Cha Joo-young Reflects on ‘The Queen Who Crowns’: Challenges, Controversies, and Her Connection to the Role
On February 13, Cha Joo-young, lead actress of tvN and TVING’s “The Queen Who Crowns,” sat for an interview in Gangnam, Seoul.
“The Queen Who Crowns” tells the story of Queen Wongyeong, who gained power alongside her husband, King Taejong Lee Bang-won. Unlike previous historical dramas that focused on King Taejong, this series reimagines the narrative from Queen Wonkyung’s perspective, offering a female-centered historical retelling. Since its premiere on January 6, the drama has captivated audiences with its bold storytelling.
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Personal Reflections on the Drama
When asked about her personal satisfaction with the drama, Cha Joo-young revealed, “To be honest, I stayed in seclusion throughout the broadcast. I was afraid of the reactions. I also had many personal regrets.”
She continued, “But I mustered the courage to do this interview because I wanted to express my gratitude to the people who worked hard on this project. Despite the concerns, they supported us until the end, and I’m relieved that the series concluded with good viewership ratings.”
Challenges and Controversies
Cha Joo-young also addressed the various controversies surrounding “The Queen Who Crowns,” including concerns over historical accuracy before its release and the R-rated scenes during its run.
“One thing I was sure of was that if viewers watched until the later episodes, they would understand what we were trying to achieve. I had confidence in the latter half of the drama,” she cautiously stated.
She explained that, unlike typical historical dramas with 30+ episodes, “The Queen Who Crowns” had only 12 episodes and a two-part prequel, making it challenging to portray an entire lifetime. Given the well-known historical figures, the team made bold omissions, believing a conventional retelling wasn’t worth doing.
Cha Joo-young concluded, “This drama is not meant to serve as a historical lesson. If watching it sparks interest, I encourage viewers to learn more about history separately. I understand that my words may seem irresponsible or unhelpful to some. However, these historical figures were real people.”
Acknowledging potential criticism of her stance, she expressed her personal connection to the character, “I personally saw Queen Wongyeong as a deeply affectionate yet tragic woman. If anyone were to portray her story in the future, I wanted to be the one to do it. I only hope she is depicted well.”