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nchristi
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 K-Drama: 바람의 나라 (The Kingdom Of The Winds)
KBS drama, The Kingdom of the Wind is scheduled* to begin on Thursday, October 9, 2008. Wed–Thurs, from 9:40p–11p. Eng Subs
*As shown on KBS America's KXLA Schedule
Alternate Title: The Land of Wind, Country of Wind, Wind Country
Cast: Song Il Gook, Choi Jung Won, Park Gun Hyung, Oh Yoon Ah
Writer: Based on anime by Kim Jin
Scriptwriters: Choi Wan Gyu 최완규, Jung Jin Ok 정진옥, Park Jin Woo 박진우
Director: Kang Il Soo 강일수
Number of Episodes: 36
Running Time: ?
Official Homepage: KBS/Korean
Soompi
SYNOPSIS
[Note: I am unable to find synopsis and character descriptions in an official KBS English website. Here is the synopsis from Amazon.com for the Anime books, which are available, and cast and characters I've collected from other sources] class ul Against the backdrop of the ancient Kingdom of Koguryeo, the story takes the reader into one of the murkiest periods in Korean history, blending fact with fantasy, the drama and mystique of the ancient land of Koguryeo unfolds. The main plot surrounds the romantic and tragic entanglements of the Kingdom's Royal Family, as Koguryeo's ambitious King bravely takes on his powerful neighbors. From out of this enchanting poetic narrative, an ancient Shakespearean conflict emerges, luring the reader helplessly into a new realm of love, tragedy, courage and cunning. Spirits, demons, and imaginary beings lurk within, for those daring enough to open its pages and submerge themselves into the captivating world of the Kingdom of the Winds. class center *****Another manga/anime review...
Kingdom of the Winds Book 1
Posted by Rob Vollmar on April 8, 2008 at 6:50 am
Category: Manga Reviews
CREDITS: by Kimjin; adaptation by Soyoung Jung
PUBLISHER: NetComics, $9.99 US
Review by Rob Vollmar class ul Most of my manga/manhwa acquisitions happen because I am familiar with the artist or because a trusted critic recommends it for my attention. Kingdom of the Winds got my money the old-fashioned way, with a striking cover and an intriguing premise well-articulated by the marketing blurb on the back. It also helps that the story is not only historical fiction, but it covers a geographic area and time period (Korea around the time of Augustus’ reign in Rome) about which I know almost nothing.
Kingdom of the Winds Book 1
Kingdom of the Winds focuses on the royal family of the kingdom of Goguryeo, one of three kingdoms that were the cultural foundation for modern Korea. While the story has as many characters as King Yuri has wives and children (hint: it’s a bunch), the reader is invited to experience the story through Prince Muhyul, who will someday become king himself. Kingdom thrives on conflict and balances the threat of invasion from neighboring kingdoms with the internal power struggles taking place as King Yuri advances rather menacingly towards his own death.
Kingdom of the Winds also expands on the exploration of Korean natural mysticism that is used to such striking effect in manhwa like Bride of the Water God and Dokebi Bride. The cosmology in Kingdom hews closer to Dokebi Bride in the sense of danger that accompanies the manipulation of these primal forces. Kingdom, however, uses these gods and their powers as the engine for elaborate battles that can stretch on for several pages.
Artist Kimjin’s character design for the supernatural beings, in particular, is imaginative and the battle scenes frenetic sometimes to the point of abstraction. The human characters suffer some, though, from a reliance on costuming over iconic design to keep them differentiated. Visually, overall, I think Kingdom of the Winds has a lot to offer a potential reader. Kimjin makes excellent use of setting in the opening chapter, the pitch black of a rainy night to create a kind of atmospherics I might associate with Lone Wolf and Cub.
The story, however, is Kingdom’s stronger selling point. Prince Muhyul’s dilemma of keeping peace within his family as his father grows more paranoid by the day, while maintaining his vigilance against foreign enemies, is a compelling one. Kimjin aggressively uses flashbacks to give the kind of context needed to fully appreciate the complex relationships that bind each character together. The sum is a dense story that rewards multiple reads and even comes with a little map and historical essays at the end to draw it all together. While the large cast and occasional histrionic battle sequences may put off some readers, the well-researched and compelling story was more than enough to leave me looking forward to the next volume.
Source: http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/04/08/k...e-winds-book-1/ class center *****CAST & CHARACTERS class ul 
Song Il Kook as MuHyool
A powerful King laying the foundation for the splendid Kingdom of Kogooryu. MuHyool is the third grandson of Jumong. In 2006~2007, Song Il Kook played the role Jumong in the MBC drama "Jumong," attracting so many viewers' attention. MuHyool later becomes Daemusin, wages war against neighboring countries and eventually conquers the largest land mass in the history of Korea. He is known as “The God of War.”
Choi Jung Won as Princess Yun
A bold woman specializing in medicine, she overcomes adversity to achieve her ambition. [Last seen in Chil Princesses/Sisters]
Jung Jin Young as King YuRi (Mu Hyool's father)
A wise but cold-hearted personality. Being a King and a father at the same time brings him lots of agony. This is a tragic figure who exchanges a father's love for his political power. JJY has not appeared in TV drama for 14 years.
