I Am The King (2012): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 2012, I Am The King is a comedy, drama and history film directed by Jang Kyu-sung, running about 120 minutes. “South Korean film inspired by The Prince and the Pauper set in the Joseon Dynasty.” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. The movie depicts the three months before Choong-nyung (the future Sejong the Great) becomes king. The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, which follows the history of the Joseon Dynasty between 1413 and 1865, leaves out records of this crucial period. While future generations would come to know him as King Sejong, the legendary figure who created the Korean alphabet and advanced the country’s scientific research and law, Prince Choong-nyung was originally dismissed as a reclusive bookworm. When his older brothers Yangnyeong and Hyoryeong fail to impress their father King Taejong, the king makes a royal command for Choong-nyung to become the next ruler of the kingdom instead.

Who’s in it. I Am The King stars Ju Ji-hoon as Grand Prince Choong-nyung / Deok-chil, Baek Yoon-sik as Hwang Hee, Byun Hee-bong as Shin Ik-yeok and Park Young-kyu as King Taejong, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 6.3/10, I Am The King has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch I Am The King page.

If you liked it. Fans of I Am The King tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.