So-hyun

Notes and References

1. Web site: 유승호, MBC '군주' 출연 확정…12월 첫 촬영 [공식입장]]. TV Report. 12 October 2016. ko-KR. 2016-10-14. 2022-11-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20221130112141/https://news.nate.com/view/20161012n05289?mid=n1008. live.
2. News: http://m.entertain.naver.com/read?oid=421&aid=0002328665. ko:유승호, 멜로사극 '군주' 출연 확정…몸 만들기 돌입(공식입장). 2016-10-14. News1. 12 October 2016. ko-KR. 2017-12-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20171223220536/http://m.entertain.naver.com/read?oid=421&aid=0002328665. live.
3. Web site: TV show 'Ruler' deals with fight for Joseon's water supply. 8 May 2017. Yonhap. 22 May 2017. 23 December 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171223220500/http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/search1/2603000000.html?cid=AEN20170508008600315. live.
4. Web site: 유승호, MBC '군주' 출연 확정…12월 첫 촬영 [공식입장]]. TV Report. ko-KR. 12 October 2016. 2016-10-14. 2017-06-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20170614083824/http://www.tvreport.co.kr/?c=news&m=newsview&idx=936381. live.
5. Web site: Yoo Seung-ho cast as prince in new drama. The Korea Times. 2016-10-12. 2017-07-13. 2018-01-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20180123020402/http://koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2016/10/398_215969.html. live.
6. Web site: 유승호X김소현, MBC '군주' 확정..꿈의 라인업 [공식입장]]. Kim So Hyun Cast In New Historical Drama. OSEN. 11 November 2016. ko. 11 November 2016. 30 November 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221130112139/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=109&aid=0003430427&gid=999339&cid=1049802. live.
7. News: http://www.sporbiz.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=54402. ko:[단독] 엘-윤소희, '군주' 안방극장 컴백 – 한국스포츠경제. 한국스포츠경제. 22 November 2016. 2017-01-02. ko. 2022-11-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20221130112150/http://www.sporbiz.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=54402. live.
8. News: http://pop.heraldcorp.com/view.php?ud=201612291123250065505_1. ko:허준호, '군주' 합류…왕세자 役 유승호와 사투 벌인다. POP. 헤럴드. Herald Corporation. 29 December 2016. 2017-01-02. ko. 2021-12-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20211224070737/http://pop.heraldcorp.com/view.php?ud=201612291123250065505_1. live.
9. HanCinema
10. News: 진기주 측 "MBC '군주' 합류, 유승호와 호흡". POP. 헤럴드. 27 December 2016. 2017-01-02. Herald Corporation. ko. 2021-06-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20210624235531/http://pop.heraldcorp.com/view.php?ud=201612270811138782546_1. live.
11. Web site: 유승호X김소현 '군주', 제2의 '구르미'되나. Is "Emperor" the next "Love in the Moonlight"?. Herald Corporation. ko. 2016-11-11. 2023-12-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20231217020911/https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/112/0002865394. live.
12. Web site: "Monarch", "Sassy Girl", "King in Love": Which will be the second "Love in the Moonlight". Sports Chosun. ko. 2017-06-30. 2017-08-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20170803012524/http://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=076&aid=0003082409. live.
13. Web site: ko:[포토] ‘군주’ 박철민 "박보검, 김하늘 보다 지금 작품하는 유승호가 최고". http://www.kookje.co.kr/news2011/asp/newsbody.asp?code=0500&key=20170508.99002150800. Kookje. ko. 2017-06-01. 2019-06-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20190622154745/http://www.kookje.co.kr/news2011/asp/newsbody.asp%3Fcode%3D0500%26key%3D20170508.99002150800. live.
14. Web site: '군주' 노도철 PD "정치적 메시지는 없다". Korea Times. 8 May 2017. ko. 10 May 2017. 17 December 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231217020911/https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/469/0000201937. live.
