'Red Sleeve' teasers show chemistry between Lee Joon-ho and Lee Se-young as king and court lady

A romance historical drama based on the webtoon The Red Sleeve Cuff written and illustrated by Kang Mi-kang in 2017, the live-action series Red Sleeve tells the story of King Jeongjo, the 22nd king of Joseon dynasty of Korea and his royal consort Uibin Sung. It stars Lee Joon-ho, Lee Se-young, and Kang Hoon as the main leads.

Crown Prince Lee San (Lee Joon-ho) falls in love with Sung Deok-im (Lee Se-young), a court maid. When he is crowned King Jeongjo of Joseon, he wants Sung Deok-im to be his concubine, but she refuses. The humble court lady wishes to live a life of freedom, something that she will not be able to do as a concubine. However, she ends up being one, and their hardships in love and duty persist.

The webtoon was loosely based on historical events during the 18th-century Joseon period, only that it focuses on the angle of romance between the king and his court lady, which the writer researched in-depth. The original circumstances during that time were nothing short of a tragedy, especially in the life of royal consort Uibin Sung.

The 16-episode live-action series produced by MBC will start airing in South Korea on November 5, 2021, at 22:00.