Park Kun (Gun) Hyung as Prince Do Jin (도진)
Although MuHyool and Do Jin have friendship, their status difference from birth within the royal family makes them have continuous bloody fights. Moreover, they fall in love with the same woman.
—Above descriptions courtesy of CindyW88, August 17, 2008; tv/film news
Oh Yoon Ah as Ye Ap
Lowest class in society. She paints frescos in burial caves. MuHyool is brought to her as an infant and she raises him in that environment. She and Prince Hae-Myeong love one another from afar, knowing their class differences make a relationship impossible.
Lee Jong-Won as Prince Hae-Myeong
King Yuri's 2nd son, and Daemushin's (SIK) half brother. Follows his father the King's order to take the infant Muhyool away to be raised by the catacomb painter, in order to save the infant's life. Hae-Myeong serves as his brother's protector. Prince Hae-Myeong has a very troubled relationship with his father, King Yuri, as well as his brothers.
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10/9/2008, 4:43 pm
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hyena
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Re: K-Drama: 바람의 나라 (The Kingdom Of The Winds)
I enjoyed the pre-trailer that aired last night. The actor who played the hermaphrodite in Jumong will be in this one. He's still beautiful! But it's hard to win out over Song Il kook.
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10/9/2008, 5:52 pm
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nchristi
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Re: K-Drama: 바람의 나라 (The Kingdom Of The Winds)
I definitely was not looking forward to this historical—Song Il Kuk or no Song Il Kuk. With Sejong and so many other warrior historicals during the past year or so, I am quite tired of the non-stop violent hacking, slashing, plundering, blah, blah, blah that is typically known as "guy stuff." (sorry, guys, no offense intended) The trailers shown for the past month didn't help. I'll pass on the cliché torture scenes, thank you very much.
That being said, I found Episode 1 to be quite engrossing. I never lost interest and the 'hour' flew by before I knew it—obligatory battle scenes and all. Good story. Nicely produced and directed. The cast is very strong. A side diversion, however, is with it being a KBS historical it is heavily seeded with actors who are the foundation players in our K-dramas. I found myself chuckling sometimes at who just popped up on the screen.
The introductory special on Wednesday night notably enhanced my enjoyment of episode 1 the following night. I wish we could always see such an introductory episode on both the story and the "making of" the program.
For example, in the opening battle scenes, I took particular note of the enemy leader (the side slinging rocks). This was filmed in the Yellow River area in China, with local Chinese people used as extras for the battle troops, and so forth. The stunt coordinator was Chinese, too. The director soon saw that this Chinese stunt coordinator was so good that they talked him out from behind the cameras into actually playing the part of the attacking leader. And was he good! He was absolutely fantastic, bringing such life and energy to the role. Definite camera charisma, someone who would make a great actor in historicals (and probably other genre, as well). Knowing the background, I was mesmerized by his performance and really enjoyed watching him.
So, instead of having to endure this drama for the next 36 episodes, I am looking forward to it. I'm also curious to watch our "M-Chil" actress play SIK's love interest. Somehow I keep seeing her in a very short, boufant-ish wedding dress, squealing and throwing one of her coquette-ish looks into the camera!
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10/10/2008, 9:25 am
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brad6
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Re: K-Drama: 바람의 나라 (The Kingdom Of The Winds)
nchristi,
Everything you said is what I was thinking about this drama. However I did not see the whole episode last night. I was fascinated that the Chinese art director became an important cast member. He really was great.
the only thing that bothered me is that I do not want to see Il Kuk supposedly hanging hundreds of feet from a rickety swinging bridge and then remember he was actually with his feet on the ground doing the scene really. Took the magic right away.
I greatly enjoy the settings and the gorges are amazing. some of this type of scenery wa also used in Dae Jo Young I think.
Peg
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10/10/2008, 10:37 am
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pinaygirl
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Re: K-Drama: 바람의 나라 (The Kingdom Of The Winds)
For the past month or so before this started airing, my husband has been bugging me with "do you know when it will be shown?" (he enjoys historicals a lot)- I only told him "We're not even sure if it will be aired, I think there are issues on the e-subbing, or scheduling or whatnot"-now here it is. (I really did not care for those ghost stories-too creepy for my taste).
We both watched the first 2 shows, and they didn't disappoint-looking forward to the rest.
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10/15/2008, 6:36 am
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brad6
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Re: K-Drama: 바람의 나라 (The Kingdom Of The Winds)
Hyena,
Which role does our bdautiful young man play?? I seem to have missed most of what has appeared of this drama.
Peg
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10/15/2008, 11:50 am
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hyena
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Re: K-Drama: 바람의 나라 (The Kingdom Of The Winds)
Peg, maybe I was wrong. I can't remember the name of the character in Jumong, so I haven't been able to match up the actors. When I watched the pre-trailer, I thought it was the same actor, but I'll have to watch this for a bit to see if I was right.
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10/15/2008, 6:44 pm
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brad6
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Re: K-Drama: 바람의 나라 (The Kingdom Of The Winds)
Hyena,
He was in tonight's episode. He lead the gang who beat up Il Kuk and he stole the neclace from around his neck. don't knwo where he disappeared to after that. He is also in KOTW as the King.
Well..Not a hermaphrodite but in two places at once. Not bad.
Peg
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10/15/2008, 10:03 pm
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