Korea-Khitan War ~ King Hyeonjong Leads Goryeo to Victory

Korea-Khitan War is a 2023 Korean drama series, with 32 episodes, currently broadcasting via KBS and streaming on Viki. Also available on also available for streaming on Wavve, Kocowa, and on Netflix in selected regions.  This series was released to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of KBS (Korean Broadcasting System).

♦ The War Between Goryeo and the Khitans Lasted 26 years

“Korea-Khitan War” begins with a scene of a bloody battle. It is the 10 century in East Asia, and the fierce Khitans have been conquering various peoples. Their empire covered the regions from Liaodong to Mongolia and now they were determined to conquer Goryeo.

The people of Goryeo, though outnumbered, were equally determined to fight the Khitans and not become subjugated. After those intense scenes showing how hard the fighting was between Goryeo and the Khitans, there is a flashback that shows what had happened several years earlier, before the war began.

♦ King Hyeonjong is Crowned Emperor

King Hyeonjong, the last grandson of Taejo of Goryeo, ascended to the throne when he was 19.

Kang Cho was 70 years old and a loyal subject of Goryeo. He was a seasoned warrior, understood politics, could offer wise counsel to the emperor, was not afraid to confront the kingdom’s enemies, and took the risk of being branded as a traitor when he assassinated the emperor, King Mokjong, to clear the path for a new leader of Goryeo.  

Gang Gam-chan was an elderly statesman. He had been living in the countryside but returned to the palace and the court to serve the new emperor. King Hyeonjong appreciated his forthright comments. He did not use double-speak, offered the king sound and wise advice, and helped him understand politics.

Once the emperor realized that war could not be avoided, he made Gam-chan Commander-in-Chief, giving him the authority and responsibilities for defending Goryeo against the Khitan invasion.

Rather than cut off the head of Kang Cho, the young King Hyeonjong bestowed upon him the emperor’s ax and sent him off to war. The king promised that when he returned triumphantly, he would no longer be marked as a traitor.

♦ Historical Facts About the Korea-Khitan War

According to historical records King Hyeonjong of Goryeo was born in 992 and died in 1031; his reign lasted from 1009 to 1031. He may have been young and inexperienced when he began his reign, but he was capable of thinking for himself and making difficult decisions. No matter how loudly court officials yelled and insisted, he did not submit so easily to their demands.

King Hyeonjong was tolerant and did not want war but the Khitan emperor did not give him a choice.  Hyeonjong is credited with unifying the people of Goryeo. Because of his leadership skills, the kingdom withstood multiple Khitan invasions, that lasted close to a quarter of a century. The Khitan army lost the Battle of Kwiju and never invaded Goryeo again. 

• The Khitans ruled China under the Liao dynasty from 907 to 1125.
• The Goryeo dynasty lasted from 918 to 1392, and this period is considered Korea’s Age of Enlightenment.

Main Characters:

• King Hyeonjong (played by Kim Dong-Joon
• Kang Cho (played by Lee Won-Jong, “L.U.C.A.: The Beginning”)
• Gang Gam-chan (played by Choi Soo-Jong)

Where to Watch

Viewership and Rating:

• IMDb Rating: 8.1 out of 10 stars
• My Drama List: 8.1 out of 10 stars
• NME: 5 out of 5 stars
• Viki viewers rate this series 9.5 out of 10 stars

My personal rating aligns with the Viki viewers. The entire cast gave award-worthy performances. In my opinion, it is one of the best historical period Korean dramas released in 2023. This series is based on the novel “Goryeo–Khitan War: Sweet Rain in the Winter”.

Most of the 2023 Kdramas are historical fiction. The scriptwriters for the “Korea-Khitan War” stuck closely to historical events and facts.  The results were an impressive historical period Korean drama series.

LINKS OF INTEREST:

• KBS ‘Goryeo-Khitan War’ off to rough start | The Korea Herald
• 18 Historical K-Dramas Of 2023 | Kpopmap
• ‘Korea-Khitan War’ review: old-school K-drama charm | NME

TRAILERS/TEASERS:

Zone, Drama. “Goryeo-Khitan War (2023) Official Trailer | Korean Drama.” YouTube Video. YouTube, September 26, 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6yjCeReMgA.‌

https://youtu.be/u6yjCeReMgA?si=ScubQGB8AdWKmwLi

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