7일의 왕비 Queen For Seven Days (Korean Drama)

Queen For Seven Days is a story of love between a lady called Shin Chae Kyung and her prince. Their love in this drama is so achingly sweet, and yet devastatingly sad. 😍😭 This fiction sageuk drama is based on a true story, which makes it even more heartfelt. Their real-life love story (mostly folklore) can be found in the net (in Hangul).

From day one, Queen For Seven Days is known as a drama with tragic love story. And those who know the real story, will also know why. I signed into this drama knowing for sure I will cry my heart out like what I did in Uncontrollably Fond and Oh My Geum Bi. And what I can tell you is, ALL those that watched this drama ended up crying along the journey and particularly at the end. Crying doesn’t mean weak. For this drama, crying means celebrating their sweet beautiful love until the end of time. Although the drama is not 100% true to history, for us living in 2017, getting to know their love story that happened over 500 years ago means their love stood the test of time. For that, I’m in awe!

Many moons back, I wrote that my love for Moonlight Drawn By Clouds will go on forever or until another good one replaces it. Well, Queen For Seven Days is THE replacement. Although it did not achieved even half the fame of Moonlight Drawn By Clouds, with under-performed ratings that thankfully picked up in the last 6 episodes, but in my book though, this is the drama that manages to thug at my heart string SO STRONGLY. That’s why I love this drama so much. That’s what a good drama is suppose to do. Moves you.

Park Min Young as Shin Chae Kyung and Yeon Woo Jin as Lee Yeok aka Grand Prince Jinseong. Gat, they look so good together!

This sageuk drama is so underrated. For me though, it’s the best Korean drama of 2017. In fact, Queen For Seven Days is now in my top 5 favorite dramas of all time. This drama has the most perfect and consistent flows in all aspect (story telling, directing, acting and cinematography) and has the least plot holes of all dramas I’ve watched in my over a decade of Korean dramas watching. Just like Moonlight Drawn By Clouds, issues and misunderstanding are solved very quickly, which is a BIG plus.

A big shout-out to the newbie writer, Choi Jin Young and director, Lee Jung Sub. Bravo you two!

Tsk, if you’re wondering why the ratings in South Korea were so poor for this drama, it may be because the most-hated king of Joseon, Yeonsangun has a love line in this drama. Perhaps also because this drama is very heavy or most people prefer idol drama? We will never know the real reason. No matter what, it’s a MUST WATCH!!! I know I’ll be watching this when I’m old and grey. Haha

Korean title: 7일의 왕비
Korean romanization title: Chililrui Wangbi
International English title: Queen For Seven Days
Literal title: Seven Day Queen
Chinese title: 七日的女王
Running period in Korea: 31st May 2017 to 3rd August 2017
Runtime in Korea: Wednesday and Thursday 10pm
Running period in KBS World: 1st June 2017 to 4th August 2017
Runtime in KBS World: Thursday & Friday 8.50pm
Total episodes: 20
Genre: Romance, melodrama, historical, political

Synopsis from KBS World:
Just for seven days, Queen Dangyeong was on throne because of her political rivals who forcibly expelled her from the palace. King Jungjong, missing his queen, is said to have looked up at the mountain every single day. They spent the rest of their life longing for each other after she was ousted from the palace so suddenly.

Cast:
Park Min Young as Shin Chae Kyung (Queen Dangyeong)
Yeon Woo Jin as Lee Yeok (Grand Prince Jinseong 진성대군, Nak Chun, King Jungjong)
Lee Dong Gun as Lee Yung (King Yeonsangun)

Park Si Eun as Shin Chae Kyung (young)
Baek Seung Hwan as Lee Yeok (young)
Choi Jung Hoo as Lee Yeok (child)
Ahn Do Gyu as Lee Yung (young)

Friends of Shin Chae Kyung and Lee Yeok:
Hwang Chan Sung as Seo No
Kang Ki Young as Jo Gwang O
Kim Min Ho as Baek Suk Hee

Jung Yoo An as Jo Gwang O (young)
Joe Byeong Gyu as Baek Suk Hee (young)
Choi Min Young as Seo No (young)

Lee Dong Gun as Yeonsangun aka Lee Yung. He’s bad-a$$ alright.

