THE LEGEND HAKKINDA

Cast and characters

The filming location of the series on Jeju Island
Main cast
Bae Yong-joon as Damdeok (later Gwanggaeto the Great of Goguryeo)
Yoo Seung-ho as young Damdeok
The prince of Goguryeo and the reincarnation of Hwang-woong. He comes across a girl named Kiha whom he falls in love with. He had grown to a pleasant young man, but in his heart he always suffered because of Hogae's mother who had committed suicide, causing Hogae to believe that Damdeok killed her. He was later found to be the destined King of Jyushin. In order to protect him before he becomes the king, he was asked to not show his true self to anyone, where in he pretended that he has no skills, especially in fighting. The image he showed to everyone was not hidden just by him and his father but he also trusted Kiha about him being a good fighter. It also prevented him from being harmed by people who wanted the throne, who didn't see him as a threat. However, he proves himself to be an excellent fighter and schemer. He wants to unite the world as a brother, avoiding killing and instead providing love for his future people. At the end of the series, he realizes that the task of the King of Jyushin was to answer the gods whether humans needed their help to continue surviving. The answer he told the gods was that he should return the powers and that humans could carry on by themselves. Having said that, he returned to the heavens, leaving behind Sujini whom he finally realizes thas he has feelings for (although he still had unresolved feelings for Kiha) and kiha's and his son.
Lee Ji-ah as Sujini
Shim Eun-kyung as young Sujini
The mistress of the Phoenix and the reincarnation of Sae-Oh. When she was just a little baby, she was hidden in a pot of beans by her sister, Kiha, to protect her from danger. She was then found by some men of the Geomul village, who saw a phoenix sign on her forehead and thought she was the Black Phoenix. The leader was about to kill her, however Hyeon-go denied having seen the Black Phoenix sign, but a Red Phoenix instead. Sujini was raised by Hyeon-go and considers him as her teacher. Growing up in a male tribe, she developed boyish traits, and loves money, which she uses to buy wine. She met Damdeok by chance one day while she was getting in somewhat little trouble and Damdeok helped her. Their relationship was strengthened over time. Sujini also gave a big contribution helping Damdeok to recognize himself as the king of Jyushin (because of the conflict with Hogae); she always tagged along with him, even onto the battlefield. Sujini was very good at archery. When she discovered that she was the one that would release the Black Phoenix she chose to live alone; she thus moved away without Damdeok's knowledge and brought up the son of Damdeok and her sister. After nine years, they met again, but Damdeok had by then realized she was the one he truly loved. She is the mistress of the Red Phoenix, the ruler of the South and the guardian of the fire, whose heavenly artifact is a large red gem orb. It awakens when the King of Jyushin feels burning passion in his heart.
Moon So-ri as Seo Kiha
Park Eun-bin as teenage Kiha
Kim Eun-seo as 5-year-old Kiha
The reincarnation of Kajin , the Mistress of the Earth and first love of Damdeok. She was born as a noble in Sabi Castle just like her sister, Sujini. On the day of the arrival of the night of the Jyushin star, the forces of Hwacheon struck the province and killed everyone in sight. Kiha hid Sujini in a pot of beans before fainting in the smoke caused by the fire that the Hwacheon forces started. While unconscious, the heart of the Phoenix exploded in a form of watery energy, extinguishing the fire to save her and her sister. She was discovered shortly afterwards by someone from Hwacheon, the master-of-fights of Hwacheon, and taken to the base of Hwacheon clan. The Daejangro mistaken her as the reincarnation of Kajin and branded her to control her, while using her power of the Phoenix to regain his youth. She was trained in martial arts by Saryang, who developed an elder-brotherly feeling for her and even went against Hwacheon to help her. She met Damdeok one night in the royal library and began to fall for him. Their relationship was going well, until the day that Damdeok's father staged his death that made it seemed that Kiha assassinated him to protect Damdeok. She became a cold person since, especially after seeing Damdeok having a good time with Sujini. She came to think herself to have been 'used'. Later finding that she was pregnant, she decided to reform the whole of Goguryeo for her child. She went as far as deciding Hogae to be suitable for the father for her child even though her love for Damdeok never disappeared. At the end of the series, Sujini realized that Kiha has the power of the Black Phoenix.
