Concluding to a euphoric finale, The King: Eternal Monarch spurred an imaginative story draped with lingering romantic notes and addictive labyrinthine plot bends!
Marking its last chapter on June 12, the drama rippled impressive online presence topping numerous social media platform and news portal search indices. Tying all the loose ends, the series catapulted a superb wrap-up befitting of its highly-visionary premise.
Today, we look back on the definitive moments of the series through some of the most memorable lines from Lee Gon, Jung Tae Eul, Woo Do Hwan and the rest of the remarkable characters from The King: Eternal Monarch.
Lee Lim’s Greed
“I’ve waited all my life for this very moment. I hid my desires, gathered people to assist me, endured your foolish father and mine, and quietly waited for this day my entire life. So how dare you. How dare a little kid like you. You useless and powerless punk. How dare you mess this up?”
Spinning the thread of problems to be tackled by Lee Gon erupted in the night when he stopped his evil uncle in staging a coup. Greedy for power, Lee Lim kills his brother and almost did the same to his nephew. Brimming with grief, he declares his pompous attitude while strangling young Lee Gon to death.
Unbreakable Sword Jo Yeong
“You should stop crying too. Here (gives a sword). From now on, you’re the Unbreakable Sword.”
Witnessing his father’s death, young Lee Gon ascends to the throne. His first duty is to take care of the funeral rites of his father. After summoning strength, he eventually knelt and cried after putting up a brave front. He then meets his future best friend, Jo Yeong, who shared tears with him.
Lee Gon’s Enamoring Love Pitches to Tae Eul
First meeting in Gwanghwamun Square…
“I’ve finally met you Lieutenant Jung Tae Eul.”
After selling diamonds, in front of 63 Building…
“Don’t go, it took 25 years for me to see you. I hope today will be a long day.”
Responding to why he has not leave the Republic yet after being cleared by the police…
“I have decided it initially, but I postponed it for later. I like being here with you like this.”
First chimaek session with Tae Eul…
“If this food is poisoned and I’m dying here, what I’m saying now will be my last words. Thank you for everything. Because you existed somewhere, I was less lonely for the past 25 years.”
Going back to the Kingdom for the first time plus overthinking about Tae Eul’s idea of him…
“I am still single. It means I don’t have an immediate family. Therefore, I have just made a very important decision. I am going to give you the position where you have to know who I am. Lieutenant Jung Tae Eul, I take you to be my wife, the Queen. You just became the reason. The reason why I should stay in this world.
Time stops for the first time scene…
“Time stopped for a bit just now. Thanks to it, I saw a beautiful scene.”
The King of Corea…
“Come with me to my world”
“I’m the King of the Kingdom of Corea. And my name which you cannot say is Lee Gon.”
“She really believes it now. That I am the King.”
Responding to Tae Eul’s question if he dated before + First Kiss
(After planting a swift kiss) “Try guessing what I just proved. The fact that I have dated before or that I’m dating right now.”
Love declaration scene…
“I just realized I haven’t given you any flowers. Also, I just realized I haven’t told you this. I love you. I am deeply in love with you.”
While time-traveling…
“Whenever I’m with you, I forget to count.”
“Tell me to go. Tell me to leave. Please. I’m asking someone’s permission for the first time in my life. If you stop me, I can’t leave.”
“I’ll open all the doors in the universe. And I promise. I will return to you.”
Lee Gon, King of Kingdom of Corea
The orphan King…
“I was raised with my uncle’s worries and Court Lady Noh’s tears. And that’s the reason why Head Court Lady Noh is not nice to you. Don’t be upset about it.”
The decisive monarch…
“We won’t sit back and watch. Not even by one centimeter and one millimeter can Japan enter our territorial waters.”
The King’s dangerous love…
“Head Court Lady Noh is wrong. Jung Tae Eul is not a danger to me. I am a danger to Jung Tae Eul.”
