Title: 군주 – 가면의주인 / Ruler: Master of the Mask
Chinese Title: 君主－假面的主人
Also Known as: Monarch
Genre: Historical, Political, Romance
Episodes: 40 (30 minutes/episode)
Broadcast network: MBC
Broadcast period: 2017-May-10 to 2017-July-13
Air time: Wednesdays & Thursdays 22:00 (2 episodes back-to-back)
Synopsis
This is a pre-produced drama. Filming began on 2016-December.
Set in the 18th-century Joseon, it tells the story of Crown Prince Lee Sun (Yoo Seung Ho) and his fight against a powerful and wealthy organization Pyunsoo-hwe that controls the country behind the scenes due to its monopoly of the nation’s water supply. With the help of the woman he loves named Han Ga Eun (Kim So Hyun), Lee overcomes adversity and grow as a just ruler.
Cast
Main Cast
Yoo Seung Ho as Crown Prince Sado Lee Sun
Kim So Hyun as Han Ga Eun
L as commoner Lee Sun
Yoon So Hee as Kim Hwa Goon
Heo Joon Ho as Dae Mok
Park Chul Min as Woo Bo (Lee Sun’s teacher)
People around Crown Prince
Shin Hyun Soo as Lee Chung Woon
Bae Yoo Ram as Park Moo Ha
Lee Chae Young as Mae Chang
Pyunsoo Party
Kim Byung Chul as Kim Woo Jae
Kim Jong Soo as Joo Jin Myung
Do Yong Goo as Choi Sung Gi
Jung Kyu Soo as Heo Yoo Gun
Kim Young Woong as Jo Tae Ho
Kim Seo Kyung as Gon
Park Ki Ryung (박기륭) as Mr. Jang
Jo Seung Yun
Family of commoner Lee Sun
Park Hyun Sook as Yoo Sun Daek (mother)
Jung Hae Kyun as father
Go Na Hee as Kko Mool (younger sister)
Royal Palace People
Kim Myung Soo as King Yeongjo
Kim Sun Kyung as Consort Yeong
Choi Ji Na as Queen Jeongseong
Jung Doo Hong as Lee Bum Woo
Song In Gook (송인국) as Hyun Suk
Jung Ah Mi as Court lady Han
Lee Dae Ro as King’s eunuch
Others
Jun Noh Min as Han Kyu Ho
Jin Ki Joo as Choi Kang Suh
Kong Jung Hwan
Min Pil Joon
Kim Ho Jin
Lee Ki Young
Uhm Hyo Sup
Uhm Seo Hyun
Kim Jong Goo
Production Credits
Production Company: People Story Company, Huayi’s Brothers
Planner: Kim Kyung Hee
Producers: Jung Chan Hee, Bae Jung Hoon, Shim Jung Woon
Directors: Noh Do Chul, Park Won Gook
Screenwriter: Park Hye Jin, Jung Hae Ri
Awards
2017 MBC Drama Awards: Popularity Actress – Kim So Hyun (Ruler: Master of the Mask)
2017 MBC Drama Awards: Popularity Actor – Kim Myung Soo (Ruler: Master of the Mask)
2017 MBC Drama Awards: Fighting Spirit Acting Award – Kim Myung Soo (Ruler: Master of the Mask)
2017 MBC Drama Awards: Golden Acting Actress (Mini-Series) – Kim Sun Kyung (Ruler: Master of the Mask)
2017 MBC Drama Awards: Top Excellence Actor (Mini-Series) – Yoo Seung Ho (Ruler: Master of the Mask)
Episode Ratings
| Date | Ep | TNmS | TNmS | AGB | AGB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nationwide | Seoul | Nationwide | Seoul | ||
| 2017-05-10 | 1 | 8.8 (9th) | 10.0 (5th) | 9.7 (6th) | 10.5 (5th) |
| 2017-05-10 | 2 | 10.1 (6th) | 10.9 (4th) | 11.6 (4th) | 12.1 (4th) |
| 2017-05-11 | 3 | 10.4 (8th) | 11.5 (6th) | 10.5 (6th) | 11.2 (5th) |
| 2017-05-11 | 4 | 10.8 (6th) | 11.9 (5th) | 12.6 (4th) | 13.4 (4th) |
| 2017-05-17 | 5 | 8.5 (12th) | 10.4 (6th) | 11.2 (5th) | 11.8 (5th) |
| 2017-05-17 | 6 | 9.2 (10th) | 11.0 (5th) | 12.5 (4th) | 12.9 (4th) |
| 2017-05-18 | 7 | 10.4 (6th) | 11.8 (5th) | 12.0 (5th) | 12.9 (5th) |
