How many episodes does The King's Affection have?

The King's Affection has 20 episodes. It aired on KBS2 from October 11 to December 1, 2021, with two episodes per week on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Where can I watch The King's Affection with English subtitles?

The King's Affection is available on Netflix globally with English subtitles. It was simulcast on Netflix during its original KBS2 broadcast run in 2021.

Does The King's Affection have a happy ending?

Yes, the drama ends on a largely satisfying note. The leads' relationship is resolved, and the central identity secret reaches its conclusion, though the path there involves significant sacrifice and emotional cost.

Is The King's Affection based on a webtoon or novel?

Yes, it is based on a manhwa (Korean comic) titled '왕세자 입학도' (The Crown Prince's School Enrollment) by Lee So-young, which was serialized on Kakao Webtoon.

Did Park Eun-bin win any awards for The King's Affection?

Yes. Park Eun-bin won the Grand Prize (Daesang) at the 2021 KBS Drama Awards for her dual performance as the princess-turned-king Lee Hwi, cementing her status as a leading actress.

★ 8.1completed

The King's Affection

Name: The King's Affection
Genre: Drama
Cast: Park Eun-bin, Rowoon, Nam Yoon-su, Bae Yoon-kyung, Choi Byung-chan

연모

Year2021Episodes20NetworkKBS2

“Mulan meets Joseon dynasty in a forbidden royal love story”

When the crown prince is killed, his twin sister assumes the throne while trying to keep her identity and affection for her first love a royal secret.

Drama

Park Eun-bin

as Lee Hwi · LEAD

Park Eun-bin

Lee Hwi

Rowoon

as Jung Ji-woon · LEAD

Rowoon

Jung Ji-woon

Nam Yoon-su

as Lee Hyun · SUPPORTING

Nam Yoon-su

Lee Hyun

Bae Yoon-kyung

as Shin So-eun · SUPPORTING

Bae Yoon-kyung

Shin So-eun

Choi Byung-chan

as Kim Ga-on · SUPPORTING

Choi Byung-chan

Kim Ga-on

Lee Pil-mo

as Ye Jong · SUPPORTING

Lee Pil-mo

Ye Jong

Baek Hyun-joo

as Court Lady Kim · SUPPORTING

Baek Hyun-joo

Court Lady Kim

Ko Kyu-pil

as Eunuch Hong · SUPPORTING

Ko Kyu-pil

Eunuch Hong

Streaming

Where to watch

Netflix

Availability varies by region · Data by JustWatch via TMDB

Quick verdict

Should you watch?

Park Eun-bin's powerhouse dual performance elevates a lush Joseon gender-disguise romance into must-watch sageuk territory.

Story

8.3

Acting

8.5

OST

7.8

Pacing

7.5

8.5+

7–8.4

✓Sageuk fans who loved Queen Seondeok or The King in Love, viewers drawn to gender-disguise plots, Park Eun-bin stans looking for her pre-Extraordinary Attorney Woo breakthrough

✗Viewers who dislike slow-burn court politics or period dramas with extended identity-concealment arcs

Story

What is it really about

Born a twin to the crown prince, a princess is forced to erase her identity and rule Joseon as king after her brother's death. Her carefully constructed deception unravels when her childhood tutor—now a grown man—rekindles feelings she cannot afford to act on without risking her throne and her life.

Slow-burnForbidden longingCourt intrigueBittersweetIdentity crisis

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