The Great King Munmu is an upcoming Korean historical drama that tells the triumphant story of how the small kingdom of Silla defeated the powerful states of Goguryeo, Baekje, and Tang China to unify the Three Kingdoms. The series is set to premiere in November 2026 on KBS2 and will span 28 episodes, airing every Saturday and Sunday at 9:20 PM KST.
Key Facts
- Premiere Date: November 14, 2026 (Saturday)
- Network: KBS2 (South Korea)
- Episode Count: 28
- Airing Schedule: Saturdays and Sundays at 9:20 PM KST
- Genre: Historical, Action, War, Political
- Streaming Platform: TBA (likely Viki and KBS’s official channels for international audiences)
- Production Budget: Approximately 30 billion won
- Directors: Kim Yeong Jo and Koo Sung Joon
- Writers: Kim Ri Heon and Hong Jin Yi
Release Schedule and Where to Watch
The Great King Munmu is scheduled to premiere on Saturday, November 14, 2026, on KBS2 in South Korea. The drama will air two episodes per week, on Saturdays and Sundays at 9:20 PM KST, and is expected to run for 28 episodes in total.
For international viewers, the streaming platform has not yet been officially confirmed. KBS dramas are typically available on Viki and Kocowa for global audiences, and Netflix sometimes picks up popular titles for select regions. KBS has also been promoting the drama through its official YouTube channel, KBS Drama, and plans to share more news via its website, Wavve, and social media channels. Fans outside South Korea should watch for official announcements regarding international streaming availability as the premiere date approaches.
Complete Cast and Characters
The Great King Munmu features an ensemble cast of veteran actors bringing legendary historical figures to life.
Lee Hyun Wook leads the drama as Kim Pom Min, who becomes King Munmu, the 30th king of Silla. Kim Pom Min is the eldest son of King Taejong Muyeol and the maternal nephew of General Kim Yu Sin. He is described as a formidable figure with the courage and resolve to overwhelm his opponents, yet he knows when to bend for the sake of his country. Lee Hyun Wook returns to the small screen after his previous drama, Goldland, and The Great King Munmu marks his first historical drama since his debut.
Jang Hyuk plays Yeon Gaesomun, the war god of Goguryeo and a ruthless dictator. Yeon Gaesomun is a legendary general who led Goguryeo to numerous victories but ultimately led the kingdom into darkness through his tyrannical rule. Jang Hyuk returns to KBS for the first time in four years since Red Heart.
Park Sung Woong takes on the role of Kim Yu Sin, Silla’s most renowned military commander. Kim Yu Sin is a legendary figure who changed the fate of Silla with his sword during its darkest hours, serving as the strongest shield and support for Kim Chun Chu and Kim Pom Min. Notably, Park Sung Woong previously played Kim Yu Sin in the 2011 MBC historical drama Gye Baek, making this his return to the role after 15 years.
Kim Kang Woo portrays Kim Chun Chu, also known as King Taejong Muyeol, the 29th king of Silla and father of Kim Pom Min. Kim Chun Chu is a master of pragmatic diplomacy and a cunning politician who hides deep ambition and hardship behind his deceptive smile. Kim Kang Woo appears in his first historical drama since his debut.
Jung Woong In plays Kim Jin Ju, a main role character who is expected to serve as a villainous presence in the drama. Jung Woong In takes on a villainous role 16 years after his performance in Queen Seondeok.
Cho Seong Ha plays Koo Geun Mu, another main role. Cho Seong Ha appears in a KBS historical drama 17 years after King Sejong.
Additional cast members include Kim Do Hyun, Baek Sung Hyun, Yang Hyun Min, Oh Seung Hoon, and Lee Ji Hoon. Choi Ye Bin, known for her role in The Penthouse: War in Life, will play Wu Zetian, the powerful Chinese empress who will drive the drama’s narrative. This marks her first female lead in a major historical epic.
Where You’ve Seen the Cast Before
The Great King Munmu brings together actors with impressive resumes across Korean television and film.
Lee Hyun Wook recently appeared in the drama Goldland and is known for his roles in The Queen Who Crowns and Mine. He has built a reputation for taking on complex, multidimensional characters.
Jang Hyuk is a veteran actor with a career spanning over two decades. He is known for his roles in Red Heart (KBS), Family, and the classic action-comedy film Volcano High. The Great King Munmu marks his first epic drama since his debut, and he appears in a KBS production for the first time since Red Heart.