| 2017-05-18 | 8 | 11.6 (5th) | 13.1 (4th) | 13.4 (4th) | 14.2 (3rd) |
| 2017-05-24 | 9 | 10.6 (8th) | 10.9 (6th) | 11.9 (6th) | 12.7 (5th) |
| 2017-05-24 | 10 | 11.7 (6th) | 12.6 (4th) | 13.8 (4th) | 15.2 (3rd) |
| 2017-05-25 | 11 | 11.1 (7th) | 11.7 (5th) | 12.1 (6th) | 13.2 (5th) |
| 2017-05-25 | 12 | 12.3 (5th) | 13.3 (4th) | 13.8 (4th) | 15.1 (3rd) |
| 2017-05-31 | 13 | 11.8 (6th) | 13.8 (4th) | 11.7 (6th) | 12.2 (4th) |
| 2017-05-31 | 14 | 12.8 (4th) | 15.7 (3rd) | 13.6 (3rd) | 14.5 (3rd) |
| 2017-06-01 | 15 | 12.0 (6th) | 14.5 (5th) | 12.0 (6th) | 12.6 (5th) |
| 2017-06-01 | 16 | 13.4 (5th) | 15.8 (2nd) | 13.6 (4th) | 14.2 (3rd) |
| 2017-06-07 | 17 | 11.6 (6th) | 13.0 (5th) | 10.9 (7th) | 11.0 (6th) |
| 2017-06-07 | 18 | 12.4 (5th) | 14.0 (3rd) | 11.9 (5th) | 11.6 (5th) |
| 2017-06-08 | 19 | 11.0 (7th) | 13.0 (5th) | 11.2 (6th) | 11.2 (6th) |
| 2017-06-08 | 20 | 11.4 (6th) | 14.0 (4th) | 12.2 (5th) | 12.1 (5th) |
| 2017-06-14 | 21 | 11.8 (5th) | 13.0 (5th) | 11.3 (5th) | 11.8 (5th) |
| 2017-06-14 | 22 | 13.0 (4th) | 14.5 (2nd) | 13.0 (4th) | 13.8 (3rd) |
| 2017-06-15 | 23 | 10.3 (5th) | 11.3 (5th) | 11.3 (5th) | 11.3 (5th) |
| 2017-06-15 | 24 | 12.0 (4th) | 13.2 (3rd) | 13.4 (4th) | 13.2 (4th) |
| 2017-06-21 | 25 | 10.3 (8th) | 11.5 (5th) | 10.6 (6th) | 10.8 (7th) |
| 2017-06-21 | 26 | 11.8 (5th) | 13.0 (4th) | 13.2 (4th) | 13.5 (5th) |
| 2017-06-22 | 27 | 10.0 (9th) | 11.9 (5th) | 10.8 (6th) | 11.4 (5th) |
| 2017-06-22 | 28 | 11.6 (5th) | 14.1 (3rd) | 12.2 (4th) | 12.4 (4th) |
| 2017-06-28 | 29 | 9.6 (7th) | 11.0 (5th) | 10.1 (6th) | 10.1 (5th) |
| 2017-06-28 | 30 | 11.2 (4th) | 13.7 (3rd) | 12.2 (4th) | 12.3 (4th) |
| 2017-06-29 | 31 | 10.5 (6th) | 12.6 (4th) | 11.9 (5th) | 11.9 (5th) |
| 2017-06-29 | 32 | 12.2 (4th) | 14.5 (2nd) | 14.4 (4th) | 14.6 (3rd) |
| 2017-07-05 | 33 | 12.1 (6th) | 12.2 (5th) | 12.6 (5th) | 13.3 (5th) |
| 2017-07-05 | 34 | 14.0 (4th) | 14.6 (3rd) | 13.6 (4th) | 14.5 (4th) |
| 2017-07-06 | 35 | 12.9 (5th) | 15.2 (4th) | 12.8 (5th) | 13.5 (5th) |
| 2017-07-06 | 36 | 14.7 (4th) | 16.6 (3rd) | 14.9 (3rd) | 15.2 (2nd) |
| 2017-07-12 | 37 | 15.5 (5th) | 18.0 (2nd) | 13.2 (5th) | 13.9 (5th) |
| 2017-07-12 | 38 | 17.6 (3rd) | 20.3 (1st) | 14.5 (4th) | 15.2 (2nd) |
| 2017-07-13 | 39 | 14.4 (5th) | 16.1 (4th) | 13.3 (5th) | 13.5 (5th) |
| 2017-07-13 | 40 | 16.0 (3rd) | 18.4 (2nd) | 14.4 (3rd) | 14.7 (3rd) |
Sources: TNmS Media Korea & AGB Nielsen Korea
*** Different between TNmS Media Korea & AGB Nielson – Here
Poster
Related Photo
(Other Photo from Official Site)
Trailer:-
– Official Trailer
– Trailer I
– Trailer II
– Trailer III
– Trailer IV
– Trailer (Yoo Seung Ho’s version)
– Trailer V
– 3 minutes preview
167 Responses to “Ruler: Master of the Mask”
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July 15th, 2017 at 3:49 pm
it’s a very good watch. the last episodes were more dramatic than the first ones building up the story. as usual, the veteran actors delivered well. this is the first time i’ve watched L, and i thought at first that his character was lame, and lame he acted, but in the last episodes, he was superb.
