Goryeo-Khitan War is a historical drama that follows the story of King Hyeonjong (Kim Dong-jun), the eighth ruler of Goryeo, who ascended the throne at the young age of 19. Faced with the formidable challenge of a 400,000-strong Khitan invasion, Hyeonjong, guided by his political mentor General Kang Gam-chan (Choi Soo-jong), leads a 26-year-long war against the Khitan Empire. This epic series chronicles their heroic efforts to unite Goryeo and secure a hard-fought victory.
The drama is an adaptation of a 2018 novel of the same name by Gil Seung-su. The novel is a fictionalized account inspired by the historical conflict between the Goryeo dynasty of Korea and the Khitan-led Liao dynasty of China, which occurred from 993 to 1019 near the contemporary border between China and North Korea.
Produced to commemorate KBS’s 50th anniversary as a public broadcaster, Goryeo-Khitan War stands out as one of the priciest historical dramas in the network’s history. The per-episode cost for this ambitious project is a staggering 844 million won, resulting in a total production cost of approximately 27 billion won or $20.4 million.
Status: Completed
Main Cast:
Kim Dong-jun
Ji Seung-hyun
Choi Soo-jong
Director: Jeon Woo-sung and Kim Han-sol
Writer: Lee Jeong-woo
Network: KBS
Release Date: November 11, 2023
Release Date (Final Episode): March 10, 2024
Schedule: Saturdays & Sundays at 21:25 KST
No. of Episodes: 32
Genre: Historical Drama
Korean Title: 고려거란전쟁
Also Known As: Korea-Khitan War
Source Material: Novel
Posters
TV Ratings
| Episode | Date Aired | Rating | Viewers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | November 11, 2023 | 5.5% | 941,000 |
| 2 | November 12, 2023 | 6.8% | 1,249,000 |
| 3 | November 18, 2023 | 5.2% | 1,023,000 |
| 4 | November 19, 2023 | 7.0% | 1,343,000 |
| 5 | November 25, 2023 | 7.5% | 1,373,000 |
| 6 | November 26, 2023 | 7.8% | 1,382,000 |
| 7 | December 2, 2023 | 8.4% | 1,498,000 |
| 8 | December 3, 2023 | 7.9% | 1,454,000 |
| 9 | December 9, 2023 | 8.9% | 1,590,000 |
| 10 | December 10, 2023 | 10.0% | 1,789,000 |
| 11 | December 16, 2023 | 9.7% | 1,701,000 |
| 12 | December 17, 2023 | 9.6% | — |
| 13 | December 24, 2023 | 9.2% | — |
| 14 | December 30, 2023 | 9.4% | — |
| 15 | January 6, 2024 | 10.2% | 1,849,000 |
| 16 | January 7, 2024 | 10.0% | 1,939,000 |
| 17 | January 13, 2024 | 9.8% | 1,716,000 |
| 18 | January 14, 2024 | 10.0% | 1,857,000 |
| 19 | January 20, 2024 | 7.9% | 1,377,000 |
| 20 | January 21, 2024 | 10.1% | 1,819,000 |
| 21 | January 27, 2024 | 9.6% | 1,703,000 |
| 22 | January 28, 2024 | 9.6% | 1,764,000 |
| Average | — | 8.6% | 1,546,000 |
Go to our main Korean drama ratings page for more viewership information. You might also be interested: the Top 20 Highest Rated Korean Dramas of All Time.
More Info
General Information
- Golden Jubilee Celebration: “Goryeo-Khitan War” is a special production commemorating the 50th anniversary of KBS as a public broadcasting organization.
- Simultaneous Streaming: The series marks the first time a Korean terrestrial network historical drama is made simultaneously available on Netflix.
- Innovative Filming Techniques: To enhance production quality, the drama utilized advanced filming techniques like deepfake and mixed reality (XR) technologies, overcoming traditional limitations of cramped filming locations in historical dramas. The drama has also pioneered the use of virtual production, a technique first seen in the Disney+ series “The Mandalorian,” allowing for more realistic and historically accurate backgrounds on large LED screens.
- Record-Breaking Budget: With these state-of-the-art filming technologies, the series boasts the highest production budget in the history of KBS historical dramas, with approximately 844 million won ($640,000) per episode.
- Financial Challenges: KBS faces financial challenges in shouldering the massive production costs alone due to declining TV ratings and reduced advertising revenue, leading to the exploration of alternative funding sources.
- Government and Private Funding: To alleviate the financial burden, KBS secured funding through various sources, including government agencies and private investment solicitations, reflecting the significance of external support in large-scale productions.
- Global Distribution Strategy: The decision to simultaneously broadcast the series on Netflix is seen as a strategy to offset production costs, making “Goryeo-Khitan War” more accessible to a global audience.
Source: NEWSIS
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Star Rating Guide
- 1 Star — Terrible. I deeply regret watching it.
- 2 Stars — Poor. What did I even just witness? Ugh.
- 3 Stars — Average. It’s alright; nothing special.
- 4 Stars — Very Good. Pretty darn satisfying, gotta admit.
- 5 Stars — Excellent. Deserves a standing ovation, seriously.
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