Royal family:
Do Ji Won as Queen Jasoon (Lee Yeok’s mother)
Song Ji In as Queen Shin (Lee Yung’s principle wife)
Son Eun Seo as Jang Nok Soo (Lee Yung’s favorite concubine)

Ministers:
Jang Hyun Sung as Shin Soo Geun (Chae Kyung’s father and Queen Shin’s brother)
Kang Shin Il as Im Sa Hong
Park Won Sang as Park Won Jong

Others:
Kim Jung Young as Lady Kwon (Shin Soo Geun’s wife and Chae Kyung’s mother)
Yum Hye Ran as Chae Kyung’s nanny
Go Bo Gyeol as Yoon Myung Hye (Park Won Jong’s niece, if follow history: Queen Janggyeong)
Park Seo Yeon as Yoon Myung Hye (young)
Choi Seung Kyung as Eunuch Kim
Park Yong Jin as Eunuch
Heo Sung Tae as gang leader
Kim Ki Cheon as Mak Gae (Seo No’s father)
Kim Jung Hak as King Seongjong (Lee Yung’s and Lee Yeok’s father)
Woo Hee Jin as Deposed Queen Yoon (Lee Yung’s mother)

Spoilers from here on… you’ve been warned!

From not being a fan of Park Min Young to almost becoming one now, you know she gotta be doing something right, right? I’m very glad she took on this project. She did EXTREMELY well as Shin Chae Kyung. Although I find Park Si Eun as young Shin Chae Kyung and her, as adult version looks very much alike, however during the transition from child to adult in episode 4, I can’t relate her for a bit. But soon after I was sold by her solid acting. From her smile, laughter, confident stance, sadness and tears, she brought Shin Chae Kyung to life. This is her best work to date.

Lee Jin Wook and Jin Gu were initially offered the role of Lee Yeok and Lee Yung respectively but they declined. I’m so thankful they rejected the offer, for we won’t have Yeon Woo Jin and Lee Dong Gun as the handsome Grand Prince Lee Yeok and mesmerizing tyrant Lee Yung.

I’m a fan of Yeon Woo Jin but I don’t always watch his dramas (especially pure romance kind). My favorite drama of his is actually the short 4 episodes melodrama called Just An Ordinary Love Story. He’s so good in there. And so when I read he’s been offered the lead role, I said “Come on, accept it!” and so he did. Haha The resemblance between the young version of Yeok, played by Baek Seung Hwan and him, as adult Yeok really blew my mind away. I find him good in the way he played out his conflict and his burning love for Chae Kyung. As much as I like Yeon Woo Jin, I gotta admit that he’s the weakest one compared to Park Min Young and Lee Dong Gun in terms of screen presence and acting range. I’m not sure if it’s because of the scripts or due to his natural image. Still, bravo for achieving your best performance and new high in this drama.

On a side note, does anyone of you see a resemblance between Yeon Woo Jin and Ko Seung Jae (the super-friendly smart son of Ko Ji Yong), that appears in The Return of Superman? Coz I do. Very! 많이 (Okay, you may think I’m nuts and that’s okay).

I’ve seen Lee Dong Gun in couple of projects (Marry Him If You Dare, Super Daddy Yul; survived only 1 ep and his latest in The Gentlemen of Wolgyesu Tailor Shop which he did good). And I thought he was just an okay actor. This drama, his first saguek ever, proves me wrong. He was a bit sloppy at first but then became REALLY good. The aura he exuded as Yeongsangun, WOW!!! I also love the way he speaks sometimes in the drama.

Seo No played by Hwang Chan Sung. He’s the good friend of Yeok and Chae Kyung. This was my first time seeing him act and he’s good.

Baek Seung Hwan as young Lee Yeok and Park Si Eun as young Shin Chae Kyung. Gat, I love this two kiddos. So talented and the real reason why I love Lee Yeok and Shin Chae Kyung is because of them. And I love Park Si Eun’s takes on Chae Kyung’s saturi (사투리/dialect).

