Original subtitles

Withdraw your decision, Father.

I cannot accept your abdication.

Father, I beg you to withdraw your decision to abdicate.

Are you... serious about this abdication?

He can't be serious.

Why would he abdicate the throne now when the country is dealing

with pirate attacks and famine?

It's likely he will retract his decision.

What could His Majesty be trying to accomplish by threatening to step down?

Perhaps he is punishing the retainers who audaciously harassed

the newly installed Crown Prince.

Did you say that one who tied the knot must untie it?

This knot is for you to untie, Left Minister.

Minister Shim!

Turn in your resignation.

Why do you think His Majesty is insisting on this abdication?

He is telling us he will not renounce the Crown Prince with or without

public or divine blessings.

I have no reason to resign.

I was doing my duty as the Prince's mentor...

This is your last chance to show your loyalty.

This country is beleaguered with problems small and large.

We do not have the time to waste on this matter....

- So... - What if...

What if he's serious about this abdication?

You mustn't abuse your body like this.

The King is the kingdom itself, I said.

I am unprepared to rule the kingdom.

I will be your shadow.

So do not be afraid. Rise to the throne.

We have a problem, sir.

Let's go.

His Majesty is moving to Sugang Palace?

Does this mean he really is serious about this abdication?

It's premature.

Are you afraid?

You will be the new King's biggest enemy if he abdicates his throne.

Japanese pirates are causing havoc in the south coast.

Will the new King be able to handle it?

This could cause quite a storm in the country...

Will rising to the throne right now be a good thing for the Crown Prince?

It will be if his only other option is a rain ritual

witch could result in complete loss of public favor.

Your Majesty, we beg you to reconsider your abdication!

We beg you, Your Majesty!

Your Majesty, you must watch over this kingdom!

Watch over this kingdom!

Withdraw your decision!

Would you remove the parasol?

It is unfitting for a sinner who seeks forgiveness.

Rain! It's raining!

Reconsider your abdication, Your Majesty!

Your Majesty...

I see that Heaven approves of my decision.

Stop this protest now.

But Your Majesty...

This is my eighteenth year on the throne.

You've been riding on a tiger's back long enough.

Your Majesty...

If you don't stop the protest, what will happen to your new King in this rain?

Royal Attendant.

Instruct the Royal Kitchen to bring something to warm and soothing.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Who will help the new King run this state if all of these men are in bed ill?

I made this decision to step down for health reasons which caused

difficulties in administering the state, so fight me no more on this matter.

However, with only two months of time as a Crown Prince under his belt,

state affairs in its entirety would be too much for the young King.

Therefore, important military affairs including staffing decisions will be

handled by me until the King reaches ripe age of thirty.

So be advised and continue your good work.

Your Highness, please rise and come inside.

You must prepare for your enthronement.

Your Highness...

Would you like to take...

a trip to the hot springs?

Doe may not be the eldest son,

but you are passing on the scepter in your lifetime as you so desired,

so why not unburden your shoulders and relax?

Not yet, my Queen.

There is no time for that yet.

Why are we here, Your Highness?

Master, how big of a man do you suppose I am now?

This big?

Can I embrace the world with these arms of mine?

Your Highness...

I... have doubts.

To get a grip on the spiraling public sentiment, some of you suggested

political negotiation, and some of you suggested that I pray to Heaven.

While you were butting heads with frustration,

I did nothing but my feed my fear in hiding.

Yet the world says I am the wise one and tells me to be its King.

But I am not the wise one.

Collective wisdom!

Would you share your knowledge and insight with me?

Give me your wisdom so I may be a wise and benevolent King of Joseon.

How long have you been by my side?

This is my tenth year.

Go to the new King now.

Your Majesty...

Serve him as you served me. No...

Serve him better than you've served me.

There are numerous men in this court who has had the thrill of

choosing their own King.

They will want to control the King next...

Your Majesty...

That's human nature.

I need you to be my eyes and ears.

Stay close to the new King and tell me who dare tries to control him.

Jo Malseng as Administer of Memorials?

It's not enough that he has control over military affairs, now he wants

to put his right-hand man next to the new King and keep him under watch?

Then tell him not to abdicate.

He wants to tend to military affairs until the King is 30. That's 8 years.

He wants to put the King on the throne as a puppet for the next 8 years!