Oh Kwang-rok as Hyeon-go
Oh Seung-yoon as young Hyeon-go
The leader of the Geomul village, he is slightly irresponsible and does not act his age enough. Sure enough, he cheated customers by claiming to be an astrologer. He is the leader of the masters of the Four Gods, and is therefore to identify the King of Jyushin and serve him. Damdeok calls him his 'teacher' and asks him to teach him the basics of a king. He carries a stick given to him when he was appointed as the leader of Geomul. This stick is the Heavenly Artifact of the Turtle-Snake, the ruler of the North and the guardian of the rain, that awakens when the King of Jyushin feels dark rage in his heart: when it awakens, the time stops along with everything other than its master and the King of Jyushin, enabling the leader of the Four Guardians to identify the King.
Choi Min-soo as Daejangro
"Leader" of Hwacheon Clan
Yoon Tae-young as Yeon Hogae
Kim Ho-young as young Hogae
Damdeok's cousin and rival. At first he was very open and pleasant towards Damdeok, but after his mother's death he resolved to take revenge. This was combined with his character changing devastatingly to a cold, cool type from a warm, pleasant person. He had been winning many battles as early as his teens, and grew to a powerful warrior. He joined Hwacheon to kill Damdeok. He was killed by Damdeok in the last battle.
Park Sang-won as Yeon Garyo
Hogae's father.
Lee Phillip as Cheoro
Lee Hyun-woo as young Cheoro
He became the lord of the Gwanmi fortress of Baekjae at a mere ten years of age when his father infused Cheoro with the symbol of the Blue Dragon. Though this made him much more powerful, Cheoro's skin became covered in a blue bark-like substance. Damdeok was able to remove the artifact, and Cheoro began to serve under him. He is very silent, loves being with trees and forests, and it is implied that he loves Sujini, as his previous incarnation as the Blue Dragon loved Sae-oh. He fights with a spear and is the guardian of the Blue Dragon, the ruler of the East and the guardian of the clouds, whose heavenly artifact is a bluish stone that looks slightly like a shellfish. It is said to activate when the King of Jyushin feels cold purpose in his heart. When activated, it can weaken the power of the wielder of fire and speed the healing of its master when in physical contact with him.
Park Sung-woong as Jumuchi
The leader of the Talgal Mercenaries, he fights with an axe. He served under Damdeok under the promise that Jumuchi's people will have their land returned to them. His three rules to be hired are not to attack anyone from the rear, not harm women, children, or the elderly, and not accept a task if he dislikes the client's face. Despite this he did not betray Damdeok even risking his life for him. He is the guardian of the White Tiger, the ruler of the West and the guardian of the winds, which awakens when the King of Jyushin feels innocent courage in his heart. Its heavenly artifact is a white twisted piece of metal.
Park Seong-min as Saryang
The right-hand man of Daejangro of the Hwacheon. He has long gray hair and a mask that obscures 1/3 of his face. He has ninja like attributes such as great speed and proficiency with shurikens and blades. He is a caretaker for Kiha when she was younger, and appears to be one of the few people who truly care for her. He ultimately betrays the Hwacheon clan at Kiha's request to be on her side, and is used as a shield by Daejangro when Kiha attempted to kill him, dying before Kiha's eyes.
Supporting cast
Park Jung-hak as General Go Woo-cheung
Jang Hang-sun as Heukgae
Kim Hyuk as Dalgu
Kim Seok as Dalgu's friend
Shin Eun-jung as Dalbi
Ha Ji-young as Personal Writer
Kim Mi-kyung as Bason
Min Ji-oh as Soidooroo
Baek Jae-jin as Buldeul
Hong Kyung-yeon as Dae Shin-kwan
Jung Yun-seok as Ahjik
Lee Da-hee as Gakdan
Song Kwi-hyun as Jo Joo-do
Woo Hyun as wheat seller
Kim Sun-kyung as Hogae's mother
Dokgo Young-jae as King Gogugyang
Bae Yong-joon as Hwan-woong
Son of the god in the heavenly world, he brought three Guardians of the world: the Blue Dragon, the White Tiger and the Turtle-Snake. His heavenly artifact is the Cheongung, which normally takes the form of a fancy cylinder and enlarges to form a glowing white bow. It is said to be able to either kill or give life to anyone it shoots, and its destruction means the death of the King of Jyushin and the unsummoning of the heavenly power. Before the coming of the King of Jyushin, it was sealed inside a royal sword named Chumoshin, which should release the seal when the heart of the King of Jyushin was introduced to it: that is, when it were to impale his heart. When this was done, it exploded in bright light and disintegrated to fine ash-like mystic powder, revealing the Cheongung in it.
Lee Ji-ah as Sae-oh
Moon So-ri as Kajin

