The Treacherous () is a 2015 South Korean period drama film about Joseon's king Yeonsan, directed by Min Kyu-dong. It follows Im Sung-jae, a notorious vassal who, alongside his father Im Sa-hong, manipulated King Yeonsangun of Joseon. The film was theatrically released on May 21, 2015.
Plot In the 11th year of King Yeonsangun's reign, as schemers vie for power by offering women to control the king, the age of treacherous courtiers begins. Appointed as Chae Hong-sa, Im Sung-jae forcibly recruits beautiful women from across Joseon, calling them Unpyeong, seizing the opportunity to execute his grand ambition for ultimate power. His ruthless actions, indiscriminately abducting noblewomen, commoners, and even the lower class, ignite public outrage.
Im Sung-jae and his father, Im Sa-hong, select the Dan-hee for personal training, while the infamous courtesan Jang Nok-su, fearing her loss of influence, enlists Joseon's gisaeng, Seol Jung-mae, to counter Dan-hee. As treacherous courtiers engage in a fierce battle for dominance, Dan-hee and Seol Jung-mae must endure rigorous training to become the ultimate gi-saeng and survive in a ruthless game of power and seduction.
Cast
Ju Ji-hoon as Im Sung-jae Seo Young-joo as young Im Sung-jae Kim Kang-woo as Yeonsangun of Joseon Chun Ho-jin as Im Sa-hong Lim Ji-yeon as Dan-hee Kim Hyun-soo as young Dan-hee Lee Yoo-young as Seol Jung-mae Cha Ji-yeon as Jang Nok-su Song Young-chang as Yu Ja-gwang Jo Han-chul as Park Won-jong Jang Gwang as Joseon prime minister Jung In-gi as Head of Sungkyunkwan Gi Ju-bong as Butcher Mr. Kim Ryu Seon-young as wife of the head of Sungkyunkwan Seo Ji-seung as daughter of the Prime Minister Kim Jong-gu as Nobleman Jo Son Young-hee as Sweet Briar, gisaeng from Miryang Choi Ye-yoon as So-hyang, Yonggonggak gisaeng Kim Ji-young as Mother of Deposed Queen Lady Yun Park Myung-shin as Queen's mother Moon Hee-kyung as Discipline sanggung Kim Seon-ha as only daughter of nobleman Jo Ko Kyung-pyo as Grand Prince Jinseong Jung Man-sik as Assassin Shim Eun-jin as Yonggonggak owner Choi Il-hwa as Kim Il-son Jeon Yeo-been as Woman having queen's fate by Physiognomy
Reception
Box office The film has grossed () from 1.11 million admissions at the South Korean box office.
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Recipient Result2015 52nd Grand Bell Awards Best Art Direction Lee Tae-hun Best Costume Design Lee Jin-hee 36th Blue Dragon Film Awards Best New Actress Lee Yoo-young Best Art Direction Lee Tae-hun
References
External links