Cha Joo-young Expresses Passion for Her Role in 'Wongyeong'

Cha Joo-young, the star of the upcoming tvN X TVING original drama 'Wongyeong', shared her deep commitment to the project, stating, "I absolutely wanted to do this role." She described Queen Wongyeong as a character who is "beyond magnificent" and felt there was no reason not to take on the role.

Set to premiere on January 6, 2024, 'Wongyeong' (directed by Kim Sang-ho and written by Lee Young-mi) focuses on Queen Wongyeong, who, alongside her husband King Taejong Lee Bang-won, fought for power. The drama explores the intense dynamics between the king and queen, husband and wife, and the hidden stories that lie between them. The narrative reinterprets the couple's political partnership from Wongyeong's perspective, adding a fresh layer of intrigue.

Cha Joo-young, making her historical drama debut as Queen Wongyeong, expressed her long-standing desire to participate in a sageuk (historical drama). She found the unique narrative of 'Wongyeong' particularly appealing, stating, "I have always wanted to try a historical drama. This work has a rare and differentiated story that makes it even more attractive."

The drama reimagines the story of Queen Wongyeong, who has often been overlooked in history. Cha described Wongyeong as a woman who, during the tumultuous end of the Goryeo Dynasty, chose her own love and later, as queen, maintained her dignity and responsibilities after the founding of the Joseon Dynasty. She emphasized that Wongyeong's life, which included raising the great King Sejong, was one of success both as a queen and as a wife, stating, "Her responsible and autonomous nature regarding her chosen love and dreams is something that cannot simply be described as admirable."

However, with her determination came pressure. Cha candidly admitted, "I felt a continuous burden that just acting well wouldn’t be enough." Despite this, she was resolute, saying, "If someone has to do it, I wanted to be that person, and I was confident that I could act with sincerity like no one else."

She meticulously prepared to embody the grace and poise expected of a queen, focusing on her gestures, expressions, and actions. Cha noted, "I always acted as if I were Queen Wongyeong, and I tried to express what I could through my eyes."

Another passionate moment for Cha occurred during filming when she visited the royal tombs of Taejong and Wongyeong. She shared, "I felt strange seeing the twin tombs of King Taejong and Queen Wongyeong while being completely immersed in my character. I asked myself if I was doing well and prayed for guidance and support."

Cha Joo-young hopes viewers will witness Wongyeong's growth as she overcomes historical constraints. She remarked, "You will also see me, Cha Joo-young, growing alongside the character. I believe this is a once-in-a-lifetime project for me, and I worked very hard on it. I hope everyone watches until the very end."

The 'tvN X TVING Original' drama 'Wongyeong' is designed to cater to the evolving viewing habits of audiences, with the first two episodes set to be released on TVING at 2 PM on January 6, followed by the premiere of the first episode on tvN at 8:50 PM. A prequel series capturing the drama's backstory will also be released on TVING in the future.