15. News: [단독]'유승호의 '군주', 내년 MBC 편성…'빛미' PD 연출]. 10 October 2016. 2016-10-14. IS Plus. ko.
16. Web site: '군주' 첫 대본리딩 현장 포착, 유승호X김소현X엘 케미 어땠나. Newsen. 25 January 2017. 2017-01-25. ko. 2023-04-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20230430021658/https://www.newsen.com/news_view.php?uid=201701250808210310. live.
17. News: http://star.mt.co.kr/stview.php?no=2017063015082161725&outlink=1&ref=https://search.naver.com. ko:'군주', 오늘(30일) 촬영 끝..유승호 활약은 이제부터- 스타뉴스. 2017-06-30. 스타뉴스. 2017-06-30. ko-KR. 2022-03-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20220320180450/https://star.mt.co.kr/stview.php?no=2017063015082161725&outlink=1&ref=https://search.naver.com. live.
18. Web site: 보고싶다..'군주' 유승호X김소현, 수목극 왕좌 주인될까(종합) - enews24. enews24.tving.com/. 2017-05-31. ko.
19. News: http://news1.kr/articles/?2748736. ko:윤소희 측 "'헤어진 다음날' 출연…엘 여자친구 役". 2016-08-16. 뉴스1. 2017-05-31. ko. 2017-08-29. https://web.archive.org/web/20170829070943/http://news1.kr/articles/?2748736. live.
20. Web site: ko:군주 첫 티저 ＂나의 조선은 다를 것입니다＂. http://tv.naver.com/v/1343373/list/107010. Naver TV. 2017-05-20. ko. 2020-11-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20201113130335/https://tv.naver.com/v/1343373/list/107010. live.
21. Web site: [어게인V]'군주' 김소현, 믿고 보는 배우의 탄생]. Herald Corporation. 9 May 2017. ko. 9 May 2017. 17 December 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231217020953/https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/112/0002918145. live.
22. Web site: ko:[군주] 소현이가 100초만에 소개하는 군주. http://www.vlive.tv/video/29451?channelCode=ECA251. V Live. 2017-05-20. ko.
23. Web site: [공식입장] '군주' 유승호x김소현, 26일 V라이브 뜬다..배유람 MC]. OSEN. ko. 2017-06-24. 2017-11-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20171128215035/http://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=109&aid=0003563857. live.
24. Web site: 군주-가면의 주인 O.S.T - MBC 수목미니시리즈 (2CD) (The Emperor: Owner of the Mask OST - MBC Wednesday-Thursday Miniseries (2CD)). Synnara Record. Media Synnara Co., Ltd.. July 18, 2017. December 17, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231217020915/https://www.synnara.co.kr/sp/sp120Main.do?categoryId=CT22104001&productId=P000399770. live.
25. Web site: 2017 Gaon Download Chart – Week 19 (See #46). 2017-05-18. 2017-07-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20170725215255/http://www.gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=S1020&targetTime=19&hitYear=2017&termGbn=week. live.
26. Cumulative sales for "From The First Time You and Me":
    • Web site: Gaon Download Chart – May, 2017. 2017-05-25. 2020-03-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20200302165415/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=S1020&targetTime=05&hitYear=2017&termGbn=month. live.
    • Web site: Gaon Download Chart – June, 2017. 2017-06-08. 2017-07-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20170728201317/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=S1020&targetTime=06&hitYear=2017&termGbn=month. live.
    • Web site: 2017 Gaon Download Chart – Week 26. 2017-07-07. 2017-07-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20170708202551/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=S1020&targetTime=26&hitYear=2017&termGbn=week. live.
27. Web site: 2017 Gaon Download Chart – Week 21. 2017-06-01. 2017-07-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20170725215501/http://www.gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=S1020&targetTime=21&hitYear=2017&termGbn=week. live.
28. Web site: 2017 Gaon Download Chart – Week 23. 2017-06-16. 2017-07-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20170725215654/http://www.gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=S1020&targetTime=23&hitYear=2017&termGbn=week. live.
