KBS epic drama Sword & Silence debuts with 30 billion won budget

KBS2 launched its new epic drama Sword & Silence on the 14th, marking the return of the genre approximately three years after Korea–Khitan War. The production, which utilizes AI technology to enhance its scale, follows the conflicting choices of Kim Chun-chu and Yeon Gaesomun during the turbulent Three Kingdoms era.

The KBS epic drama 'Sword & Silence', reported to have a production budget exceeding 30 billion won, has raised viewer expectations from its first broadcast through its overwhelming scale and the passionate performances of its cast. In particular, the rebellion scene of Yeon Gaesomun, played by Jang Hyuk, maximized the tension of the drama with intense charisma and explosive acting. Following the return of the epic drama genre after approximately three years, praise has flowed that the first episode demonstrated the value of the license fee.

The new KBS2 epic drama 'Sword & Silence' (Executive Producer Lee Ho, Screenplay by Kim Ri-heon and Hong Jin-i, Directed by Kim Yeong-jo and Gu Seong-jun, Produced by KeyEast and Monster Union) aired its first episode on the 14th. Set in an era where the fates of the Three Kingdoms were caught in turbulent waves, the story depicts the differing choices of Kim Chun-chu (Kim Kang-woo) and Yeon Gaesomun. The confrontation between the leader of Silla, who is cornered, and the Goguryeo power player who raises the flag of rebellion, created taut tension from the very first episode.

'Sword & Silence' contains a lonely and desperate epic of leaders who staked everything for a single victory amidst 600 years of continuous warfare and political upheavals within the Three Kingdoms. Anticipation for the series was significant even before the broadcast, as it marks the return of a KBS epic drama approximately three years after 'Korea–Khitan War', which was beloved for reaching a peak viewership rating of 13.8%. With viewer standards for the scale and completeness of period dramas having risen, the main point of interest was what achievements the first broadcast would achieve.

In Silla, Kim Chun-chu ordered his sons, Kim Beop-min (Lee Hyun-wook) and Kim In-mun (Oh Seung-hoon), to study at the national academy established in the Tang dynasty to find ways to save the nation. However, Kim Beop-min, feeling skeptical about the endless wars, expressed his intention not to go to the Tang dynasty or the battlefield, leading to a direct confrontation with his father. The conflict between the father, who must choose realistic diplomacy and war for the survival of the nation, and the son, who rebels against the tragedy of war, symbolically revealed the internal cracks within Silla.

In Goguryeo, the clash between Go Geon-mu (Jo Seong-ha), who seeks peace through reconciliation with the Tang dynasty, and the hardliner Yeon Gaesomun, has begun in earnest. Their political positions regarding relations with the Tang dynasty were starkly divided, and Yeon Gaesomun, who received orders to be dispatched to Liaodong, staged a rebellion during a review ceremony. His actions, seizing control of the court in one stroke, provided a powerful shock that concluded the first episode.

Above all, it was Jang Hyuk's acting that heated up the viewers' reactions. From the private meeting scene where he sat across from Go Geon-mu, seemingly hiding a sword behind a smile, to the bloody rebellion at the review ceremony, Jang Hyuk embodied the greed for power and cold determination of Yeon Gaesomun with his characteristic deep vocalization and overwhelming charisma. Immediately after the broadcast, reactions such as "Jang Hyuk's acting is crazy" poured into online communities and social media, with continuous praise for his ability to dominate the atmosphere of the drama instantly.

Kim Kang-woo also completed a multi-dimensional Kim Chun-chu. His portrayal of a leader agonizing between power and survival—enduring the humiliation of kneeling before Bidam (Lee Ji-hoon) while not losing his aspect as a cool-headed strategist—showed complex psychology. Lee Hyun-wook added persuasiveness to the conflict between father and son by delicately expressing the emotional lines of Kim Beop-min, who feels skepticism toward the cruelty of war. The confrontation between Go Geon-mu, played by Jo Seong-ha, and Jang Hyuk also served as a core element of tension in the first episode.

The direction, which realized a grand scale, also drew attention. The contrast between the conflicts among the true bone aristocrats within the Silla court and the father swallowing humiliation for the country against the rebelling son enriched the political narrative of the drama. It was evaluated that the production team's attempt to enhance the scale and visual completeness unique to epic dramas was prominent in the directing scenes implemented by combining AI technology.

Prior to the broadcast, KBS President Park Jang-beom emphasized the special meaning of producing an epic drama. He explained that while all programs are meaningful, epic dramas hold even more special significance, noting, "When looking at the investment, it is a very large project." He explained that following the passage of the integrated license fee collection bill, the production of epic dramas was promised as a public service based on stable license fees, and that the results could be seen on this day. He further expressed a sense of responsibility to return the license fee to viewers with even more value.

'Sword & Silence', which will depict the historical process of the unification of the Three Han against a backdrop of peak division and conflict, has drawn viewer interest from its first broadcast based on its production budget of over 30 billion won and large-scale production capabilities. In particular, the narrative centered on the political confrontations and the acting of key actors, including Jang Hyuk, made the return of the epic drama feel real. The strong impression left by the first episode raises expectations for how the fates of the Three Kingdoms and the choices of the leaders will unfold on such a scale.

Read the original (Korean)