Adaptations
A novelization written by Kim Chang-gyu became a bestseller, and a graphic novel version by manga artist Riyoko Ikeda was also released.[6]

The series was adapted into a musical by the Japanese Takarazuka Revue. It was staged in early 2009 by the Flower Troupe, and starred Sei Matobu and Ayane Sakurano. Following the success of the first run, Version II of the musical was staged in late June 2009 by the Star Troupe, starring Reon Yuzuki and Nene Yumesaki.[7]

References
'태왕사신기', '디 워'의 블록버스터 판타지 열풍 안방으로 잇는다. Naver (in Korean). E Daily. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
"Soap star king". Korea JoongAng Daily. June 6, 2007. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
Park, Si-soo (December 9, 2007). "Epic Drama Taewangsasingi Most Searched on Internet". The Korea Times. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
"Lee Byung-hun's Acting Fee Dwarfs Industry Guideline". The Chosun Ilbo. November 12, 2009. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
Park, Si-soo (June 26, 2013). "Who is the highest paid actor?". The Korea Times. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
Lee, Hyo-won (December 4, 2007). "TV Drama Taewangsasingi Goes to Japan". The Korea Times. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
[1] Archived January 13, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
External links
The Legend official MBC website (in Korean)
The Legend at HanCinema
The Legend at IMDb

ctor Bae Yong Joon playing dual roles Hwang-woong and his reincarnation Damdeok

Directed by the late Jong-hak Kim (who committed suicide in 2013), who also directed the historical fantasy Faith, and written by a woman scriptwriter named Ji-na Song with whom he had a long collaboration, The Legend explores a combined part myth, part historical backdrop concerning Dangun, the legendary founder of Gojoseon, and Gwanggaeto the Great of Goguryeo (374–413 AD), who was credited with making the areas of present day Korea into one of the mightiest early Asian kingdoms. Dangun was said to be the "grandson of heaven" a sort of Jesus figure who came from heaven, not born of mortal man. The earliest recorded version of the Dangun legend appears in the 13th century Samguk Yusa, which cites China's Book of Wei and Korea's lost historical record Gogi as evidence. The scriptwriter adds her own elements of mysticism to the story to make it a sumptuous romantic feast for the audience.

RARE FULL OST
COMPOSED BY RENOWNED JAPANESE COMPOSER JOE HISAISHI

The Story: Dangun's ancestry legend begins with his grandfather Hwanin, the "Lord of Heaven". Hwanin had a son, Hwang-woong (Bae Yong Joon, who plays the dual parts of Hwang-woong and Damdeok, Prince of Goguryeo, Hwang-woong's reincarnation), who yearned to live on the earth among the valleys and the mountains. Hwanin permits Hwang-woong and 3,000 followers to descend onto Baekdu Mountain, where Hwang-woong founds Sinsi ("City of God"). Along with his ministers of clouds, rain, and wind, he institutes laws and moral codes, and teaches humans various arts, medicine, and agriculture science.

One can definitely see many biblical analogies and imagery developing as this drama unfolds.

The drama begins exploring the Ho-jok tribe (Tiger Tribe) that controlled fire and ruled the world. They did battle against, and assimilated into, all other tribes except for the stubborn Ung-jok (Bear Tribe). The Tiger Tribe and the Bear Tribe fight, and Hwang-woong can not bear to see so many people getting killed so he removes the power of fire from the leader of the Tiger Tribe named Kajin (evocative actress So-ri Moon who later in the drama plays the reincarnation of Kajin named Kiha Seo), and he seals it up into an amulet called the "Heart of Jujak".