29. Web site: Fantasy period dramas dominate small screen. The Korea Times. 2017-06-05. 2017-07-13. 2017-08-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20170803050006/http://koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2017/06/398_230667.html. live.
30. Web site: No Hit Drama Among the Three Big Broadcasters. . ko. 주연을 맡은 배우들은 너나 할 것 없이 멋진 한복차림으로 '어여쁨'을 뽐내고 있고, 이들이 펼치는 로맨스는 어김없이 감정이입을 이끈다. 하지만 스토리가 받쳐주지 않으면서 로맨스도 더는 치고 나가지 못하고 있다. 배우들끼리의 멜로 화학작용 자체도 썩 매끄럽지 못하다. '구르미 그린 달빛'이 지난해 9~10월 시청률 20%를 넘어서며 '박보검 신드롬'을 일으켰던 것과 비교하면 현재 세 사극의 성적은 초라하다. '군주'가 11~13%로 그나마 10%를 넘어서고 있고, '엽기적인 그녀'가 7~10%, '7일의 왕비'는 6%대에 시청률이 머물고 있다. '어디서 많이 본 듯한 이야기의 짜깁기', '닥치고 애틋한 멜로만 강조한다' 등의 지적이 나온다.. 2017-07-04. 2019-06-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20190622154744/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=001&aid=0009344028. live.
31. Web site: ko:'드라마=로코' 성공 방정식 깨진다. http://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=011&aid=0003049628. Se Daily. ko. 수목 로코 드라마도 상황은 마찬가지다. SBS의 ‘수상한 파트너’, MBC의 사극 ‘군주’ 역시 시청률 10% 안팎을 힘겹게 오가고 있는 것. ‘군주’ 역시 지난해 화제가 됐던 ‘구르미 그린 달빛’을 연상케 하는 풋풋한 사랑에 아역 출신 유승호와 김소현의 매력이 더해져 커다란 사랑을 받을 것이라는 관측이 지배적이었다.. 2017-07-04. 2019-06-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20190622154746/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=011&aid=0003049628. live.
32. Web site: '수상한 파트너', 6월 1주차 드라마 부문 TV화제성 1위 기록…'2위는 군주'. Topstar Newslanguage=ko. 2017-06-16.
33. Web site: The Irony of Suspicious Partner. Newsen. 그러나 전체 시청률을 제외한 TV 화제성, 브랜드 평판, 2049 시청률 등에서는 ‘수트너’가 압도적으로 1위다. 전체 가구 시청률에서 20세에서 49세까지의 시청률을 별도로 산정한 ‘2049 시청률’은 ‘수트너’가 6연속 1위를 차지했고, TV 화제성에서는 3주 연속 1위를 유지했다. ‘수트너’의 주인공인 지창욱은 5주 연속 TV 드라마 출연자 화제성 1위에 이름을 올렸다.language=ko. 2017-07-04. 2023-12-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20231217020913/https://www.newsen.com/news_view.php?uid=201706301052474410. live.
34. Web site: [SE★2017상반기:MBC드라마] '역적'-'군주', 사극 효자로 지킨 자존심]. Se Daily. ko. 2017-07-04. 2023-12-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20231217020914/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=011&aid=0003062270. live.
35. Web site: 안방극장엔 사극열풍, '진부한 로맨스' 비판도 (A Criticism of the Classic Romance). Maeil Broadcasting Network. 사극 로맨스는 수차례 증명된 흥행공식이다. '공주의 남자'(2011)는 24.9%, '해를 품은 달'(2012)은 시청률 42.2%, '구르미 그린 달빛'(2016)은 23%를 기록하며 종전의 히트를 쳤다. 하지만, 이번 세 작품의 성적표는 기대이하다. 가장 높은 시청률을 기록하고 있는 '군주'가 11%, '엽기적인 그녀'가 8%, '7일의 왕비'는 6%에 그쳤다.(6월 둘째주 기준).. ko. 2017-07-04. 2023-12-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20231217020918/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=009&aid=0003959629. live.
