Filming begins in July 2026 for the 12-episode drama «Secret Love Tales of Soosung Palace» (수성국 밀회록, 설야담 , 수성궁 밀회록, Secret Memoirs of the Suseong Palace, Snowy Tale: Suseong Palace Secret Meeting Record, Suseonggung Secret Chronicle, Memoirs of Mercury Palace).

The story is based on the classic Joseon-era Korean novel «Woon Yeongjeon» (운영전), also known as «Suseonggung mongyurok» (수성궁몽유록) and «Yu Yeongjeon» (유영전). The author of this work is unknown. Scholars believe the novel was written no earlier than the 17th century, probably in its first half, since the action begins in 1601. It is considered one of the finest examples of the "mongyurok" (몽유록) genre - "dream narratives" - as well as an important milestone in the development of Korean romantic prose.

The novel is written in hanmun, the classical Chinese script used in Korean literature. Its structure is complex.

In 1601, a young man named Yu Yeong comes to the ruins of Susong Palace, the former residence of Prince Anpyeong, and falls asleep there.

Now for a bit of historical context. Prince Anpyeong (real name Yi Yong / Lee Yong) was the third son of King Sejong the Great. Recently, all of Korea and many around the world watched the film "The King’s Warden", which tells the tragic story of young King Danjong, overthrown from the throne by his uncle Sejo. These events take place in the mid-15th century, about 150 years before the events of the novel.

Read more about the lineage in this story here:
Became a prince: the royal lineage of Lee Jun Hyuk revealed.

So, Anpyeong was the brother of both Sejo and Geumseong (the latter played by Lee Jun Hyuk in the film), and the uncle of Danjong. He was an outstanding intellectual and artist of his era, famous as a poet, calligrapher, painter and musician who played the gayageum, and a great patron of the arts. We owe to him the famous painting "Dream Journey to the Peach Blossom Land", which the artist An Gyeon painted based on the prince’s own detailed description of a dream. He also supported his nephew in the struggle against Sejo, was accused of rebellion, exiled to Ganghwa Island and soon executed at the age of 35.

Back to the novel. Yu Yeong falls asleep and dreams of meeting the ghosts of two lovers. From them he hears the story of their tragic love. The heroine is a court lady named Woon Yeong, who served the prince. She falls in love with a talented young scholar named Kim, but their feelings run up against palace prohibitions and class prejudice. Unlike many classic Korean tales, the novel ends tragically: the lovers perish. This makes «Woon Yeongjeon» a unique phenomenon in Korean classical literature, where virtue more often triumphs.

As for the hero who fell asleep by the palace walls - the narrator named Yu Yeong - his fate is different and full of mystery. After waking up, he found a book beside him containing the recorded story, confirming that his vision was real. Shaken by what he had seen, he decided to withdraw from the world and wander through the mountains and seas. His further destiny remains unknown.

«Suseonggung mongyurok» is included in Korean school textbooks and is considered one of the literary canons that shaped national identity.

This classic story has seen many reprints and adaptations and will now be reimagined as a drama. Interestingly, the novel is clearly a tragic story ending with the deaths of its main characters, yet the drama is announced as a historical fusion rom-com..

The screenplay is written by Lee Eun Mi («Nine Puzzle», «Navillera»), and the director is Park Soo Jin («Why Her?», «While You Were Sleeping»). Production is handled by the global content studio Ace Story, which produced hits such as "Kingdom", "Signal" and "Extraordinary Attorney Woo Young Woo".

The leading roles are played by Kang Hoon («Red Sleeve», «A Time Called You») and Chae Won Bin («Doubt», «Yadang: The Snitch»). They are joined by Kim Moo Joon («Dynamite Kiss», «Sorry Not Sorry») and Lee Ki Taek («My Happy Ending», «The Practical Guide to Love»).

According to reports, the drama takes place at Susong Palace, where a talented writer and court lady named Woon Yeong (Chae Won Bin) finds her most devoted reader in the person of Crown Prince Yi Hyang (Kang Hoon). The historical Yi Hyang was King Sejong’s eldest son. He is the future King Munjong, father of the ill-fated Danjong mentioned above. Yi Hyang is a highly educated heir, excelling both in scholarship and the arts. In real life, Munjong was also a fine scholar and is known for developing one of the world’s first rain gauges.

So his calm, orderly life is disrupted when he meets the young woman whose writings have captured his heart. When Woon Yeong discovers that her admirer is none other than the Crown Prince, their fates become intertwined, and a story of love, secrets and the romance they create together begins.

Kim Moo Joon takes on the role of the third prince, Anpyeong, and Lee Ki Taek plays Grand Prince Jinyang. Grand Prince Jinyang — King Sejong’s second son — is none other than the villain Prince Suyang, the future King Sejo.

Given such historical dynamics, it will be truly interesting to see how the Koreans fit a romantic comedy into these delicate family relationships.

The drama is scheduled to air on tvN and the streaming platform TVING. According to sources, the premiere is planned for 2027.