Childhood love 💘

Park Min Young and Park Si Eun as Shin Chae Kyung.

Yeon Woo Jin and Baek Seung Hwan as Lee Yeok.

Just look, how much they resemble each other. The way these four actors brought both characters, Lee Yeok and Shin Chae Kyung alive with steady switch from young to adult version are what makes this drama more enjoyable. The young and adult were so relatable, particularly both Yeon Woo Jin and Baek Seung Hwan.

How many times did he carries her? Answer: Twice (this and their supposedly consummation night)

How many times did they open their arms wide like that? Twice (this and during childhood when Chae Kyung was whistling the ‘Dreaming’ tune)

If there is one thing in this drama that I can change, it will be adding more variety to Lee Yeok’s hanbok. I believe Yung has more costume change than his brother. See, I think he agrees with me. Haha *stop sulking already. I also noticed that sometimes the hanbok doesn’t look really good on Yeon Woo Jin compared to Lee Dong Gun. Perhaps it’s the body shape matter or posture.

Also, also… majority of the hanboks worn by Chae Kyung and Yeok are pastel in colors and matching, compared to Yung’s which are vivid. Kinda remind me of Moonlight Drawn By Clouds too. I love Joseon era’s hanbok. Always very pretty.

Btw, quite a few felt cheated by the red skirt because it was in the synopsis but only plays a small part in the drama. I have totally forgotten about it actually. I only saw the red skirt at the last few seconds of the ending. However, upon looking back at Queen For Seven Days photos, I realized Chae Kyung wore quite a lot of red skirts (in different shades; pink, red, magenta) throughout the drama.

From watching their innocent childhood love…

to their everlasting adult love…

Gat… tears 😢 Beautiful love story!!!

The reason why Yeok did what he did was because of Chae Kyung.

And the reason why Chae Kyung did what she did was because of Yeok.

What they possess are unselfish love. 💗💓💖

If a drama can make you cry over and over again by watching it, reading recaps or even reading comments from viewers, you know this drama is very special. It’s worth every liters of my tears and every movement of my smile’s and laughter’s muscles. The ending of this drama, although isn’t what we all wanted, is the best and rightful way to end, by honoring the history. It was heart-breakingly beautiful.

If you have read until here with all the spoilers I wrote but haven’t watch it yet. Well, go and watch this masterpiece!

And if you have watched it, let me know what you think of this drama.

Favorite Queen For Seven Days OSTs:
1. Dreaming by Fromm (the hauntingly humming song which I knew from the very beginning will be my favorite)
2. 그리고 그려도 Miss You In My Heart by Jung Gi Go
3. 또한번 사랑해 Love Again by Dear Cloud
4. 운명의 길 The Road of Destiny by Supers Sound
5. Two Hands by Lee Phil Ho, Park Jong Mi
6. Hopeless Love by Tone and Manner
7. Queen For Seven Days by Lee Phil Ho, Park Jong Mi

The complete/full Queen For Seven Days OSTs in YouTube. A total of 56 songs+instruments. I didn’t realized it had that many. Woah.

Queen For Seven Days 7일의 왕비 drama filming/shooting locations:

1. Cheongamjeong Pavilion 청암정
Episode 2 where the young Yeok, Chae Kyung and their new friend, Seo No hang out and pledge their friendship. And also episode 10 where the adult Chae Kyung meeting Seo No again with Yeok tagging along. Cheongamjeong Pavilion is located beside Seokcheon Valley 석천계곡.
Address: Yugok1-ri, Bonghwa-eup, Bonghwa-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do
경북 봉화군 봉화읍 유곡리 삼계1리, 유곡1리
Website: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=805119&nearBy=site&

2. Seokcheon Valley 석천계곡
After Chae Kyung’s meeting with Seo No, Yeok confesses to Chae Kyung at this valley facing the river. However their friends interrupt their little intimate moment by pulling a prank on Yeok. They push Yeok into the water (coz he had asked to be pushed LOL) in episode 10.
Address: Yugok1-ri, Bonghwa-eup, Bonghwa-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do
경북 봉화군 봉화읍 유곡리 삼계1리, 유곡1리
Website: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=805119&nearBy=site&

