Moon Embracing the Sun (Korean: 해를 품은 달) is a 2012 South Korean television drama. It stars Kim Soo-hyun, Han Ga-in, Jung Il-woo, and Kim Min-seo. The show aired on MBC from January 4 to March 15, 2012, on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:55 for 20 episodes.

The drama is a historical fantasy based on a novel by Jung Eun-gwol. It follows a sad love story between a fictional king from the Joseon period and a female shaman, as well as conflicts between competing political groups.

The series reached a peak viewership rating of 42.2%. It won the Best Drama award and the Best Actor award for Kim Soo-hyun at the 48th Baeksang Arts Awards. It also received several awards at the 2012 MBC Drama Awards, including Drama of the Year and Actor of the Year for Kim Soo-hyun.

Synopsis

The Queen Dowager orders the killing of her stepson to protect her son's throne. A-ri, a shaman from the Royal Astrology House, sees the murder. The pregnant wife of the palace's Chief Scholar helps A-ri escape, and she promises to protect the unborn child, who is said to have a "noble fate."

A-ri is arrested, tortured, and put in prison. She tells her friend and fellow shaman, Jang Nok-yeong, to care for the unborn child. A-ri is found guilty of treason and is killed.

Years later, Heo Yeon-woo, the child A-ri promised to protect, and Crown Prince Lee Hwon fall in love. Prince Yangmyung, the Crown Prince's older half-brother, also loves Yeon-woo, but she does not return his feelings.

The Queen Dowager tries to make Yoon Bo-kyung, the daughter of the Prime Minister and her relative, the Crown Princess to keep her family's power. However, the King is impressed by Yeon-woo's intelligence and chooses her to marry Lee Hwon, angering the Prime Minister and the Queen Dowager. They secretly ask Nok-yeong to cast a deadly curse on the new Princess.

Yeon-woo is diagnosed with an illness that doctors cannot identify. She is forced to leave the palace, loses her title, and is declared dead. Nok-yeong digs her up because the curse only looks like death. However, Yeon-woo is deeply upset by being buried alive and loses all her memories. She and Nok-yeong leave the capital.

Crown Prince Lee Hwon is forced to marry Bo-kyung but refuses to complete the marriage, claiming an illness. He continues to think about his "dead" first love.

Eight years later, Lee Hwon becomes king, and Yeon-woo becomes Shaman Wol, meaning "moon." The Grand Royal Queen Dowager calls Wol to the palace to help cure her grandson's "illness." The King notices Wol's strong resemblance to Yeon-woo and starts an investigation into Yeon-woo's death.

At the same time, Wol struggles to understand strange memories of her past life as Yeon-woo, which she sees as visions. She must fight Queen Yoon, the Grand Royal Queen Dowager, and the Prime Minister to reclaim her place as Queen of Joseon. Political conflicts grow, and a dramatic battle for the throne and the woman Lee Hwon loves begins.

Cast

• Han Ga-in plays the role of Lady Heo Yeon-woo / Shaman Wol. Kim Yoo-jung plays the role of 13-year-old Lady Heo Yeon-woo.

• Kim Soo-hyun plays the role of Lee Hwon, King of Joseon. Yeo Jin-goo plays the role of 15-year-old Lee Hwon, Crown Prince of Joseon.

• Jung Il-woo plays the role of Prince Yangmyung. Lee Tae-ri plays the role of young Prince Yangmyung.

• Kim Min-seo plays the role of Lady Yoon Bo-kyung / Queen Yoon. Kim So-hyun plays the role of young Lady Yoon Bo-kyung.

• Sunwoo Jae-duk plays the role of Lord Heo Young-jae.

• Yang Mi-kyung plays the role of Madam Shin Jung-kyung.

• Song Jae-hee plays the role of Lord Heo Yeom. Im Si-wan plays the role of 17-year-old Young Master Heo Yeom.

• Yoon Seung-ah plays the role of Seol. Ji-hee plays the role of young Seol.

• Kim Young-ae plays the role of the Grand Royal Queen Dowager.

• Ahn Nae-sang plays the role of King Seongjo.

• Kim Sun-kyung plays the role of Queen Sohye, later the Queen Dowager.

• Kim Ye-ryeong plays the role of Royal Noble Consort Hui of the Miryang Park clan.

• Nam Bo-ra plays the role of Princess Minhwa. Jin Ji-hee plays the role of young Princess Minhwa.

• Song Jae-rim plays the role of Lord Kim Jae-woon. Lee Won-keun plays the role of 15-year-old Young Master Kim Jae-woon.

• Jung Eun-pyo plays the role of Hyung-sun.

• Kim Min-kyung plays the role of Court Lady Min.

• Chu Gwi-jung plays the role of Court Lady Jo.

• Jeon Mi-seon plays the role of Jang Nok-young.

• Kim Ik-tae plays the role of Hye Gak.

• Bae Noo-ri plays the role of Jan-shil. Jo Min-ah plays the role of young Jan-shil.

• Jang Young-nam plays the role of A-ri.

• Kim Eung-soo plays the role of Lord Yoon Dae-hyung.

• Jang Hee-soo plays the role of Madam Kim.

• Seo Hyun-chul plays the role of Lord Shim San.

• Lee Seung-hyung plays the role of Lord Han Jae-gil.

• Kim Seung-wook plays the role of Lord Yoon Soo-chan.

• Yoon Hee-seok plays the role of Lord Hong Gyu-tae.

Production

The story comes from a book written by Jung Eun-gwol. The screenplay was written by Jin Soo-wan, who also wrote Capital Scandal. The drama was directed by Kim Do-hoon, who previously directed Royal Family, and Lee Seong-jun, who previously directed Gyebaek.

This production was Han Ga-in’s first historical drama and her return to television after Bad Guy in 2010. It was also Jung Il-woo’s second historical drama, following The Return of Iljimae in 2009.

Filming began in November 2011. Child actors were used for the first six episodes. On December 25, adult actors read the script at MBC Dream Center in Ilsan.

In February 2012, there were plans to add four more episodes to the 20-episode drama. However, the production company, Pan Entertainment, later said no extension would happen, and the series would end on March 8, 2012. The drama did not end until March 15, 2012, because director Kim Do-hoon joined the MBC strike, which caused the last two episodes to be delayed for one week. These episodes were replaced with two special episodes.

Most scenes showing the royal palace were filmed at MBC Dramia in Cheoin District, Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. This location was also used for other historical dramas, such as Dong Yi, Jumong, and Queen Seondeok. The House of Choi Cham-pan was used as Yeon-woo’s childhood home. The Korean Folk Village was used for scenes showing local markets, homes of common people, and nighttime settings.

In March 2012, the drama’s broadcast rights were sold to eight Asian countries, including Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and the Philippines. At that time, it became the most profitable drama for MBC. This record was later broken by Arang and the Magistrate in August 2012. The drama was made available on Netflix in the United States in 2015 and later in other regions.

Ratings

The show aired on GMA Network from August 13 to November 2, 2012, on weekdays at 5:45 PM Pacific Standard Time. Each episode lasted 45 minutes, including time for commercials. The entire series was dubbed in Filipino.

Musical theatre

A stage musical version was performed at the Seoul Arts Center from July 6 to July 31, 2013, with additional performances in 2014. Kim Da-hyun, Jeon Dong-seok, and Cho Kyu-hyun took turns playing the role of Lee Hwon, while Jeon Mi-do, Ahn Shi-ha, Lina, Jung Jae-eun, and Seohyun took turns playing the role of Yeon-woo.