The Crowned Clown

The Crowned Clown is a 2019 South Korean television series starring Yeo Jin-goo, Kim Sang-kyung, and Lee Se-young. A remake of the 2012 film Masquerade, the series centers on the tale of a Joseon King and his doppelganger, a clown whom he puts on the throne to escape the intense power struggles afflicting the royal court. It aired from January 7 to March 4, 2019, on tvN.

Synopsis
The story takes place in mid-Joseon period, when upheavals and power struggles surrounding the throne had reached extremely devastating levels. In order to escape those who plan to assassinate him, the King puts a clown, who looks exactly like him, on the throne. As the clown settles into his role, the palace is upended as the King's enemies are confounded by the imposter's creativity and his ever-expanding circle of allies, who are glad to see the “King” finally become the ruler they have always wanted.

Main

 * Yeo Jin-goo as Ha-seon, the clown / Yi Heon, the King
 * Kim Sang-kyung as Yi Kyu (Haksan), the Chief Royal Secretary
 * Lee Se-young as Yoo So-woon, the Queen

People around Ha-seon

 * Jang Gwang as Eunuch Jo
 * Yoon Jong-suk as Jang Moo-young, a military officer
 * Shin Soo-yeon as Dal-rae, Ha-seon's sister and fellow performer
 * Yoon Kyung-ho as Kap-soo, Ha-seon and Dal-rae's elder performer

People around So-woon

 * Oh Ha-nee as Ae-young, a maid
 * Kim Soo-jin as Court Lady Park

People around Yi Heon

 * Kwon Hae-hyo as Shin Chi-soo, the Left State Councillor
 * Jang Young-nam as the Queen Dowager
 * Lee Moo-saeng as Prince Jinpyung
 * Min Ji-ah as Court Lady Kim
 * Choi Kyu-jin as Shin Yi-kyeom, Shin Chi-soo's son and a member of the Office of Censors
 * Seo Yoon-ah as Seon Hwa-dang, Shin Chi-soo's niece and Yi Heon's favourite concubine
 * Lee Mi-eun as Court Lady Jang
 * Park Si-eun as Choi Kye-hwan, a 15-year-old kitchen maid

People around Yi Kyu

 * Jung Hye-young as Woon-sim, a courtesan
 * Lee Yoon-gun as Yoo Ho-joon, So-woon's father
 * Lee Kyu-han as Joo Ho-geol
 * Choi Moo-in as Lee Han-jong
 * Lee Chang-jik as Seo Jang-won
 * Song Duk-ho as Woo Jeong-rim
 * Jang Sung-won as Jung Saeng, a Buddhist monk

Special appearances

 * Jang Hyuk as King Seonjo, Yi Heon's father (Episode 1)
 * Yoon Park as Lord Kiseong (Episode 16)

Production
The first script reading took place on October 8, 2018, in Sangam-dong, Seoul, South Korea.