3. Borinara Hagwon Farm 보리나라 학원농장
Young Yeok piggy back Chae Kyung at this rapeseed 유채꽃 and barley 청보리밭 fields in epi 3.
Address: 158-6, Hagwonnongjang-gil, Gochang-gun, Jeollabuk-do
전라북도 고창군 공음면 학원농장길 158-6 (공음면)
Website: http://www.borinara.co.kr/, http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_2_1.jsp?cid=706942

4. Gungnamji Pond 궁남지 in Seodong Park 서동공원과
Episode 9, Yung having a not-so friendly reunion welcoming back Yeok by having him wait for a long time at this pavilion in Gungnamji Pond. And also when Chae Kyung inform Yung she will never lie to him again. In episode 10, when Yung trying to make Chae Kyung his by trying to kiss her, with Yeok looking from the bridge.
Address: 117 Dongnam-ri, Buyeo-eup, Buyeo, Chungcheongnam-do
Website: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=800028

Other shooting sites: Bangokji 반곡지 at Gyeongsan in Gyeongsangbuk-do, Yeongju Museom Village 영주 무섬마을, Mungyeong and Andong in Gyeongsangbuk-do, Buan and Namwon in Jeollabuk-do and & Gongju in Chungcheongnam-do and Yongin in Gyeonggi-do. Let me know the precise locations (and episodes if possible) and I’ll add it in.

Not in the drama but according to legend:
1. Gyeonghoeru Pavilion 경회루 in Gyeongbokgung 경복궁
This pavilion has great view of Inwangsan (mountain). This is where King Jungjong looks up at the mountain whenever he misses his deposed queen.
Address: 161, Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
서울특별시 종로구 사직로 161 (세종로)
Website: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=264337

2. Chima Bawi 치마바위 (skirt rock) at Inwangsan 인왕산
Upon hearing that, Queen Dangyeong places her red skirt she had worn in the palace on this rock to comfort King Jungjong.
Address: 110-080 20, Tongil-ro 18ga-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Website: http://english.visitseoul.net/attractions/Inwangsan-Mountain_/3844

Interesting real facts:
1. Queen Dangyeong was betrothed to Grand Prince Jinseong (later King Jungjong) at the age of 13. They were married for 7 years. She was deposed from her queen position seven days later after she was declared so by King Jungjong. The king was bound by political pressure (those that place him on the throne) and the reason they gave was because her father lead a coup against Jungjong and/or he was the Deposed Queen Shin’s brother.

2. After Queen Dangyeong was deposed, she lived in Jasugung 자수궁 in Ogin-dong, Seoul (unfortunately it was destroyed during the 1592 Japanese invasion). Ogin-dong is just beside Inwangsan 인왕산. Now I understand why she was able to place her red skirt at Inwangsan. Do you also know that Gyeongbokgung where King Jungjong resided is very near to Ogin-dong? I thought deposed royal family at that time were placed far far away. Now, I can’t help but actually wonder whether they do actually meet from time to time. I would like to believe they did. I may be wrong here: the site where she lived is now Ogin-Dong Apartment 옥인동아파트 at Pirundae-ro. There’s a Jasugung plaque at apartment entrance.

3. She died childless.

4. Queen Dangyeong was buried at her family burial site at Yangju, Gyeonggi-do. At 1739, it was designated as royal tomb called Olleung 온릉. The tomb is not open for public in order to preserve it. King Jungjong was buried at Seonjeongneung (Seoul), together with her father, King Seongjong and mother, Queen Jeonghyeon. He was originally buried at Goyang near Munsan, north of Seoul.

5. Queen Dangyeong’s memorial tablet is located in Royal Shrine in Jongmyo. Her memorial tablet is enshrined in Chamber 6 (第六室).

Credit to gerrytan8063 from soompi on most of the facts above.

은애한다. 연모한다. 사랑한다. 많이 – 이역 (episode 15)

연모합니다, 은애합니다, 사랑합니다, 서방님 – 신채경 (episode 20)

Love like them ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Photos from KBS.