However, if you are a student of Korean cinema, a fan of visually lush historical epics, or someone who does not flinch at transgressive art, The Treacherous offers a fascinating—if deeply uncomfortable—experience. The cinematography, as many reviewers note, is genuinely impressive. The use of water and the color red, the period costumes, and the palace sets all demonstrate a high level of craft. And the central performances—particularly those of Ju Ji-hoon and Kim Kang-woo—are compelling, even when the script falters.

"The Treacherous" is a polarizing film, a fact reflected in its "mixed or average" reviews.

While "The Treacherous" is of the historical figure Yeonsan-gun (King Yeonsan) and his retainer Im Sa-hong, the film heavily dramatizes and fictionalizes the events for cinematic effect. The film's production was notable for its meticulous attention to recreating the Joseon era, from the stunning costumes to the opulent sets, designed to contrast the beautiful aesthetic with the ugliness of the narrative.

Min Kyoo-dong’s 2015 film, , is an audacious and visually extravagant historical drama that dives into the darkest excesses of the Joseon Dynasty. Set during the reign of King Yeonsan-gun—widely regarded as one of Korea's most cruel and tyrannical rulers —the movie explores how power, when left unchecked, spirals into a morbid display of depravity and corruption.

Intricate attire that reflects the decadence of the period.

The movie received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising its engaging storyline and performances, while others found it to be a bit slow-paced. However, it still maintains a respectable IMDB rating of 6.4/10.

Some Western viewers find the shift between brutal political maneuvering and intense emotional melodrama to be jarring. 📜 Historical Fact vs. Cinematic Fiction

The Treacherous (Korean: 간신; RR: Gansin ) is a 2015 South Korean period thriller that plunges into the corrupt and decadent court of King Yeonsan, often cited as one of Joseon's most brutal tyrants. The story focuses on the relationship between the unstable King Yeonsan (Kim Kang-woo) and his chief courtier, the treacherous Im Sung-jae (Ju Ji-hoon). To appease the king's unending appetite, Sung-jae devises a scheme to scour the country for 10,000 young women to become royal concubines. However, among them is Dan-hee (Lim Ji-yeon), a woman who hides a deadly secret—a burning desire for revenge. This high-stakes game of cat and mouse, filled with power struggles and shocking acts of cruelty, forms the film's core, leading to an inevitable, violent downfall.

This article provides a comprehensive look at the film’s IMDb presence—its rating, user reviews, controversies, and more—while also placing it within the broader context of South Korean cinema and the real-life history that inspired it.

The film's IMDb page offers the first clear picture, serving as your primary reference for all the key facts:

The film centers on the real-life historical figures Im Sa-hong and his son, Im Sung-jae. They acted as the King’s "treacherous subjects," exploiting his madness by scouring the provinces to conscript women, using beauty as a weapon to maintain their ultimate political grip on the throne. Plot Overview: A Deadly Game of Survival