2024 KBS Drama Special ~ The History of Us (EP 1)

The 2024 KBS Drama Special (Season 15) is a collection of one-act dramas introducing new actors and actresses, directors, and writers with each episode telling a unique story. “The History of Us” is Episode 1 in this K-drama “special” series. The Special is streaming on Viki.

♦ Should the King Erase History?

“The History of Us” is the story of Prince Sado’s son, and it is a very sad and dark record in the history of Joseon.

As a young boy, Nam Yeo-Kang was brought into the palace to be a companion to the young prince, Yi San. Even though they knew they had to part ways when they reached a certain age, the prince and Nam Yeo-Kang agreed to remain friends, true friends; genuine friends. One day, they would meet again, and they would continue the way they always were. They would speak to each other truthfully, even if they did not agree. They agreed to speak honestly to each other.

When the prince was young he witnessed horrible acts of cruelty by his own grandfather. His grandfather, the king, sentenced his son, Prince Sado, to death. He was locked in a rice chest and stayed there until he died. The young prince’s crying and pleading for his grandfather to show mercy on his father had no effect.

• Some say it was the corrupt political officials who forced the king to kill his own son.
• Some say the king and his son could not see eye-to-eye on how to rule the kingdom. The disagreement was so fierce that the king killed his own son for being rebellious and coveting the throne.
• Some say Crown Prince Sado had a mental breakdown and was unfit to rule the kingdom.

Whatever the true story is, it seems that as a young child, prince Yi San witnessed it, lived through it, grew up with pains still raw every day, and those horrible tragic events were recorded by historians and could be read by others. Of course, the events left him emotionally scarred and psychologically traumatized. Nevertheless, he knew that one day he would occupy the throne and he wanted to be a good and sage king.

In “The History of Us”, Yi San is now the crown prince and his grandfather is about to die. Ever since his father’s death, he has wanted to erase certain events that are recorded in the historical records of Joseon.

• (A) Some agree and believe that history should be erased from the record (even if the crown prince can not erase the events from his mind).
• (B) Others believe it is wrong for the crown prince or the king or anyone to erase actual events in history. Good or bad, they happened, they are true, and the record of history should be preserved so that hopefully errors and tragedies will not be repeated.

The crown prince’s childhood friend is now a historian and he is in Group (B). The crown prince wants his friend to convince him whether it is RIGHT OR WRONG TO ERASE HISTORICAL RECORDS ABOUT HIS FATHER. When he becomes the king he will make his final decision.

REAL HISTORICAL FIGURES:

• Crown Prince Sado or Yi Seon (1735-1762)
• King Yeongjo, the father of Sado and grandfather f Yi San
• Yi San, son of Crown Prince Sado, who later became King Jeongjo

Main Characters:

• Crown Prince (played by Nam Da-Reum)
• Historian Nam Yeo-Kang (played by Tang Joon-Sang)

Where to Watch

Viewership and Rating:

• IMDb: 8 out of 10 stars
• My Drama List: 7.6 out of 10 stars (for “The History of Us”)
• Viki viewers have given this Special Series a rating of 9 out of 10 stars

If Episode 1 is any indication of the remaining episodes then my personal rating is the same as the Viki viewers.

Other episodes will include stories of idol groups, women in the Korean War, etc. Here are the remaining titles:

• Finding Handsome
• The Two Women
• The Road in Between
• To My Lonely Sister

LINKS OF INTEREST:

The History of Us (2024) | Letterboxd

What Are The 10+ Fantastic K-Dramas Out In November 2024? | The Blossom Review

TRAILER/TEASER:

ShowKim. “The History of Us (2024) 사관은 논한다 Korean Drama Trailer.” YouTube, 28 Oct. 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jgCWKYL8fw.

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Other Korean Dramas Reviews on PopGeeks Based on Korean History:

Korea-Khitan War: King Hyeonjong Leads Goryeo to Victory

Jewel in the Palace | The K-Drama That Started the Korean Wave

The Fatal Encounter ~ Based on the Record of King Jeongjo

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