Humanized Historical Drama 'The King and the Man Who Lives With Him' Reimagines King Danjong's Last Year
Creatrip Team
a month ago
The upcoming historical film 'The King and the Man Who Lives With Him' focuses on the tragic last year of King Danjong (a young Joseon king deposed at age 12 and died at 17) and the real-life companion Eom Heung-do, here reimagined as the village head of a remote exile site. Veteran actor Yoo Hae-jin plays Eom, bringing warmth, humor, and pathos to a character who helps make the exile village welcoming and ultimately changes the prince’s life. Director Jang Hang-jun says the film restores Danjong as a thoughtful, not weak, young ruler who encounters commoners’ lives and reconsiders what kingship means. The movie emphasizes human bonds over rigid loyalty, features intimate everyday moments (like shared meals) to show the king connecting with his people, and includes scenes improvised on set—such as a tender water-playing moment—highlighting Yoo’s collaborative energy. Yoo and Jang reunite after earlier work together, and Yoo notes his long, careful process in finding truthful small gestures. The film aims to fill historical gaps with imagination while honoring the emotional truth of Danjong’s final year.