Kajin and Hwan-woong in a fierce battle of good versus evil

When her tribe had declared in a war council that they would kill Hwan-woong and take back the power of fire, Kajin then slew her tribe's elders with her own sword. She escapes from her tribe in search of Hwan-woong, deciding to become his woman. He had tenderly healed a potentially fatal battle wound that she had received and she had fallen in love with her enemy at that moment.

However, Hwang-woong gives the amulet containing fire to the woman he loves named Sae-oh (enigmatic actress Ji-ah Lee, who also plays the reincarnation of Sae-oh named Sujini later in the drama). This causes jealousy to be born in Kajin's heart. Kajin was watching them secretly when the amulet was given and was infuriated and so she begins to attack the Bear Tribe.

Hwan-woong and his beloved Sae-oh, before tragedy strikes

Sae-oh becomes pregnant with Hwan-woong's child, and after she gives birth the baby is kidnapped by Kajin, who offers Sae-oh a deal to trade her baby for the power of fire in the amulet. Guided by Hwan-woong, Sae-oh refuses but Kajin responds by maliciously throwing Sae-oh's baby from off the top of a cliff, leading to Sae-oh going insane with grief and rage and releasing the power of fire from the amulet (Phoenix), even though Hwang-woong had actually saved the baby. Hwan-woong's gods are called out, the White Tiger, the Azure Dragon and the Turtle Snake and they all fight the Phoenix, but they cannot kill it.

Left with no other choice, Hwan-woong uses his heavenly bow to kill his beloved Sae-oh and manages to seal the power of fire once again into the amulet. Kajin commits suicide by jumping from the same cliff she threw the baby off because she claims she has no more reason to live.

Hwan-woong seals the powers of the three other gods, the White Tiger, Azure Dragon, and the Turtle Snake into different artifacts and leaves them in the care of certain people in the tribe. Hwan-woong returns to the Heavens and gives a prophesy to men that 2000 years later the true King will come to Earth. With the help of the four gods sealed in the artifacts, he will rebuild the land of Jyushin and Peace shall reign.

Some of the many gorgeous sets for The Legend
As prophesied, Damdeok, the reincarnation of Hwan-woong, is born. Along with him, the artifacts of the guardians of the king appear again. Damdeok is born in humble circumstances (like Jesus was born in a stable) and meets many difficulties in becoming the King of Goguryeo, mainly because of an enemy, Yeon Hogae (sinisterly handsome actor Tae-young Yoon) who mistakes Damdeok for the murderer of his parents. The reincarnation of Kajin, named Kiha Seo, also signals troubles for Damdeok, as she watches her secret obsession Damdeok fall in love with another woman named Sujini, who is the reincarnation of Sae-oh.

Actors Bae Yong Joon and Tae-young Yoon play warrior enemies Damdeok and Yeon Hogae in The Legend

The child Damdeok is played by Seung-ho Yoo from Operation Proposal and the young girl he falls in love with, Sujini, is played by Seung-ho's co-star in Operation Proposal, Eun-bin Park. They first meet each other in a field and then their eyes meet again later in the marketplace. As they grow up they become lifelong friends and confidants, sweethearts, warriors for the kingdom, and mates, having a baby together, just like Hwan-woong had had with Sae-oh. But will that baby be safe, or become an object of vengeance from Kiha Seo?

merican-Korean Actor Philip Lee as Cheoro, the King's right hand man

After many battles against Tae-young and his people, Damdeok becomes King, and along with his right-hand man and servant Cheoro (Philip Lee) he reigns his kingdom peaceably, as Hwan-woong had predicted 2000 years earlier.

The ending of The Legend is just as mystical as the beginning. If historical fantasy epics turn you on then you cannot beat The Legend. It's the best of the bunch, with stunning battle scenes, love scenes, music score, and climax. There are great secondary characters to care about too, I just cannot cover all of them or I would be writing a book instead of a web page. The Legend is definitely an Experience, not just a drama. I was completely exhausted after watching it, but just to spend 24 hours with Bae Yong Joon in his greatest roles since Winter Sonata and his film April Snow was worth it!

I will end this page with various fan drawings I've collected from over the internet of Bae Yong Joon in The Legend.

https://www.kdramalove.com/Legend.html