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River Where the Moon Rises

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Adapted from the English Wikipedia article River Where the Moon Rises, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 10 August 20257 sources
River Where the Moon Rises
Company typeTelevision drama series
IndustryEntertainment
FoundedFebruary 15, 2021; 5 years ago (2021-02-15)
Headquarters
South Korea
ProductsTelevision drama

River Where the Moon Rises () is a South Korean drama series from 2021 featuring Kim So-hyun, Na In-woo, Lee Ji-hoon, and Choi Yu-hwa in leading roles. Adapted from the 2010 novel Princess Pyeonggang by director and writer Choi Sagyu, it was broadcast on KBS2 between February 15 and April 20, 2021, airing Mondays and Tuesdays at 21:30 KST. The show is accessible on Viu with subtitles in multiple languages and was an official submission for the 2021 International Emmy Awards.

Significantly, Na In-woo took over the role of On Dal after the first six episodes, replacing Ji Soo. Both Kim So-hyun and Na In-woo earned nominations at the 57th Baeksang Arts Awards for their acting, with Kim becoming the youngest ever nominee in the Best Actress—Television category.

Synopsis

This drama reimagines the legendary romance between Princess Pyeonggang and On Dal, drawn from a traditional Goguryeo folktale. Princess Pyeonggang, born into royalty but trained as an assassin, battles to reclaim her rightful throne from corrupt forces. On Dal embodies peace but sets aside his values to protect her amid a fierce struggle for power.

Main

A resolute princess determined to become the first Queen regnant of Goguryeo and revive her father's heritage.
A man devoted to peace who compromises his ideals to safeguard Princess Pyeonggang.
  • Lee Ji-hoon as General Go Geon
    • Park Min-sang depicts young Go Geon
An accomplished general who harbors feelings for Princess Pyeonggang.
  • Choi Yu-hwa as Hae Mo-yong
    • Moon So-hee as young Hae Mo-yong
A woman striving for dominance over Goguryeo, adopted daughter of Hae Ji-wol, and in love with Go Geon.

Royal Palace

  • Kim Pub-lae as King Pyeongwon, initially kind but now wary and scheming.
  • Cha Kwang-soo as Jin Pil, father of Queen Jin-bi, dependent on his daughter's influence.
  • Kim Jung-young portrays Lady Gongson, a devoted nanny protecting Magnolia Palace while awaiting Princess Pyeonggang's return.
  • Kim So-hyun as Queen Yeon, former queen and mother to Princess Pyeonggang and Prince Go-won, who died defending Goguryeo.
  • Son Woo-hyuk plays the Head Eunuch, a trusted palace official.
  • Ahn Shin-woo as Kim Pyeong-ji, a loyal servant to King Pyeongwon with no familial ties.
  • Wang Bit-na as Queen Jin, influential queen mother of Prince Geon-mu aiming to secure the throne for her son.
  • Ki Eun-se as Royal Consort Hyeon, concubine to King Pyeongwon.
  • Kwon Hwa-woon portrays Prince Go-won, Princess Pyeonggang's brother who supports On Dal in warfare.

Ghost village (Sunnobu Tribe)

  • Kang Ha-neul portrays General On Hyeop, the father of On Dal and the leader of the Sunno region within Goguryeo. Known for his dedication and magnetic leadership, he garners deep loyalty and admiration from his followers.[1]
  • Hwang Young-hee plays Lady Sa, who serves as On Dal's caretaker and remains his only family following the unjust demise of his father.[2]
  • Jung Wook acts as Sa Woon-am, previously a subordinate to General On Hyeop and now the leader of the Sunno tribe after the general’s passing.[3]
  • Kim Dong-young embodies Sa Pung-gae, son of Sa Woon-am and childhood companion to On Dal.[4]
    • Kim Hyun-bin features as the young version of Sa Pung-gae
  • Oh Ah-rin appears as Wol-yi, a lively Baekje refugee who injects energy into the Ghost village.[5]
  • Yoon Ah-jeong plays Hong Mae, a maiden living within Sunno.
  • Lee Sang-chan portrays Seok Gu, a loyal and thoughtful individual whom On Dal rescues after fleeing from brutal labor.
  • Won Woo takes on Pil Gu, a character who escapes from the construction of Jangan Castle and later becomes part of the Ghost village through his encounter with On Dal.

Gyeru Tribe

  • Lee Hae-young assumes the role of Go Won-pyo, Gochuga of the Gyeru Tribe. A cunning political figure with outstanding rhetorical abilities, he seeks to overthrow King Pyeongwon to advance his family’s claim to royalty.[2]
  • Yoon Joo-man plays Go Sang-cheol, a reliable aide to Go Won-pyo.[6]

Sonobu Tribe

  • Jung In-gyeom portrays Hae Ji-wol, chief of the Sono tribe and one of Goguryeo’s most powerful figures.[7]

Jeolnobu Tribe

  • Jasper Cho appears as Wol Gwang, a monk and former elite warrior of Jeolnobu who once protected the northern borders.