July 16th, 2017 at 8:55 pm
So sad, I don’t want this drama to end. 🙁 The drama has grown so much on me. It was beautifully written. Superb acting by all the actors especially Yoo Seung Ho. His acting never fails to impress.
This drama is very highly recommended! 🙂
July 17th, 2017 at 10:33 am
I like both leads and I have high hope that this will be a very good drama but at the end I am slightly disappointed. The acting is good but the story is a bit lame. I keep waiting for the crown prince to do something smart to defeat the villain but nothing like that happened. The crown prince made many decisions to get himself killed but only survive because of luck. I wish the hero to be a little bit smarter than that.
July 17th, 2017 at 4:35 pm
Definitely in my list of top favorite historical drama, alongside Jewel in the palace, the moon embrace the sun, Jumong and the legend.
Despite all of the drama flaws and controversy, this is indeed a high quality drama.
The whole idea of the story, the perfect cast, the cinematography, the music, the sound effect, the powerful yet heartwarming lines of the crown prince absolutely make this drama very recommended to watch.
Great job for all the cast and production staff. Kudos to the cinematography director, music director, sound director. As for the writer, for first project in historical drama, it is quite good. Hoping that you all will be a better writer and will wait for your next improved writing also.
July 17th, 2017 at 4:36 pm
[…] Ruler: Master of the Mask or Emperor: Owner of the Mask is my latest watched drama. It is a drama I have been waiting for since a long time ago after both @wow_kimsohyun (as Han Ga Eun) and Yoo Seung Ho (as crown Prince Lee Sun) confirmed as the main leads. […]
July 18th, 2017 at 10:03 pm
I was looking forward to the end of this drama.
But now that it has ended, I feel somewhat sad.
I really love this drama.
Love Kim So Hyun 🙂
Has been loving her since she was younger and act as a younger version of the main character.
And will always support her next project.
July 22nd, 2017 at 11:25 am
Love this drama and I dont feel bored watching it because every scene is intense. I love the character of Hwa Gun, her love for the Prince is selfless, I feel sad that she die.All actors are the best and also the soundtrack is cool.
July 26th, 2017 at 8:00 pm
@shiro. Yes, I think Hwa Goon deserves a special mention. She loved without being corrupted and subsumed in jealousy. It’s a special kind vision that a person submits to another, concerned only with the happiness of her beloved over an above her own. Beautiful.
July 28th, 2017 at 3:26 pm
@simon K I agree with you
The main lead actor was good.
But I can’t feel the love chemistry between crown prince and ga eun.
And the storyline is out of my expectation.
Overall it was not supperb but it was just ok,not too bad 🙂
August 7th, 2017 at 6:37 am
Loved this drama! I am especially proud of the 2 leads. KSH & YSH have both been acting since they were little children and I consider their acting experience is better than many actors and actresses. Shoot and KSH just turned 18 y/o. The entire cast did a phenomenal job and I was glad to see an oldie, Hu Joon-Ho whom I first saw in HOTELIER (2001). Sincere thanks to all!
August 7th, 2017 at 7:55 am
love it. more more more more. ilove you yoo seung ho and L..
August 18th, 2017 at 11:13 pm
Not that amazing drama but still okay too me…
August 23rd, 2017 at 7:49 pm
Love this drama!
September 28th, 2017 at 7:16 pm
Well the last episode was so touching my heart. Especially at the end of the show. When Lee sun, Hwa gun and Ga eun’s father aprreared for the last time. It was making me cry. So sad that Lee sun must die. Over all…this drama is worth it to watch..will miss you all
November 24th, 2017 at 10:13 pm
Vote Ruler Master of the Mask for the top 8 best korean drama 2017.
March 2nd, 2018 at 10:38 pm
I can say this is one of the best saeguk drama. yoo seung hoo is the best. actually I liked Kim So hyun, but her character here is less influential. too weak. I thought Hwa Gun would be one of evil woman here, but she sacrifices more for the king. even she was willing to die for the king. her love for her king is really sincerelly. I really cried when she die. I feel sorry for her. and Gon.. he love Hwa Gun, ㅠㅠ but he cant say anything till hwa gun die. I feel sorry for him too.
August 12th, 2018 at 8:11 am
I really think this is the best drama I ever watched I like all the character in the drama the play a very big role I certainly felt so sorry for hwa gun she is the best character to me in the drama and in reality I fall in love with her am so sorry to say this but I really do and wish one they I shall meet her