It’s hard not to root for Kwon Na Ra, Lee Yi Kyung and Royal Secret Agent Kim Myung Soo to succeed on their mission!
Only five historical-themed dramas aired this season, the last one being Royal Secret Agent. And 2020 K-Drama season saved the best for last by following the trademark period drama elements that we are familiar with.
The series is set to traverse the story of King-appointed detective who goes undercover to probe on abusive acts and corruption of Joseon era government officials. Scoring 5% and 5.8% nationwide viewership ratings, Royal Secret Agent is off to a great start. Aside from its main conflict, we also see romance and bromance as additional gravitating points of the series
Opening Week Rating: 
Streaming Site: abbyinhallyulandwatches Royal Secret Agent on iQIYI
Royal Secret Agent Opening Week Story
When dispatched royal secret agent Park Cheol-gyu (cameo Kim Seung Su) cornered a greedy government official, his inquisition was halted by mysterious assassins whose leader wounded him with his sword.
A month later, Chief State Councilor Kim Byeong-gun (Son Byung Ho) proposes the abolishment of Royal Secret Agents. He cites how the royal secret agents are having a hard time hiding their identities and even accepting bribes.
Disagreeing to that, the King (Hwang Dong Joo) is firm on the role of royal secret agents to him. Remarking how the agents are his eyes and ears investigating on corrupt officials.
Chief Royal Secretary Jang Tae-sung (Ahn Nae Sang) supports the King by mentioning how the old Kings face the same problems, but never moved to remove the royal secret agents.
Kim Byeong-gun uses the rumor that Park Cheol-gyu was killed to push for his request. He argues to consider the innocent lives at risk because of the dangerous job of royal secret agent. Jang Tae Sung responds he already sent someone to investigate infuriating the Chief State Councilor. So, the King openly supports his secretary to shut the obvious villain up.
Hong Da-in’s Task
Police officer Hong Da-in was tasked by Lord Jang to gather information and goes for a cover as gisaeng Honglang. Popular for her unrivaled charm and beauty, she gets the opportunity to serve Lord Kim and picked up information about his evil plans. That includes buying slaves from the slave market because he needs it outside the city.
She later reports what she learned to Lord Jang. But could not go any further with details. Narrating an assistant advisor crashes the merrymaking of the officials, thus, nothing more was spilled by Lord Kim.
Park Cheol-gyu’s Journal
Receiving the report from the man Lord Jang sent, the King learned of a town sheriff’s tyranny and overtaxing of the residents. When they cannot pay tax, the evil sheriff would seize children to work as slaves.
The disheartening news broke the King’s heart and orders his secretary to look for a royal secret agent. His requirements is to get someone new and reliable plus not related to any government official.
Royal Secret Agent Sung Yi Gyeom
Working as an assistant advisor in the admin and research department, Sung Yi-gyeom was a top-scorer in the state examination. He is a son of a capable deceased government official and lives alone with his servant. But his revolutionary and patriotic vision seem not aligned to his gambling habit at night.
In one of those gambling sessions, Lord Jang stumbles on what he thought to be diligent workers, only to discover their overtime is because of gambling. Meeting Sung Yi-gyeom, he secures the right person for the new royal secret agent required by the King.
Lord Jang proposes to the King of his plan to appoint Yi-gyeom as his new royal secret agent. Following his secretary’s lead they go to his cell and officially made the proposal. Reasoning his humble origin, the King asked him to give his trust so he can give him the power he needs.
Royal Secret Agent entourage
Imprisoned for bribing a government clerk, Da-in was bailed out by Lord Jang. Cutting a deal of helping her with the information she was looking for, he gave her another task to go with a royal secret agent. Unaware that it is Yi-gyeom, she agrees and prepares to leave in the morning.
At the same time, Lord Kim learned of Lord Jang’s tail on him to be Da-in. The gisaeng house was raided the next day and she runs to where she should meet Yi-gyeom and his servant Chun-sam (Lee Yi Kyung).
They head to the town where Park Cheol-gyu was assigned to and investigate on the same evil father-and-son. Da-in enters a courtesan house to look for a gisaeng named Sawol. Chunsam goes to town to gather information from the townspeople. Meanwhile, Yi-gyeom hunted a wild boar which has been causing ruckus in the town. He brings it to town sheriff Jang Sung-hwan to create an impression and win his favor.
Investigating small and big tiger
Yi-gyeom and Da-in meet when the former was invited to rest and drink by the sheriff. His son Jong-gam assisted him, but Yi-gyeom not liking the sheriff’s son moving close to Da-in pretends spilling food to break the moment.
He motions Da-in to follow after he made an excuse that he will go to the washroom. Da-in reports finding Sawol, however, her mental health worsened after getting pregnant.
Meantime, busy body Chunsam uses his master’s royal secret agent badge when he helped a poor mother with her two sons being harassed for tax collection. His careless move reaches the sheriff’s ears and goes to meet the bandits’ leader. It was the same man who protected him against Park Cheol-gyu. He warns the sheriff to hasten the procurement of slave workers.
At that same moment, Yi-gyeom is dragged by the sheriff’s son to hunt, not wild board, but human. Mercilessly shooting the escaping slave, Yi-gyeom can’t stomach the wicked man beside him.
Finally making a progress with Sawol by mentioning her younger brother, Da-in leads her to where Yi-gyeom is. However, when they bump on the sheriff’s son, Sawol screams in fear.
Sawol’s Sad Fate
Da-in eavesdrop on the conversation of Jong-gam and hears the royal secret agent was dead. Thinking it was Yi-gyeom, she rushes to their hideout. Sawol who picks the book left by da-in reads through the pages.
The evil father-and-son discuss about the news of the royal secret agent in town and reveals Sawol might have witnessed an evil deed Jong-gam committed pushing her trauma.
Chunsam coaches his dense master to walk Da-in since she came worried thinking he was dead. Following Chunsam’s lead, he walks Da-in balk and asks if she cried because she was worried about him.
Denying it strongly, Da-in pouts but Yi-gyeom tells her how he felt happy that someone would cry if he will die.
Suddenly, Sawol arrives and leads them to a place. But before she can even confess, an arrow pierced on her chest.
Royal Secret Agent Opening Week Musings
Parading lively characters, interesting storyline and budding romance in the opening week, I won’t go once or twice because Royal Secret Agent is definitely SOLD for me.
If you are quite picky with historical dramas, this series won’t bombard you with myriad of historical references. It was as simple as the story of a secret inspector on a mission to round up corrupt government officials commissioned by the King.
Kim Myung Soo and Lee Yi Kyung as expected have already made their master-servant relationship engrossing to watch. I like how they know each other like the back of their hands.
The placement of cliff-hangers, an essential ingredient to historical narrative, are also commendable so far. Period series has a reputation of displaying a fleet of villains, but I think the series will go to a smart sectioning of presenting its villains.
Underdog themed stories bank on the efficient sketching of the story’s hero, and Royal Secret Agent has roped in ample curiosity to unearth more about Yi-gyeom’s pain and dreams.
I think this series will have the trio work on other cases before it connects the deaths of the respective families of Da-in and Yi-gyeom. Same way that it will not tackle multiple cases at the same time, but just patiently connects all the cases to its core conflict.
Definitely not daunting to watch for a period series. In fact, its mood is quite modernized and the humor layers add for its easy following.
Royal Secret Agent airs on KBS 2TV every Monday and Tuesday.
Photos: iQIYI | KBS
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