It doesn't seem right to me either.

How many retainers

do you think would obey a King who's been a puppet for 8 years?

I'm sure today was a long day for you as well.

What prompts you to request private audience at this time of the night?

With all due respect, I did not request private audience with the King.

I came to speak to my in-law to discuss our son's future as his parents.

Our son's future?

If you must abdicate your throne, turn control of military affairs over

to the new King as well.

It's not the right time yet.

You'll never know the right time.

Children are subject of constant worry for parents.

An eighty-year-old mother still worries about her sixty-year-old son,

and that's just human nature.

What is your point?

You mustn't make a puppet out of the new King.

A puppet?

No man will give absolute loyalty

to a King who has his father looming over his shoulders.

Including yourself?

Your Majesty...

Leave.

You must allow him to lead the country his own way.

What way is that?

That naive and unrealistic way where everyone is loved and forgiven including

those who conspire to commit high treason?

Would you rather he continued the violent, merciless rule where the

sword is the only thing that can maintain the regime?

You must trust your son.

Not your dominance but your trust is what will make the new King

grow bigger and stronger.

Did you wish to see me?

Doe.

I never called you by your first name much.

I can't blame really myself since we hardly got to spend time together...

But I feel somewhat sad and regretful that I will not be able to

call you by your name at all after tonight.

Father...

Thank you... for becoming a fine man.

I never gave you much attention, but you grew up to be a great man

fit to rule a kingdom and I'm very grateful.

Be a benevolent King.

Violence will end with me.

I will reap the seed of violence I've sown, so I want you to become a benevolent King.

Hear ye!

The New King is to be enthroned on the...

tenth day of August, on this year 1418!

In honor of this joyous event,

those imprisoned for all crimes excluding murder and high treason

will be pardoned and released!

In addition, town councils across the country will open their silos to

the public for distribution of grain!

My lord, we have a new King.

They're giving away grains at the town hall. May I go?

At last you abdicated your throne, Your Majesty...

Cho-um!

Jung-um!

Sam-um!

I am not yet a wise man.

Collective wisdom!

Would you share your knowledge and insight with me?

Not only will we share our wisdom

but our hearts and our lives as well.

Have no fear, Your Majesty.

You will renew this country with your own hands.

What would happen if we fired all of the cannons into the sky?

Is there no weapon that can defeat Heaven?

King Sejong - Fourth King of Joseon

After 18 years of King Taejong's reign

in this 26th year of Joseon's birth.

It is with trepidation that I hereby declare succession to the throne.

The throne is a seat bequeathed by Heaven and the people,

and so I will serve the people as I serve Heaven.

Long Live the King!

Your Majesty! Your Majesty!

Stop, Officer Jeong! Wait! Stop!

Your Majesty, we have a problem!

What could be a greater problem

than a subordinate official barging into the audience hall?

At the abdicated King's office...

Are you talking about the order to conquer Tsushima Island?

Conquer?

I see you still treat your acquaintances prior to kingship like friends.

Some degree of formality must be maintained between master and servant.

Remember. You are no longer a prince.

You're a sovereign King of this state.

The abdicated King is preparing a great conquest of Tsushima Island.

For that reason, he has ordered us to compile a proposal outlining a special

tax law to secure war funds.

Special tax law?

Yes, Your Majesty.

Prepare to fire!

Fire!

Next we will compare the speed of Japanese ship against our war ship.

Our ship is clearly slower than the Japanese ship.

Why?

It's largely due to the material.

Our ships are constructed of pine while the Japanese use Japanese cedar.

Any ideas to improve the speed?

I believe an attachment at the bow might help.

It's good to know we have you to rely on.

Thank you, Your Eminence.

So Sadamori, Lord of Tsushima Island

Pyoung Mahngo...

Traitor Pyoung Dojeon's son?

Can we win him over?

I don't think there will be a problem.

This is bogus!

You're all in on this together! You set me up!

Thank you.

It's the least I can do for a fellow Japanese.

I'm from Tsushima.

Tsushima Island conquest...

Don't you think it's untimely?

They have been harassing our south coast long enough, my King.

The country is still suffering from drought and food shortage.

Public sentiment will turn further away if we attempt to collect special taxes.

There are many ways to control public sentiment.

This conquest will help us get back the public trust we lost.

It is too much burden for the public to bear.

