Empire of Lust

Set in the Joseon dynasty around 1398, this historical drama focuses on the intersecting lives of men driven by desire and power. Kim Min-jae, the supreme commander of the army, finds himself caught between his duty to monitor the ambitious Prince Yi Bang-won and his risky love for a woman named Ga-hee. While the Prince seeks the throne after being passed over for succession, the King's son-in-law, Jin, avoids political involvement in favor of personal pleasure. As the political climate shifts, these individuals pursue their goals through methods that often hide cruelty behind innocent intentions.

The film was directed by Ahn Sang-hoon, following his 2011 work Blind and preceding Tastes of Horror from 2023. The screenplay was written by Kim Se-hee and produced by Kim Yeon-ho. The ensemble cast features Shin Ha-kyun as Kim Min-jae, Jang Hyuk as Prince Yi Bang-won, Kang Han-na as Ga-hee, and Kang Ha-neul as Jin, with Son Byung-ho and Lee Jae-yong in supporting roles. Produced by CJ Entertainment and Fineworks, the movie earned 3 million USD at the worldwide box office. Audience reception is mixed to positive, with a 6.1 rating on IMDb based on 1,100 votes and a 6.8 rating on TMDB from 55 votes.