KBS invests 30 billion won in massive historical epic starring Jang Hyuk

KBS has truly drawn its sword. The massive historical epic 'Civil and Military,' with a production budget reaching approximately 30 billion won, has finally unveiled itself. With Jang Hyuk—who previously led 'The Slave Hunters' to a peak viewership rating of 31.7%—stepping into the spotlight, the broadcasting industry's attention is instantly focused. A lineup of heavy-hitting actors including Lee Hyun-wook, Kim Kang-woo, and Park Sung-woong has assembled, signaling the revival of a traditional grand historical epic.

KBS2's new grand drama 'Civil and Military' recently released footage of its script reading and production process ahead of its first broadcast this November. Set against a backdrop of 600 years of continuous warfare and the turbulent shifts within the Three Kingdoms, the work depicts the choices and conflicts of leaders who staked everything for a single victory. Moving beyond a simple war narrative, it aims to be a massive historical drama intertwined with politics, diplomacy, power struggles, and leadership.

The most eye-catching figure is undoubtedly Jang Hyuk. Jang takes on the role of Yeon Gaesomun, the dictator of Goguryeo known as the 'God of War.' In particular, Jang is an actor who stood at the center of historical drama success, portraying the slave hunter Lee Dae-gil in 'The Slave Hunters' with intense action and raw emotions. At that time, 'The Slave Hunters' enjoyed near-syndromic popularity, recording a peak viewership rating of 31.7% based on TNMS. The casting of 'Civil and Military' draws even more attention as Jang returns to the heart of a major historical epic.

Jang expressed his intention not to consume Yeon Gaesomun as a simple villain or a mere power-hungry figure. He stated, "I will meticulously show the multi-dimensional emotional lines of why Yeon Gaesomun had no choice but to make those decisions in those situations." This is interpreted as an intention to portray the figure, who wielded powerful authority in history, as a human being making repeated choices amidst a changing international landscape, rather than judging him through a simple framework of good and evil.

The opposing characters are equally formidable. Lee Hyun-wook plays King Munmu (Kim Beop-min), a character burdened with the massive tasks of royal authority and national unification. Kim Kang-woo will portray the strategist Kim Chun-chu, showcasing cool-headed political judgment, while Park Sung-woong joins as the steadfast general Kim Yu-sin. Additionally, veteran actors such as Jung Woong-in, Kim Do-hyeon, Baek Sung-hyun, Yang Hyeon-min, Oh Seung-hoon, Lee Ji Hoon, Park Myung-hoon, Im Ho, Choi Soo-rin, and Jo Seong-ha have joined the cast. This casting directly targets the characteristics of a grand historical epic, where the collective acting skills of the ensemble are more important than relying on one or two stars.

The scale of production is also significant. The released production footage includes filming in Mongolia as well as vast natural landscapes and large-scale war scenes. With a production budget in the tens of billions of won, a strategy to differentiate itself from existing historical dramas through visual scale is evident. Director Kim Yeong-jo defined Kim Beop-min as a rare hero in Korean history who possessed politics, diplomacy, martial arts, and leadership, expressing his directorial intention to convey the meaning of nationhood and leadership through this grand epic.

The reason 'Civil and Military' is receiving particular attention is due to the symbolism of the KBS grand historical drama brand. KBS historical epics such as 'Taejo Wang Geon,' 'Immortal Admiral Yi Sun-sin,' 'Dae Jo-yeong,' and 'Jeong Do-jeon' have served as a pillar of Korean broadcasting history. In a situation where producing large-scale historical dramas is not easy amidst changing times and production environments, 'Civil and Military' has made a decisive move to raise the scale of traditional grand epics by combining massive production costs, star-class actors, and overseas locations.

Key points to watch include how the 30 billion won production budget will be realized on screen, what kind of charisma Jang will display as Yeon Gaesomun after returning to the historical genre following 'The Slave Hunters,' and what kind of tension the political and military struggles of the Three Kingdoms played out by Lee Hyun-wook, Kim Kang-woo, and Park Sung-woong will create. Whether the work will be just a project with a flashy cast or will establish itself as a major historical drama that captures living rooms after a long time is expected to be decided during its first broadcast this November.