Cha Joo Young’s character, Wongyeong, faces unimaginable heartbreak in the latest episode of The Queen Who Crowns, as she loses her family and trusted informants due to Lee Hyun Wook’s shocking betrayal. Despite the devastating blow, Wongyeong cannot afford to fall apart—she’s determined to continue her fight for justice, especially after witnessing the pain of the common people under corrupt officials. This intense episode helped the drama reach a peak rating of 6.1%!

The 9th episode of The Queen Who Crowns, which aired on February 3, recorded impressive ratings of 5.1% in the metropolitan area and 4.9% nationwide, with a high of 6.1% and 5.9%, respectively. This solidified the show’s spot as the top-rated program in its time slot across cable and satellite channels.

In this episode, Wongyeong’s bold decision to select a princess consort with royal lineage was a major turning point. The royal family and Lee Bang Won (played by Lee Hyun Wook) pushed for the marriage of Yi Suk Beon’s daughter, as Yi Suk Beon controlled the military. But Wongyeong, focused on the future of her son, the king, insisted on a fair competition to ensure the selection of a worthy consort.

Her decision to have the candidates spin their own silk highlighted her belief in valuing the common people. While Yi Suk Beon’s daughter tried to cheat by having someone else spin the silk for her, Wongyeong’s keen eye and informants exposed the truth, including the theft of a ring and false accusations against a servant.

Despite angering Lee Bang Won with her decision, Wongyeong remained steadfast in her principles, even as political plots and betrayals unfolded around her. The episode took a dark turn when Yi Suk Beon, seeking revenge for his rejection, captured and executed Wongyeong’s informant, Pansu (played by Song Jae Ryong). Devastated by the loss of Pansu and her family, Wongyeong’s emotional breakdown had viewers on edge as she cried, “Why is this happening to me?”

Amid the betrayal and political drama, Wongyeong vowed to leave behind those who had once stood by her, including the manipulative Cha Ryeong (played by Lee I Dam). But even as she sought to retrieve Pansu’s body, shocking truths continued to surface, including the mismanagement of land and growing unrest among the people due to famine.

As the country teeters on the brink of crisis, all eyes are now on Wongyeong, wondering what decision she will make in this life-or-death moment for her country and the people she’s sworn to protect.

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Lee Jun Young recently opened up about the emotional toll of playing a villain—and how one powerful scene made him break down in tears behind the scenes.

On the May 1st episode of KBS 2TV’s variety show Problem Child in House, Lee Jun Young appeared alongside co-star Jung Eun Ji to promote their new KBS drama Pump Up the Healthy Love.

During the show, Lee Jun Young was asked about the most unforgettable villain he’s played. He chose his role as Han Su Gang in the film Brave Citizen.

He explained, “It was really tough to film. I had to act like I was leading school violence, and there was even a scene where I bullied a grandmother.”

The hosts were surprised, pointing out how kind and gentle he seems in real life. Lee Jun Young shared how he transforms for such roles.

“I try to act as bad as I can, but sometimes the director says, ‘You still look too nice.’ Then I focus even harder and adjust right away.”

He also revealed that filming one particular scene hit him hard emotionally. “My real grandmother was sick at the time,” he said.

“In one scene, there’s a grandma selling gimbap, and I ad-libbed by stubbing a cigarette out on the gimbap. I was really into character, but after filming, I just broke down. So many thoughts came to me and I started crying.”

Fans praised his dedication to acting but also felt moved by how deeply the role affected him. Lee Jun Young’s honesty gave a raw look at how even fictional roles can hit close to home.

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