# The Moon Embracing the Sun (2012)

> A noblewoman presumed dead returns to the joseon palace as a shaman to reclaim her rightful place as queen.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/41357

## Facts

- Seasons: 1
- Episodes: 20
- Episode runtime: 65 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: drama, fantasy
- Network: MBC
- Cast: Kim Soo-hyun, Yeo Jin-goo, Han Ga-in, Kim You-jung, Jung Il-woo, Lee Tae-ri, Kim Min-seo, Kim So-hyun
- TMDB rating: 7.9/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3143378/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: measured
- Intensity: moderate
- Complexity: layered
- Violence: mild
- Tone: melancholic, sincere, wistful, intense

## What critics say

Audience reception is positive, with viewers rating the series well while one reviewer found its child-centred plot strand awkward and its tension thin.

## Synopsis

Moon Embracing the Sun (2012) is a South Korean historical fantasy drama series created for MBC and broadcast as a single 20-episode run. Kim Soo-hyun plays King Lee Hwon, with Han Ga-in as Heo Yeon-woo, a noblewoman who returns to the Joseon palace years after being assumed dead, now trained as a shaman under the name Wol. Jung Il-woo plays Prince Yang-myung, and Kim Min-seo plays Yoon Bo-kyung, whose rivalries and loyalties complicate the palace's power struggles. The engine of the story is Yeon-woo's quiet effort to reclaim her rightful position as queen while navigating court factions and her own supernatural gifts. Each episode moves through palace schemes, shifting alliances and an emotional tug between past and present. Set in the Joseon dynasty, the series is a Korean period drama that blends court intrigue with fantasy and romance. Its tone is melancholic and sincere, with a wistful, lingering register. Fans of Hwarang, Mr. Sunshine and The Crown will find resonance in its royal setting and tangled personal loyalties.

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