Cheonjubang

  • Han Jae-young plays Du Jung-seo, a specialist in witchcraft and imperial fortune-telling who forecasts Goguryeo’s destiny.
  • Ryu Ui-hyun acts as Tarasan, the talkative yet clumsy close friend of Princess Pyeonggang and twin brother to Tarajin.
  • Kim Hee-jung takes on Tarajin, an assassin residing alongside her twin brother in Dorim-hyang, a sanctuary for Goguryeo’s outcasts.
  • Moon Jin-seung portrays Ma Tae-mo, a merciless member of Cheonjubang devoted to Du Jung-seo.
  • Jung Eun-pyo plays Yeom Deuk, who is the adoptive father of Yeom Ga-jin.

Silla Kingdom

Extended

  • Jung Dong-geun playing Il-yeong, the warrior escort to Go Geon
  • Jo Bok-rae

Development

Originally named Pyeong-gang, Cut to the Heart, this drama adapts Choi Sagyu's novel Princess Pyeonggang. The book presents Princess Pyeonggang as a formidable leader, diverging from the conventional folktale depiction. Choi devoted 25 years to completing this work. Directed by Yoon Sangho (known for Kingmaker: The Change of Destiny) and scripted by Han Ji-hoon (Woman of 9.9 Billion), the series is produced under Victory Contents.

Traditional jewelry for the drama, including the gold peony crown worn by Princess Pyeonggang, was designed by Kim Soung-eun of Naschenka. On January 27, 2021, Viu announced River Where the Moon Rises as its newest Viu Original, emphasizing its outstanding screenplay and cast.

Casting

Victory Contents conducted an open audition from August 3 to 4, 2020, seeking male and female actors born between 1987 and 2005 with skills in martial arts, sports, or acting. From a pool of 1,000 candidates, Jung Dong-geun was selected on October 30.

On August 25, Sports Seoul reported that Son Ye-jin was in discussions to star in the series. Her agency MS Team Entertainment confirmed that an offer was under review while she pursued a Hollywood project titled The Cross by Andrew Niccol. Kang Ha-neul was rumored to be cast as On Dal but declined due to scheduling conflicts on September 21; however, he later confirmed a cameo role as General On Hyeop.

By October 5, Kim So-hyun was officially confirmed as the female lead. Ji Soo received an offer for the male protagonist role of On Dal on October 13 and was confirmed by October 22 alongside Lee Ji-hoon (actor, born 1988) and Choi Yu-hwa. The first script reading took place on October 23.

This production reunited Kim So-hyun, Ji Soo, and Hwang Young-hee, who previously worked together on Page Turner. Additionally, Kim So-hyun collaborated again with Hwang Young-hee and Jung Eun-pyo from earlier projects and reunited with Kim Hee-jung (actress, born 1992) from Who Are You: School 2015. Following allegations involving Ji Soo related to bullying and sexual misconduct, he was replaced by Na In-woo in the male lead role.

Filming

On November 23, production of River Where the Moon Rises was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic after a supporting actor was identified as a close contact of a COVID-19 positive individual. Ten staff members voluntarily underwent testing. The production shared its set with OCN's The Uncanny Counter, which subsequently canceled their press event. On November 24, the extra tested positive for COVID-19 while all other cast and crew received negative results. Following a brief period of self-isolation by the production team, filming resumed.

After the series concluded, Lee Ji-hoon revealed he suffered a nasal injury during an action sequence and underwent surgery on June 29 to correct a deviated septum. Six episodes had been broadcast before reshooting began; the remaining fourteen episodes were re-filmed with new lead Na In-woo. On March 24, 2021, plans were announced to re-shoot the initial six episodes after removing original versions featuring Ji Soo. This decision was influenced by favorable audience response to Na In-woo’s portrayal and his on-screen chemistry with lead actress Kim So-hyun.

Release

At the 2020 KBS Drama Awards held on December 31, 2020, KBS unveiled a 40-second teaser video, followed by a second special preview released on January 8, 2021. On January 14, a promotional poster was issued depicting Pyeonggang’s silhouette mounted on horseback, with On Dal’s visage subtly appearing above, symbolizing their shared fate and leadership aspirations within Goguryeo. The drama made its debut on February 15, 2021, airing immediately after Royal Secret Agent.

Original soundtrack

The River Where the Moon Rises soundtrack album comprises 22 tracks and became available digitally on April 13, 2021, with the physical edition released a week later on April 20. This collection features a combination of original compositions and vocal performances by various artists, distributed through Kakao Entertainment and Victory Contents. Among the prominent singles launched between February and March 2021 are "Becomes Someone's" performed by Zia, "Tears of The Moon" by Kang Tae-kwan, and "Against The Wind" sung by Ahn Ye-eun.

Episodes

{{Episode table |background=#f88379 |overall=|title=|director=|writer=|airdate= |airdateR=|viewers=20 |country=South Korea |episodes=







Critical response

Lee Do-hak, an expert in Korean history and professor at Korea University of Traditional Culture, commended the series as an authentic historical portrayal rather than mere fiction. He emphasized the narrative’s progression from 'The Story of Pyeonggang' to 'The Story of Ondal,' centered around the theme of "honoring promises." Lee highlighted how the drama successfully integrates elements of Goguryeo’s military conflicts and political intrigue with youthful melodrama, which broadens its appeal across multiple generations. Although Na In-woo was cast unexpectedly, Lee praised his performance and noted Kim So-hyun’s significant contribution in facilitating his growth as an actor. He concluded that The River Where the Moon Rises delivers a distinctive and engaging historical storyline.

