75 minSeason 1 • Episode 24
LatestDeep Rooted Tree is a 2011 South Korean television series starring Jang Hyuk, Shin Se-kyung and Han Suk-kyu. Based on the novel of the same title by Lee Jeong-myeong, it aired on SBS from October 5 to December 22, 2011 on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:55 for 24 episodes. Taking its name from the poem Yongbieocheonga that says that trees with deep roots do not sway, the series tells the story of a royal guard investigating a case involving the serial murders of Jiphyeonjeon scholars in Gyeongbok Palace while King Sejong comes to create the Korean written language.
Acting
Han Suk-kyu transforms Sejong into a trembling, brilliant underdog king.
Writing
Every episode ties murder mystery to linguistic revolution—tight as a hangul syllable block.
Production
Gyeongbok Palace rebuilt with obsessive Joseon-period accuracy.
Creators
Sang-yeon Park, Kim Young-hyun, Jang Tae-yoo
Han Suk-kyu
King Se-jong
Jang Hyuk
Kang Chae-yoon / Ddol-bok
Shin Sae-kyeong
So-yi / Dam
Lee Soo-hyuk
Yoon Pyeong
Cho Jin-woong
Moo-hyul
Seo Jun-young
Grand Prince Gwangpyeong
Yoon Je-moon
Jeong Gi-joon
Baek Yoon-sik
Yi Bang-won
Park Hyuk-kwon
Jung In-ji
Kim Ki-bum
Pak Paengnyeon
Shin So-yul
Mok-ya
Choi Il-hwa
Kim Jongseo
Kim Ki-bang
Cho Tak
Choi Woo-shik
Jeong Gi-joon / Ga Ri-on (young)
Ahn Suk-hwan
Lee Shin-juk
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The title references a Joseon founding poem used to legitimize rulers—here weaponized to question them. The show sparked national debate about Sejong's humanization versus iconization.
Han Suk-kyu studied actual Sejong manuscripts and adopted the king's documented stutter and limp from historical records, not script invention. The real Sejong suffered debilitating diabetes and depression.
KR