Park Sung Woong previously played Kim Yu Sin in the 2011 drama Gye Baek, making his return to the character particularly significant for longtime historical drama fans. He has also appeared in Snowdrop and the film The Roundup: No Way Out.
Kim Kang Woo returns to television after his role in Tyrant and appears in a KBS production for the first time in six years since Woman of 9.9 Billion. He is known for his work in The Missing and Item.
Jung Woong In reunites with Kim Kang Woo six years after their collaboration on Woman of 9.9 Billion. He is a familiar face in villainous roles, having appeared in Queen Seondeok and Let’s Get Caught by the Collar.
Cho Seong Ha returns to KBS historical drama 17 years after King Sejong and recently appeared in Mantis: Outing of a Murderer.
Choi Ye Bin rose to prominence as Ha Eun Byeol in The Penthouse: War in Life and has since appeared in films such as It’s Beautiful Now, Nite Has Come, and Perfect Family. Her transformation into Wu Zetian has become one of the most talked-about aspects of the upcoming drama.
What We Know About the Story
The Great King Munmu is a sweeping historical epic set in the late Three Kingdoms period of the 600s. The story follows King Munmu (born Kim Pom Min), the 30th king of Silla, as he completes the monumental task of unifying the Three Kingdoms of Korea.
The drama focuses on the sharp confrontation between Goguryeo, Silla, Baekje, and the Tang dynasty, culminating in Silla’s unification of the three kingdoms and its final battle against Tang. Unlike previous historical dramas that have covered this era, The Great King Munmu places King Munmu at the center of the narrative, allowing for detailed coverage of the fall of Goguryeo and the Silla-Tang War—events that were largely skipped in the 2012 drama The Great King’s Dream.
A newly released teaser opens with Kim Pom Min on a battlefield plunged into darkness by a total solar eclipse. He recalls conversations with General Kim Yu Sin and his father, King Chun Chu. Kim Yu Sin asks, “Where does your will lead you?” and Kim Chun Chu asks, “Have you made up your mind?” These questions intensify Kim Pom Min’s inner turmoil as both a man and a monarch. The teaser also introduces Yeon Gaesomun, who asks, “Can’t you hear the sound of war?”.
Watching the blood-soaked battlefield, Kim Pom Min murmurs, “The desires and grudges of everyone became a raging fire and began driving the Three Kingdoms into the flames”. His determined gaze reveals his unwavering resolve to protect his nation.
“Everyone’s desires and resentments — they became a blaze that began to engulf the Three Kingdoms.” — Kim Beop Min in the teaser
The production team has commented on Lee Hyun Wook’s performance: “Lee Hyun Wook has delicately portrayed the complex emotions experienced by Kim Pom Min through his nuanced acting. Kim Pom Min is a man who stakes everything on ending 600 years of war. The desperate and solitary journey of a king who risks everything for the goal of unification will hold viewers’ attention from the very beginning”.
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Production Details and Background
The Great King Munmu is directed by Kim Yeong Jo, known for his work on Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth, Woman of 9.9 Billion, and Jang Yeong-sil, alongside co-director Koo Sung Joon. The series is written by Kim Ri Heon (winner of the 2021 KBS Drama Script Contest in the miniseries category) and Hong Jin Yi.
The drama is produced by KeyEast and Monster Union, with a reported budget of approximately 30 billion won. This is KeyEast’s first historical drama production in 11 years, following the 2015 MBC drama Scholar Who Walks the Night.
The Great King Munmu is KBS’s 35th Daeha drama (epic historical drama), continuing the network’s tradition of large-scale historical productions. The drama was originally titled The Records of the Silla-Tang War (나당전쟁록) before being changed to Munmu (문무), and then to its current title The Great King Munmu (대왕문무).
The first script reading took place with the full cast and production team in attendance, and KBS has released stills and teaser videos building anticipation for the premiere. A new still released on September 28, 2026, shows Lee Hyun Wook as a formidable king determined to end 600 years of war.
The drama is expected to be a major ratings contender for KBS in the competitive weekend drama slot, following the network’s tradition of high-quality historical productions.
Also Read: Seoul International Drama Awards 2026 Winners: Full List Across All Categories
Stay with VvipTimes for complete coverage of The Great King Munmu, including episode recaps, cast updates, and streaming information as it becomes available.
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