Viewership

Average television audience ratings
Ep. Segment Initial air date Average viewer share
(Nielsen Korea)
Nationwide Seoul
1 1 February 15, 2021 6.5% (16th) Template:N/A
2 9.4% (5th) 8.8% (8th)
2 1 February 16, 2021 5.8% (16th) Template:N/A
2 9.7% (7th) 8.9% (7th)
3 1 February 22, 2021 6.4% (13th) 6.3% (13th)
2 9.2% (5th) 8.4% (10th)
4 1 February 23, 2021 6.3% (14th) 6.2% (13th)
2 10.0% (6th) 9.8% (4th)
  • The table marks the highest ratings in red and the lowest in blue.
  • NR denotes absence from the top 20 rankings; N/A signifies data not available.
  • Due to casting modifications, episodes 7 and 8 were re-edited, with re-shooting commencing from episode 9 onwards, affecting the broadcast timeline.

Chinese netizens’ criticism regarding hanbok origins

On February 13, 2021, Kim So-hyun was met with backlash from Chinese online communities after posting a photo on Instagram wearing a Hanbok during drama filming, accompanied by Lunar New Year greetings wishing safety and warmth to her followers. Numerous comments mistakenly identified the traditional attire as Chinese Hanfu, with some accusing South Korea of cultural appropriation by calling it a "thief country." Public figures such as rapper E Sens and vocalist Song Ga-in publicly refuted these claims, affirming that kimchi and hanbok are emblematic Korean cultural heritage.

Ji Soo’s school bullying allegations and subsequent removal by KBS2

On March 3, 2021, actor Ji Soo faced accusations related to school bullying. He acknowledged the bullying through a handwritten statement and issued an apology but denied any sexual misconduct allegations. Ji Soo was among multiple Korean celebrities implicated in school violence allegations during this timeframe. In response, KBS halted filming scheduled for March 4 and officially dismissed Ji Soo from the series on March 5. Beginning with episode 7, Na In-woo assumed his role.

With approximately 90% of filming already completed, the production team opted to reshoot the first six episodes featuring Na In-woo due to heightened public attention and favorable reactions to the new lead actor. Cast members including Lee Ji-hoon, Wang Bit-na, , Kim Hee-jung, and Yoon Joo-man volunteered for the reshoots without compensation. It was later disclosed that Kim So-hyun also participated without pay, demonstrating strong commitment to the project.

On April 2, 2021, the drama’s production company filed legal action against Ji Soo and his agency KeyEast, seeking damages amounting to roughly three billion won connected to the controversy. The company cited KeyEast’s lack of cooperation despite previous efforts to resolve the matter through amicable negotiations.

Awards and nominations

Award ceremony, year, category, nominee, and outcome
Ceremony Year Category Nominee Outcome
Baeksang Arts Awards 2021 Television – Best Actress Kim So-hyun Template:Nom
Television – Best New Actor Na In-woo Template:Nom
KBS Drama Awards 2021 Top Excellence Award for Actress Kim So-hyun Template:Won
Excellence Award for Actress in a Miniseries Template:Nom
Best Supporting Actress Hwang Young-hee Template:Nom
Best New Actor Na In-woo Template:Won
Best Young Actor Park Sang-hoon Template:Nom
Popularity Award for Actress Kim So-hyun Template:Won
Best Couple Award Kim So-hyun and Na In-woo Template:Won
Korea Broadcasting Awards 2021 Outstanding TV Drama River Where the Moon Rises Template:Won
Best Actress Award Kim So-hyun Template:Won
Popularity Award – Actor (tie) Template:Won
Popularity Award – Actor Nominee Na In-woo Template:Nom

External links

  1. ↑ 정, 혜연 (2021-05-12). '달이 뜨는 강' 강하늘, 출연 확정..온달 아버지 온협 장군役[공식]. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named cast
  3. ↑ Kim, Soo-heong (February 6, 2021). 배우 정욱, KBS2 '달이 뜨는 강' 출연 확정…15일 첫 방송 [Actor Jung Wook confirmed to appear on KBS2'River River'… First broadcast on the 15th]. No Cut News.
  4. ↑ Moon, Ji-yeon (February 1, 2021). [공식] 김동영, '달이 뜨는 강' 합류..지수와 죽마고우. Sports Chosun.
  5. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named young
  6. ↑ Ham, Nayan (October 29, 2020). 빅토리콘텐츠, 드라마 '마음에 베이다'(가제) 남녀 배우 공개 오디션 [Yun Joo-man appeared in 'River River' [Official]]. Sports Donga.
  7. ↑ Shin, Jiwon (January 27, 2021). '달이 뜨는 강' 최유화, 고구려를 가지고 노는 미스터리 여인 변신 ['River River' Choi Yoo-hwa transforms into a mystery woman playing with Goguryeo]. The Korea Economic Daily.

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