The King and the Clown (2005): Cast, Box Office & Plot
The King and the Clown is a 2005 drama thriller directed by Lee Joon-ik, starring Jung Jin-young as King Yeonsan, Kam Woo-sung and Lee Joon-gi. It runs 2 hours 1 minute and earned $74.5 million worldwide.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 1m (121 min)
- Director
- Lee Joon-ik
- Original language
-
Korean - Studio
- Cineworld
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The King and the Clown About?
The premise of The King and the Clown without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A forbidden love and opulent tragedy unfold when two court jesters in the Joseon era are jailed for presenting a satire of the monarch. Brought before the king, they face execution unless they can coax a smile from him. Their lives hinge on a daring performance that tests loyalty, humor and the perilous politics of the palace.
The King and the Clown Themes & Keywords
· 40 tags- gay kiss
- korean history
- south korea
- joseon dynasty
- king
- korea
- mistress
- seoul
- 16th century
- attempted suicide
- folding fan
- cutting wrist
+28 more Show fewer
- blinding someone
- sword
- death
- treachery
- arrow
- bow
- hunting people
- hunting
- stabbed to death
- shadow play
- caning
- gambling
- challenge
- spitting on one's hand
- acrobat
- meadow
- manslaughter
- stabbed in the back
- beating
- torch
- fight
- homosexuality
- tightrope walking
- street performer
- celebration
- androgynous male
- jester
- chosen
The King and the Clown Cast & Characters
Jung Jin-young leads the cast as King Yeonsan, with Kam Woo-sung as Jang-sang and Lee Joon-gi as Gong-gil. Directed by Lee Joon-ik; 24 actors are credited in all.
- Director Lee Joon-ik
- Jung Jin-young as King Yeonsan
- Kam Woo-sung as Jang-sang
- Lee Joon-gi as Gong-gil
- Yoon Joo-Sang as Sung Hee-an
Also Starring in The King and the Clown
· 20 more- Kang Sung-yeon Jang Nok-su
- Park Young-soo Court Jester
- Yoo Hai-jin Yuk-gab
- Jeong Seok-yong Chil-duk
- Woo Hyeon Hong
- Shin Jung-keun Lee Geuk-kyun
- Choi Il-hwa Sung Jun
- Lee Young-suk Nobleman
- Jang Hang-seon Cheo-sun
- Maeng Bong-hak Chief of Police
- Lee Seung-hun Pal-bok
- Seo Seung-won Butler
- Shin Un-seop Spectator 1
- Jo Kyung-hoon Gambler
- Yun So-jeong Queen In-soo
- Cho Ryun Mistress Uhm
Show all 24 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Kim Jin-su Namsadang Performer
- Jeon Il-beom Yoon Ji-sang
- Jeong Dae-yong Shaman
- Park Su-il Park Won-jong
More from Lee Joon-ik
More films directed by Lee Joon-ik: The Book of Fish, Anarchist from Colony, Dongju: The Portrait of a Poet and Hope.
The King and the Clown Plot Summary
What happens in The King and the Clown from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In the late 15th century, during the reign of King Yeonsan Jung Jin-young, two male street clowns and tightrope walkers, Jangsaeng Kam Woo-sung and Gong-gil Lee Joon-gi, belong to an entertainer troupe, with Gong-gil captivating audiences in female roles. Their manager profits by prostituting Gong-gil, and when Jangsaeng intervenes to protect him, the manager is killed in a confrontation. The pair flee to Seoul and form a fresh troupe with three other street performers, seeking a safer stage for their art.
Full summary
The whole story of The King and the Clown, scene by scene
The King and the Clown Box Office
The King and the Clown grossed $74.5 million worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$74.5M
- International
- $74.5M
The King and the Clown Trailers & Videos
The trailer of The King and the Clown.
How Well Do You Know The King and the Clown?
9 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 9
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
What is the name of the effeminate clown who specializes in female roles?
The King and the Clown Also Known As
10 alternative titles, including “Wang-ui Namja” and “Le Roi et le clown”.
- Also known as
-
- Wang-ui Namja
- Le Roi et le clown
- 王的男人
- Король и шут
- 왕의 남자
- El rey y el payaso
- המלך והליצן
- Rei e o Bobo da Corte
- 王の男, მეფე და ჯამბაზი
- กบฏรักจอมแผ่นดิน
Seen The King and the Clown?
Movies Like The King and the Clown
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Crowned Clown, The King’s Affection and The King in Love.
The King and the Clown FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, post-credit scenes and language of The King and the Clown, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The King and the Clown?
The King and the Clown runs 2 hours 1 minute (121 minutes).
When was The King and the Clown released?
The King and the Clown was released on December 29, 2005.
Who directed The King and the Clown?
The King and the Clown was directed by Lee Joon-ik.
More films by Lee Joon-ik Who is in the cast of The King and the Clown?
The King and the Clown stars Jung Jin-young as King Yeonsan, Kam Woo-sung as Jang-sang and Lee Joon-gi as Gong-gil, among 24 credited actors.
How much did The King and the Clown make at the box office?
The King and the Clown grossed $74.5 million worldwide.
Does The King and the Clown have a post-credit scene?
No. The King and the Clown has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is The King and the Clown in?
The original language of The King and the Clown is Korean.
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