K-dramas have featured more than a few princes but not all of them have measured up to the standards of Cinderella's Prince Charming.
Prince Charming may be considered so charming because he recognizes Cinderella's true worth and rescues her from a life of drudgery. There have been a few k-drama princes but not many of them rescued their female leads.
Park Yoochun played a time-traveling crown prince Lee Gak in "Rooftop Prince" but he was foolishly in love with the wrong woman back in the Joseon era where he belonged. Fortunately a visit to the present-day sets him on the right course and sets his heart in the direction of the right woman. Park Yoochun's prince is cute while he tries to adapt to modern-day life but he needs rescuing by his co-star Han Ji Min. So no, he was not quite Prince Charming.
Ji Chang Wook played the exiled crown prince of the Yuan Dynasty in "Empress Ki" but he needed girl-disguised-as-boy Ki Seungnyang, played by Ha Ji Won, to save him from the various villains trying to kill him. Okay, after he becomes emperor he does rescue her from a life of drudgery but she still has to save him from a seemingly endless succession of enemies. By the end of the saeguk, he does commit some awful deeds to ensure her safety, so he might qualify if he were not so needy.
Ju Ji Hoon in "Princess Hours" is not charming for most of the drama's episodes. He rejects his princess, played by Yoon Eun Hye, for most of the drama and does not rescue her, even from his catty friends or from a scandal that threatens to expel her. He does win a few points for growing up at the end, but he's no Charming.
Prince Lee Hwon in "The Moon Embracing The Sun" is smart enough to recognize his true love when he first meets her. But the 15-year-old version of the prince, played by Yeo Jin Goo, fails to protect her and loses her. The adult version, played by Kim Soo Hyun, is not clever enough to recognize her when he sees her again. This means she has to perform all sorts of dubious shamanistic duties and avoid court intrigue. Fortunately, he also eventually comes to his senses.
Yoo Ah In played Lee Joon, who later became King Sukjong in the drama "Jang Ok Jung." Although a brilliant ruler, his fatal weakness was being swayed by various political factions and inner court intrigue. He won praise for his performance but his prince did little rescuing. Next he will play the tragic Prince Sado in the film "Sado."
Did we miss any of your favorite princes? Let us know.
