Overview of Empire of Lust

‘Empire of Lust’ released in 2015 directed by Ahn Sang-hoon tells a multi-layered story of aristocracy, love and revenge. The central focus of the story is the love life of Kim Min-jae and Ka-hee enacted by Shin Ha-kyun and Kang Han-na. Being Kim Min-jae a trusted man of the empire with great responsibilities and Ka-hee his concubine and love, who secretly tries to seek revenge, they encounter many challenges in fulfilling their aims and love.

Profile

• Movie: ‘Empire of Lust’
• Genre: History, Romance, Drama
• Director: Ahn Sang-hoon
• Writer: Kim Se-hee
• Starring: Shin Ha-kyun, Jang Hyuk, Kang Han-na, Kang Ha-neul
• Cinematography: Son Won-ho, Ju Seong-rim, Yu Eok
• Producers: Kim Min-gi, Bae Won-gyu
• Production Companies: Fineworks, Keymaker
• Release Date: 5 March 2015
• Running Time: 113 minutes
• Language: Korean
• Country: South Korea

Cast

Main

• Shin Ha-kyun as Kim Min-jae
• Kang Han-na as Ka-hee
• Jang Hyuk as Yi Bang-won
• Kang Ha-neul as Kim Jin

Supporting

• Son Byong-ho as King Taejo
• Lee Jae-yong as Jeong Do-jeon
• Kim Da-ye as Princess Gyeongsun
• Sa-hee as Lady Min

Synopsis

The movie is a combination of war, romance and drama. Kim Min-jae the main character and the ferocious warrior of the Joseon Empire, is tangled in the drama of both family and empire. Kim Min-jae is assigned to shield the crowned prince and the borders of his empire, also he is a trusted man of the King. Apart from that, Kim Min-jae is an acquaintance of Yi Bang-won, the fifth son of the king. However, to carry out the assigned tasks, Kim Min-jae needs to overcome a bundle of hurdles.

The movie takes its audience directly to a battlefield at the very beginning. When Kim Min-jae and his men win the battle for the empire, the King hosts a banquet celebrating victory. Prince Yi Bang-won attends this banquet instead of the King’s private banquet with his close family members. At the banquet, Kim Min-jae meets Ka-hee when she appears there for a performance. Her dance moves remind Kim Min-jae of his mother, who committed suicide to save herself from the people who tried to take her forcefully.

Kim Min-jae falls in love with her and stops her from leaving the empire. However, Jin, Kim Min-Jae’s son, also a womanizer and a rapist gets attracted by the beauty of Ka-hee. Furthermore, Jin once brutally molested her. The relationship between Kim Min-jae and Ka-hee is full of desires. However, Ka-hee possesses a heart full of vengeance towards Jin. Drowned in the desire for Ka-hee, Kim Min-jae trusts her blindly. Recognizing Kim Min-jae’s blindspot as his lust for Ka-hee, she makes him do awful things to fulfil her revenge beneath her gorgeousness.

One day Ka-hee goes to see the princess and she tells a story about revenge. Jin is disturbed by listening to her story. That night, Kim Min-jae wakes up from his sleep by getting an intuition of being attacked by the assassins. Hearing the fight Ka-hee and others wake up. When an assassin is about to spill the name of the man behind the conspiracy, another assassin throws his sword aiming at Kim Min-jae, but Ka-hee blocks the blade and gets wounded. Kim Min-jae’s wife is irritated by seeing his love for Ka-hee.

One day, Ka-hee seduces Jin, though she is the concubine of Kim Min-jae. Later that day, Kim Min-Jae calls Jin to teach him sword fighting. Embarrassed by not being able to even hold the sword properly, he leaves. Learning the influential involvement of Ka-hee in Kim Min-jae’s decisions, his wife picks up an argument with him. One day, Kim Min-jae’s wife burns the belongings of Ka-hee.

Jin tries to assault Ka-hee forcefully. At that time, a battle outbreaks out between Kim Min-Jae and Yi Bang-won. The Emperor orders Kim Min-jae to behead Ka-hee because of her attempt to seek revenge for her bitter past. When Kim Min-jae asks her why she chooses revenge over living peacefully, she tells him that the life of women in the empire is worse than that of cattle. Yi Bang-won reports to the emperor that Kim Min-jae flees with Ka-hee disobeying his orders.

The royal army follows Kim Min-jae and Ka-Hee. On the other hand, the princess poisons Jin for betraying her. By that time, Kim Min-jae and Ka-hee reach the riverside. The army burns the bridge and boats. However, Kim Min-jae rescues Ka-hee in a boat and he stays fighting on the shore. Kim Min-jae falls into the water with serious wounds on his body and Ka-hee too jumps into the water from the boat. Under the water, together they dream about a peaceful life in a small village.

One day Yi Bang-won waits at the riverside and one of his men reports to him that they did not find any dead bodies. Yi Bang-won orders him to remove all the information about Kim Min-jae from the historical records and replace his position with deputy minister Soon-boon.

Theme

Sex, Love And Betrayal

The movie talks a great deal about love, revenge, sex and betrayal. The movie also tells about the life of common people, especially women in the empire. The empire has a powerful military under the command of Kim Min-jae to protect the borders however he does not move his pinky against his rapist son for assaulting the low-class female citizens until it comes to his concubine Ka-hee. Therefore, Ka-hee used her body as a weapon to take her revenge. Swallowed by lust, Jin betrays his wife and Kim Min-jae prioritises his concubine over his wife.

Awards

Interesting Facts about Empire Of Lust

1. The script of ‘Empire Of Lust’ is the only screenplay written by Kim Se-hee.
2. There is also a book named ‘Empire Of Lust’ by Rina Kent.
3. The filming of the movie started in April and ended in July.

FAQs

1. Who is the director of the movie ‘Empire Of Lust’?
   Ahn Sang-hoon is the director of ‘Empire Of Lust’.
2. In which year was the film ‘Empire Of Lust’ released?
   ‘Empire Of Lust’ was released on 5 March 2015.
3. Who enacted the role of Kim Min-jae in the ‘Empire Of Lust’?
   The role of Kim Min-jae is enacted by Shin Ha-kyun.
4. What is the Instagram ID of Kang Han-na?
   The Instagram ID of Kang Han-na is @k_hanna_.