King The Land cast and character guide: Who plays whom in the Korean romance flick? 

Lee Jun-ho and Lim Yoon-a in King the Land, the 2023 JTBC rom-com (Image via Netflix)
Lee Jun-ho and Lim Yoon-a in King the Land, the 2023 JTBC rom-com (Image via Netflix)

When King the Land premiered on JTBC in June 2023, viewers signed up for a vacation in emotional luxury.

Set in the halls of King Hotel, the 16-episode romantic dramedy whisked fans into a world of love, ambition, and tailored suits. Directed by Im Hyun-wook and penned by Choi Rom, the series ran through August 6, 2023, and later landed on Netflix, where it became a global comfort watch.

At its heart, the love story is between a chaebol heir allergic to fake smiles and a hotelier whose grin could light up Seoul. With its performances, timing, and chemistry, King the Land turned every corridor into a runway of romance.

Here’s a guide to who’s who in this modern fairytale!


Main cast of King the Land

1) Lee Jun-ho as Gu Won

The 2PM heartthrob steps into the shoes of Gu Won, heir to the King Group. He’s suave, sarcastic, and thinks "fun" is unnecessary. But under that lies a soft heart, especially when (wink!) a certain smiling hotelier enters his orbit.

2) Lim Yoon-a as Cheon Sa-rang

Girls’ Generation’s YoonA plays Cheon Sa-rang, a ray of sunshine in a uniform. She’s the star employee at King Hotel until Gu Won complicates her world. Their dynamic is the classic rom-com recipe: bickering, chemistry, denial, and finally, a swoon-worthy confession!

3) Go Won-hee as Oh Pyeong-hwa

Sa-rang’s best friend and a King Air flight attendant, Pyeong-hwa, is the definition of resilience. Between flights and relationships, she’s one of King the Land’s most grounded and endearing characters.

4) Kim Ga-eun as Kang Da-eul

Da-eul (Sa-rang’s other bestie) brings a slice of reality. She’s juggling a husband, a daughter, and expectations, yet somehow keeps her wit sharp.

5) Ahn Se-ha as No Sang-sik

Every brooding CEO needs a loyal sidekick, and No Sang-sik delivers. As Gu Won’s right-hand man, he often steals scenes with his comic timing.


Supporting cast of King the Land

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1) Kim Sun-young as Gu Hwa-ran

As Gu Won’s older sister, Hwa-ran is the drama’s elegant ice queen. With ambition colder than the champagne in King Hotel’s VIP suite, she’s determined to claim the family business... no matter who gets scorched.

2) Son Byung-ho as Gu Il-hoon

The patriarch of the King empire (Gu Il-hoon) is every chaebol father stereotype, as seen on King the Land. Stoic, controlling, and disappointed, he’s the reason therapy should be mandatory for heirs!

3) Kim Young-ok as Cha Sun-hui

A K-drama veteran, Kim Young-ok, melts hearts as Sa-rang’s grandmother. Her scenes ground the corporate chaos in love and family warmth.

4) Anupam Tripathi as Prince Samir (Ep. 7–8)

In a guest role, Squid Game’s Anupam Tripathi steals the spotlight as Prince Samir, an over-the-top royal guest who adds a dash of glamor and fun.

5) Kim Jae-won as Lee Ro-woon and Nam Gi-ae as Han Mi-so round out King the Land. They are part of the hotel’s power, politics, and tenderness.


To know if smiles can still open hearts, watch King the Land on Netflix!

NEXT UP: "The angst is going to be so good": Fans hail Yoona and Lee Chae-min’s chemistry in Bon Appétit, Your Majesty

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Edited by Sohini Sengupta