# The King 2 Hearts (2012)

> A South Korean crown prince is forced into a military officers competition, where he meets a fierce North Korean instructor who challenges everything he knows.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/42154

## Facts

- Seasons: 1
- Episodes: 20
- Episode runtime: 60 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: romance, comedy, drama
- Network: MBC
- Cast: Ha Ji-won, Lee Seung-gi, Lee Yoon-ji, Cho Jung-seok, Yoon Je-moon, Youn Yuh-jung, Lee Sung-min, Lee Soon-jae
- TMDB rating: 7.6/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2346947/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: mild
- Complexity: accessible
- Violence: mild
- Tone: playful, sparkling, sentimental, breezy

## Synopsis

The King 2 Hearts (2012) is a South Korean romantic comedy drama series created for MBC, a one-season limited run of twenty hour-long episodes. Set in an imaginary constitutional monarchy resembling South Korea, it follows Crown Prince Lee Jae Ha (Lee Seung-gi), who is pushed by his brother into the World Officers Competition, a rigorous military contest. There he collides with Kim Hang Ah (Ha Ji-won), North Korea's formidable instructor, and the two spar both in training and in their growing attraction. Lee Yoon-ji, Cho Jung-seok, and Youn Yuh-jung feature among the principal cast, bringing palace intrigue and family pressure into the story. The engine is a prince who has never been challenged, facing a rival who refuses to defer to him, while the court and the wider politics between the two Koreas press on each encounter. Episodes blend brisk banter, competitive set pieces, and sentimental moments, with a glossy period-costume look. Fans of Crash Landing on You and Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo will find resonance in its cross-border romance and royal-court glamour.

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