The King: Eternal Monarch

Korean emperor Lee Gon tries to close the doors to a parallel world which was opened by demons; a detective tries to protect the people and the one she loves.

The King: Eternal Monarch (2020) is a South Korean sci-fi romance series created by Kim Eun Sook for SBS, a k-drama with a prestige Studio Dragon production pedigree. Korean emperor Lee Gon (Lee Min-ho) tries to close the doors to a parallel world opened by demons, while detective Jung Tae-eul (Kim Go-eun) works to protect the people and the one she loves. Their pursuit moves between a royal palace and a shadowed alternate realm, with each episode built from chase sequences, political maneuvering and tense crossings between worlds. Woo Do-hwan and Jung Eun-chae add further romantic and dramatic entanglements to the central story. Across a single sixteen-episode season, the series blends romance with genre suspense, creating a melancholic yet hopeful atmosphere where devotion is tested by duty and danger. Its emotional register is sweeping and aching, and its mix of palace drama and otherworldly mystery will appeal to viewers who enjoy Goblin, Mr. Sunshine and Fringe, or those who want a romantic fantasy that never loses its sense of longing.

Viewers rate it a positive, ambitious sci-fi romance with strong lead chemistry and bold genre blending.

• Goblinromantic fantasy with parallel realms and a time-crossing love story, k-drama prestige production
• Mr. Sunshinetime travel romance with a historical Korean court setting and a detective heroine
• Fringeparallel world sci-fi thriller with mind-bending mystery and romance
• Outlandertime-slip romance crossing eras with a strong central love story

Release Date

2020-04-17

Episode runtime

73 min

Rating

8.1 / 10 (923)

What is The King: Eternal Monarch about?

A Korean emperor and a determined detective race to seal a parallel world opened by demons while protecting the one they love.

What is The King: Eternal Monarch like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The King: Eternal Monarch as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.

Is The King: Eternal Monarch violent?

Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The King: Eternal Monarch as mild.

What did critics think of The King: Eternal Monarch?

Viewers rate it a positive, ambitious sci-fi romance with strong lead chemistry and bold genre blending.

Which shows are like The King: Eternal Monarch?

Shows with a similar feel include Goblin, Mr. Sunshine, Fringe, and Outlander.

How long is The King: Eternal Monarch?

The King: Eternal Monarch: 1 season, 16 episodes.

Is The King: Eternal Monarch still running?

No, The King: Eternal Monarch has ended.

Where can I watch The King: Eternal Monarch?

In United States, The King: Eternal Monarch streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.