Several actors have played Prince Gwanghae over the years including Ji Sung, Lee Byung Hun, Seo In Guk and Lee Joon.
Now it's Cha Seung Won's turn to play the infamous prince in the drama "Splendid Politics," also known as "Hwajung."
Each new actor portrays the 16th century king in a slightly different way. Some see him as an unethical schemer who is hungry for power. Some see him as a talented politician who has to fight court intrigues to survive.
And the truth is he was probably somewhere in between.
Cha Seung Won says he will not try to make his Prince Gwanghae too different from the way others have played him. But he will try to show what kind of thought the prince put into making some of his decisions.
"I'm trying to make the character as natural as possible," said Cha in an interview with the Korean media outlet Ilgan Sports. "It would be too burdensome for me if I focused too much on making the character different from how other actors have portrayed him before. Many focus on charismatic features when they try to describe Gwanghae. But I personally want him to be seen as someone who has some deeper thoughts inside rather than just trying to work his absolute power."
Prince Gwanghae was born the son of a concubine but he rose to power and became king, only to ultimately be deposed. He kills his half-brother Prince Yeong Chang and exiles his half-sister Princess Jung Myong along with her mother Queen Inmok. Even in her exile, she remains a threat and that's the plot of "Splendid Politics."
It makes a dramatic change from Cha Seung Won's last TV roles. He's been cooking food from scratch in the variety show "Three Meals A Day" Before that he played a detective twice, first as a legendary department head in "You're All Surrounded" and then as a transgendered police detective in "Man on High Heels."
Is there a big difference between acting on a variety show and in a drama? Cha Seung Won says sincerity is important in both.
"Whether you do a drama or an entertainment show, it's the same thing because you need to be sincere," said Cha. "But, I think I need to pay more attention to the finest details when I act, as I have to play someone else. When I do entertainment shows, I'm more down to earth and casual. It's more of a challenge to act, but acting a figure that has been part of the country's history will make me a more mature actor. I'm half worried and half excited."
"Splendid Politics" begins on April 13.