I want to find a diplomatic approach to solving this problem.

Later. You can do that later.

Your Eminence...

This is the first year of your reign.

It is more important to display your strength than your love right now.

It is so that the people will trust and follow you.

A powerful King?

Silence domestic complaints by waging a war?

Since when does manipulating public sentiment constitute strength?

This is worse than suppressing them by force!

But Japanese raids are indeed a big problem in the south coast.

Things are quite chaotic in the lower three states.

It is to calm the public outcries.

How can you say this is manipulation?

Why can't we build a stronghold and keep them out?

Sometimes offense is the best defense.

Did the abdicated King already get to you?

Officer Jeong!

Deputy Minister Gang was always a foot servant to the abdicated King.

Stop this!

I am against this conquest regardless of the purpose.

Why would you send thousands of men to war

when you can solve the problem with this little thing?

Oh, I need a drink...

Now even the abdicated King is pushing me to drink!

What did I tell you?

Without control of military affairs, he is just a puppet.

I do believe it is crucial for the stability of the state

that orders come from one place...

This is quite frustrating!

Your Majesty...

Do you think I should support the conquest?

Are you afraid to defy your father?

No, it's because I trust your judgment.

Your Majesty...

I've trusted your judgment as

a soldier wholeheartedly since my days in Gyeongsung.

If you think this is a good idea,

I am ready to consider the positive aspects of this conquest.

Take it.

Relax.

I'm comfortable as I am, Your Majesty.

When are you going to stop acting like my foot servant?

You're a leader of this country's military.

Sangin.

Yes, Your Majesty.

It's reassuring to have you in the Ministry of Military.

I do need someone who will be my hands and feet.

A foot servant...

Innkeeper! Innkeeper!

- Bring me more wine! - We're out!

Don't lie to me, woman! Bring me my wine!

Why would she bring you wine when she's got paying customers?

Mind your own...

You can't come to places like this anymore...

Aren't you going to pour me a drink?

But...

Stop drinking so much if you don't like me coming to places like this.

I heard you've been drinking almost every day lately.

Why are you partying when I'm the one who got the promotion?

Because I'm so frustrated!

That's a perfect excuse.

Quit your drinking.

It's not as easy as it sounds.

You won't be able to drink even if you want to anymore.

You're going to be too busy for that.

You told me once to make a deal. Remember?

Are you talking about Left Minister Park Eun?

Is that offer still open?

May I ask where you have been?

I was told you had a drink with the Royal Secretary

at an unsecured location in the city.

Is it your job to have me watched?

My job is to serve you properly.

You are no longer a prince but a sovereign King of this state.

I've asked you to keep a distance from your acquaintances prior to kingship.

Have you forgotten?

No, I have not.

How much longer will you act like a child surrounded by your aides?

For a long time, I hope.

The sensorate officials will not tolerate inner circle domination.

Are the sensorate officials under your control as well?

It's rather intimidating.

Inner circle domination?

I guess I should start cleaning up around the King.

Where are we going, Your Majesty?

To see my close advisers.

Your Majesty...

Your Majesty the King!

Take your seats.

What is this occasion?

This is an exam to select men of wisdom, Minister Jo.

Chosen ones will be in the circle of my closest advisers.

There is no way I can fight you and win, Minister Jo.

That's why I'd like you to be at the core of my inner-circle politics.

Your Majesty...

Be their examiner

the judge that will test and choose who among these men are wisest.

I know you are more than capable from what my father has told me about you.

Begin.

The poem subject!

Remember, Minister Jo.

Anyone who is willing and able to share their wisdom with me

is my aide no matter who they are or where they come from.

You'd like me to be the director of the Hall of Worthies?

I am sorry to have to ask when

you are busy as it is with your duties as Left State Councilor.

Are you telling me to stop putting pressure on you? Park Eun

I am acknowledging our outstanding ability as an auditor.

Chances are we will go forward with this conquest,

and collection of special taxes will become unavoidable.

I am thinking of securing majority of that tax revenue through tax audits.

Secure tax revenue from the aristocracy?

Collect unlawfully secured wealth.

Would you research this subject with the scholars of the Hall of Worthies

and help me put a feasible policy together?

Hall of Worthies...

I will use this place as a treasure house of wisdom and find ways

that will benefit this kingdom...