Rooftop Prince


Rooftop Prince is a 2012 South Korean fantasy romantic comedy television drama, starring Park Yoo-chun, Han Ji-min, Jeong Yu-mi, Lee Tae-sung, Lee Tae-ri, Jung Suk-won, and Choi Woo-shik.
It is about a Joseon crown prince who, after his wife dies mysteriously, time travels to the future where he encounters familiar faces, modern-day devices, and corporate intrigue. The series aired on SBS from March 21 to May 24, 2012 on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:55 for 20 episodes. It is available on Netflix.

Synopsis

Yong Tae-mu, after killing his lost cousin in the United States, returns to Korea, claiming that his cousin, Yong Tae-yong, could not be found in New York City. Meanwhile, Tae-mu has been having a secret affair with Hong Se-na, his secretary, who, in turn, runs into her long-lost stepsister Park-ha. Park-ha has been missing for a prolonged period of time and it is revealed that she was in the US after Se-na abandoned her in a truck driving away when she was nine.
Two years after Tae-yong's disappearance, four men dressed in Joseon-era garments fall onto Park-ha's rooftop house. Hungry, homeless and having nowhere to go, the four men decide to stick with Park-ha. Their leader, Lee-gak claims to be the Crown Prince of Joseon, along with his entourage – scholar Song Man-bo, personal bodyguard Woo Yong-sool, and palace eunuch Do Chi-san. One day, Crown Prince Lee Gak sees Se-na who is the spitting image of his beloved wife, who was found drowned in the 18th century. He is convinced she is his wife's reincarnation. Meanwhile, Yeo, a wealthy president of a large company, mistakes Lee Gak for her grandson, Yong Tae-yong, because of their exact same appearance, and believes that her long lost grandson has finally returned. Lee Gak realizes that he has time traveled 300 years to 2012, Seoul, to search for the truth behind the mysterious death of the late Crown Princess. In order to approach Se-na, who is also President Yeo's personal assistant, Lee Gak pretends that he is Tae-yong. Tae-mu, believing that he already killed his cousin in New York, lives in constant fear of his devious act being discovered by the family and "Tae-yong" who claims not to have remembered the event. Tae-mu has always been jealous of Tae-yong's favored position in the family.
On the other hand, Park-ha is shocked by the news that her new friend who calls himself the Crown Prince is, in fact, the grandson of the CEO. But before long, her feelings for Lee Gak blossom and she is hurt when she finds out that Lee Gak, who still holds very tender memories of his dead wife, is courting Se-na. Lee Gak also believes that marrying Se-na in Seoul in the year 2012 would bring him closer to solving the mystery of the Crown Princess' murder in the Joseon era.

Cast

Main

Prior to the script reading, the main actors were required to undertake a camera test dressed in traditional costumes. The first script reading occurred at the SBS Ilsan Production Center on February 1, 2012.
Filming for Rooftop Prince began on February 4, 2012. On February 7, 2012, a traditional wedding scene was filmed at Gyeonghuigung in Seoul, involving the young Crown Prince Lee Gak and Hwa Yong.
Filming was temporarily rescheduled due to the passing of Park Yoochun's father on March 13, however Park resumed work on March 17 as the pilot episode was scheduled to air on the 21st.

Original soundtrack

To date, three EPs and one album have been released.

Rooftop Prince OST Part 1

Rooftop Prince OST Part 2

Rooftop Prince OST Vol. 1

Rooftop Prince OST Part 3

Ratings

Despite average ratings in South Korea, the drama was popular overseas, especially in China and Japan. Fans from 35 countries have visited the filming set.

Awards and nominations