36. Web site: Emperor Couldn't Even Reach 15%. JTBC.
37. Web site: ko:'군주' 새 시대 연 허준호…유승호 살아있었다 (종합). http://entertain.naver.com/ranking/comment/list?oid=311&aid=0000749256. XSports News. ko. 2017-07-04. 2019-06-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20190622154747/https://entertain.naver.com/ranking/comment/list?oid=311&aid=0000749256. live.
38. Web site: [HanCinema's Drama Review] "Ruler: Master of the Mask"]. HanCinema. 2017-07-13. 2017-07-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20170713031636/http://www.hancinema.net/hancinema-s-drama-review-ruler-master-of-the-mask-37-38-107832.html. live.
39. Web site: TNMS Daily Ratings: this links to current day-select the date from drop down menu. ko. TNMS Ratings. March 24, 2017. January 5, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180105185130/http://www.tnms.tv/rating/default.asp. live.
40. Web site: AGB Daily Ratings: this links to current day-select the date from drop down menu. ko. AGB Nielsen Media Research. March 24, 2017. July 2, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160702112822/http://www.nielsenkorea.co.kr/tv_terrestrial_day.asp?menu=Tit_1&sub_menu=1_1&area=00. live.
41. News: Son Ye-ji. 한석규·김상중·차인표·김영철·최민수, '2017 KDA' 대상 후보 5人 확정 (공식). TenAsia. September 27, 2017. October 2, 2017. ko. February 18, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180218230523/http://tenasia.hankyung.com/archives/1305754. dead.
42. News: Noh Gyu-min. ko:김상중, 대상 "5년마다 수상…그것이 알고싶다" 소감… '도깨비' 작품상(코리아드라마어워즈). http://tenasia.hankyung.com/archives/1309852. TenAsia. October 2, 2017. October 2, 2017. ko. October 3, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171003030732/http://tenasia.hankyung.com/archives/1309852. dead.
43. Web site: http://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=213&aid=0000996687&gid=999339&cid=1073569. ko:'서울어워즈' 송강호·나문희·지성·박보영 주연상…·'박열'·'비숲' 대상[종합]. October 27, 2017. TV Report. ko. October 27, 2017. October 28, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171028043153/http://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=213&aid=0000996687&gid=999339&cid=1073569. live.
44. Web site: http://m.entertain.naver.com/read?oid=112&aid=0002981674&lfrom=twitter. ko:김재중·김소현, ‘2017 대한민국 한류대상’ 가수·배우 부문 수상. 7 December 2017. 5 December 2017. Herald Pop. ko. 8 December 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171208004032/http://m.entertain.naver.com/read?oid=112&aid=0002981674&lfrom=twitter. live.
45. Web site: 2017 MBC Drama Awards. December 2017. MBC. ko. 2017-12-22. 2022-08-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20220812053408/https://www.imbc.com/broad/tv/ent/event/2017mbc/vote/ent-program.html. live.
46. News: Lee Eun-ho. '2017 MBC 연기대상' 빛낸 '역적' 그리고 김상중 (종합). BizEnter. December 30, 2017. December 30, 2017. ko. November 12, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211112080602/http://enter.etoday.co.kr/view/news_view.php?varAtcId=131490. live.
47. News: Oh Ji-eun. [2017 MBC 연기대상] 김상중, 데뷔 27년만 지상파 첫 대상... '역적' 8관왕(종합)]. Zenith News. December 30, 2017. December 30, 2017. ko. November 8, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181108065533/http://www.zenithnews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=105917. live.
48. News: Jang Ah-reum. [2017 MBC 연기대상] 김상중, 데뷔 27년만 대상…'역적' 7관왕 싹쓸이]. News1 Korea. December 30, 2017. December 30, 2017. ko. December 31, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171231103406/http://news1.kr/articles/?3194592. live.
49. Web site: 13th Annual Soompi Awards: The Winners. Soompi. April 16, 2018. November 10, 2019. September 5, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190905134700/http://www.soompi.com/article/1155669wpp/13th-annual-soompi-awards-winners. live.