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Friday and Saturday nights in autumn are shaping up to be magical on MBC. On October 31 at 9:50 p.m., the Korean channel will launch Moon River (이강에는 달이 흐른다), a historical fantasy drama where destinies intertwine, souls intersect... and secrets erupt.
On the bill: an impressive cross-generational cast including Kang Tae-ohKim Se-jeong, Lee Shin-young, Hong Su-zu and Jin-goo. Together, they will bring to life a romantic intrigue where soul-swapping, memory loss and royal power intertwine in a whirlwind of emotions.
A colorful main duo
Kang Tae-oh plays Crown Prince Lee Kang, who plays the frivolous prince to hide his deep wounds. Behind this light-hearted façade lies a man marked by a tragic loss linked to power struggles within the palace. Taking on the burden of royalty in spite of himself, he silently dreams of revenge and a destiny he can finally control.
Opposite him, Kim Se-jeong lends her features to Park Dal-yi, an itinerant merchant as lively as she is adaptable. Amnesiac about part of her past, she has earned a reputation as an outstanding saleswoman throughout the kingdom, thanks to her audacity, glibness and uncommon ability to charm crowds. Her encounter with the prince will change both their lives forever.
Everything opposes Lee Kang, confined by the rigid rules of the royal palace, and Park Dal-yi, free as a bird, traveling the roads of Joseon. Yet their paths will cross and their destinies intertwine. Between bickering and unexpected rapprochements, their relationship promises to captivate viewers, driven by the promising chemistry between Kang Tae-oh and Kim Se-jeong.
Secondary characters that weigh in the plot
Alongside them, Lee Shin-young plays Lee Woon, cousin of Prince Lee Kang. A former designated successor before being ousted, he accepts his position calmly, while harboring a nagging resentment and loneliness.
Hong Su-zu plays Kim Woo-hee, a noblewoman with an imposed destiny. Beautiful and brilliant, she nonetheless dreams of breaking away from the role of simple family pawn to aim for the top, and embodies a feminine ambition rare at the time.
Finally, Jin Goo returns in a strong role: Kim Han-chul, a shadowy man nicknamed "the power behind the throne". Calculating and greedy for domination, he'll do anything, even manipulate his own daughter, to assert his control over Joseon.
When the script was read, the magic had already happened. The actors, each in their own register, immediately breathed life into their characters, plunging the team into the heart of the palace's intrigues. Their complicity and the energy they exuded augured well for a drama rich in twists and emotions.
Moon River is much more than a simple sageuk. It's a modern tale in costume, where humor, romance, power and fantasy come together in a promising production by Lee Dong-hyun, based on a screenplay by Jo Seung-hee.
Broadcast from October 31st, every Friday and Saturday at 9:50pm on MBC.
