Cha Joo Young And Lee Hyun Wook's Fateful Romance Unfolds In Upcoming Prequel “The Queen Who Crowns: Before Sunrise”

Jan 17, 2025

Upcoming prequel to “The Queen Who Crowns,” “The Queen Who Crowns: Before Sunrise” has shared new stills!

“The Queen Who Crowns: Before Sunrise” is a romantic drama that explores the fateful first meeting between Won Gyeong (Cha Joo Young) and Lee Bang Won (Lee Hyun Wook), two individuals who shared a dream before stepping into the world. Serving as a prequel to the original drama “The Queen Who Crowns” it delves into the fiery life of Queen Won Gyeong, a kingmaker who envisioned a new world in the early days of the Joseon dynasty and helped her husband, Lee Bang Won, secure the throne.

Ahead of its release, the prequel has shared stills capturing the early moments of the fateful connection between Won Gyeong, Lee Bang Won, Chae Ryeong (Lee Yi Dam), and Yeong Sil (Lee Shi Ah) during the late Goryeo period. In the main drama “The Queen Who Crowns,” these characters are entangled in a complex, turbulent relationship marked by love and hate. However, the new images reveal a more peaceful period, raising questions about how and where these four characters will form their bond and what their relationships will be like before entering the palace.

Won Gyeong, the daughter of Min Je from the Yeongheung Min clan—one of Goryeo’s 15 influential families—has a delicate appearance but a strong personality. Lee Bang Won, a scholar at Sungkyunkwan skilled in both literature and martial arts, has a dazzling gaze. Together, they radiate youthful energy. Lee Bang Won is instantly captivated by the bold and charismatic Won Gyeong, while she grows curious about him. As their emotions deepen, the two begin a fateful romance.

In the main drama, Chae Ryeong and Yeong Sil become the king’s women. In the prequel, however, they are depicted as part of Won Gyeong’s inner circle, with their stories further explored. In the original drama, viewers see how these characters received special care from Won Gyeong. She took in young Chae Ryeong, who was abandoned by her mother and caught stealing from hunger, promising to give her a life where she wouldn’t be ignored or discriminated against simply because she is a woman. The prequel teaser shows Chae Ryeong actively supporting Won Gyeong as she helps gather food for Lee Bang Won’s soldiers.

Yeong Sil also shares a fateful connection with Won Gyeong. Once a servant of Queen Sin Deok, the second wife of Lee Seong Gye (Lee Sung Min), Yeong Sil endured abuse before being rescued by Won Gyeong and becoming her servant. The released images present a different atmosphere from the main drama, sparking excitement for the storyline to unfold.