To me, this movie is simply about how power can be used, whether for good or bad, and how one obtains it. It is not all serious though. There are many funny moments, especially at the beginning, when the fake king is learning about court and palace decorum, and generally behaving in a way that would have been considered very unbecoming at the time. However, as the fake king grows into his role, he starts to learn about what it really means to be a king, and all the injustices inflicted on commoners and the palace servants. It is here that we have the sad and moving moments of the movie. Unfortunately the villainous ministers who plot to undermine the king are not given much time onscreen, but they really are secondary to the plot. Lee Byung Hun portrays both the real and fake kings well, especially the fake king and how he settles into his role as king. Ryu Seung Ryong is the astute and trustworthy royal secretary who works with conviction. Han Hyo Joo does not have a lot of screentime in this movie, but she gives a good, controlled performance as the queen who loves the king but has been distanced from him by court intrigue and politics. Really enjoyed it and I can see why it has received so many awards in the 2012 awards season.