Jung Tae Eul’s Realistic Life Lessons
Mixing drinks for the clueless King…
“Don’t you know MSD? That’s the joy of life. Making, Shaking, Drinking. (Hands the drink to Lee Gon) The King One Shot.”
The liberal arts person Jung Tae Eul…
“Stop making things up! You should know this. If I give you a punch, then that becomes a bruise. We come up with ideas and the science guys make them a reality.”
Brave Jung Tae Eul…
“When I was little, I watched The Police with my dad while other girls watched Snow White and The Little Mermaid. I was only eight years old, but I can pick out the criminal in the show. As I kept watching the show, I wanted to be a cop. Not everyone in the world can be brave. So, I decided to become brave.”
Tae Eul in Coreawonderland imposing on Lee Gon to taste her food first…
“I’m Alice in Wonderland right now. She eats weird pills and grows bigger and smaller and stuff. What if I eat this and die from poisoning or natural causes?”
On understanding her love fate…
“It took me a long time to realize this. When it’s fate there are no coincidences. Your fate is determined by the choices you make, but there are times when your fate chooses you.”
“Things that are bound to happen are taking place even at this moment. I was struck with a sad premonition that this will be short-lived. But I decided to love my fate that chose me.”
“Let’s just not save the world. Let’s just think about the present.”
Setting up Jung Tae Eul and Lee Gon’s Love Rules
Tae Eul’s Love Rules…
- Stay quiet
- Don’t draw people’s attention
- Don’t tell anyone you’re a King
- Keep Jo Yeong out of trouble
- Don’t use guns
- Contact me whenever you go somewhere
- No cheesy comments when I am hungry.
- Don’t ask me to come with you.
- Don’t get scared in advance.
- Tell me you’ll come back.
- No matter what happens you have to come back.
- Catch Lee Lim and even if the door closes, open all the doors in the universe and return to me. Promise me.
Lee Gon’s Love Rules…
“Do just two things for me. Don’t tell me not to come. And don’t tell me not to leave. I have to go back sometimes, and when I do, I want to come back soon. Whichever it is, if you tell me not to come or leave, I don’t think I’ll be able to do anything.”
Jo Yeong – Lee Gon & Eun Sup’s Besties
Encountering his counterpart in the Republic, Jo Yeong is baffled on the disparity of his personality with Jo Eun Sup. Often on a cute banter, he means well for him as displayed in their endearing goodbye scene.
“How can someone have 63 dreams? Are you making deposit accounts or what?”
Entering the Republic for the first time…
“What is this place and how long have you been going here? We don’t have a life here.”
The fated brotherhood…
“The King was eight and I was four. I saw him on his coronation day. That’s when I thought that I wanted him to be happy. I think it was fate.”
Prince Buyeong’s last lesson for Lee Gon
Bearing the weight of the blossoming love and the problems looming between the two parallel worlds, Lee Gon struggles on which path to take. His uncle comes to his rescue in leaving some thought-provoking words for him.
“You can never know what will happen in life. But if there is a place you want to reach, even if your life may be at risk, that is fate. The footsteps you take by risking your whole life is what’s fate.”
Luna’s Redeeming moment
“You just hurt my feelings. I may use people’s weaknesses but I never poke other’s wounds.”
“I don’t want your dad to feel sad.”
Sin Jae’s Unrequited Love
“I’m not letting you go. I wanted to keep this secret to the grave, but I have no choice but to tell you the truth. I have feelings for you Jung Tae Eul. I’ve had feelings for you and you alone my whole life. For every second until now, I’ve liked you. So how can I let you go? How can I just let you die? Don’t be ridiculous and go home.”
Lee Gon and Jung Tae Eul’s parallel-worlds defying love
“What took you so long? I kept waiting for you. I keep waiting for you every day.”
“I love you. I am deeply in love with you.”
“No matter what kind of a door opens before us in life. And even if the moments we share make us sad at times. I wish to be able to love tirelessly. Just like that, we decided to love the fate that chose us.”
Photo Courtesy: Netflix | tvN
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