Zombies are boring. There, I said it. Usually, they’re just mindless meat-sacks used for jump scares and cheap gore, but back in 2019, Netflix’s Kingdom changed the vibe entirely. It wasn't just the hats—though let’s be real, the Joseon-era headwear was elite—it was the people. When you look at the cast of TV show Kingdom, you aren't just looking at a list of actors. You’re looking at a masterclass in how to make a political thriller feel urgent while monsters are literally gnawing on people's shins.
Ju Ji-hoon, Bae Doona, and Ryu Seung-ryong didn't just show up for a paycheck. They brought this heavy, Shakespearean weight to a genre that usually feels like a B-movie.
The Crown Prince and the Weight of the Sword
Ju Ji-hoon plays Lee Chang. At first, he’s just a pampered royal trying to figure out why his dad won't come out of his room. But Ji-hoon plays the evolution of this character with such subtle grit. He starts out entitled. By the end of the first season, he’s covered in filth, wielding a sword, and actually caring if the peasants live or die. It’s a huge arc. Ju Ji-hoon has this way of looking exhausted that feels genuine. You can see the literal weight of the crown—and the literal weight of a dozen hungry corpses—pressing down on his shoulders.
The chemistry he has with his bodyguard, Moo-young (played by Kim Sang-ho), is the emotional glue. Honestly, if Moo-young isn't your favorite character, we might need to have a talk. Kim Sang-ho brings a much-needed levity. He’s the guy who just wants to eat a decent meal while the world is ending. That dynamic between the noble prince and the hungry commoner is what makes the cast of TV show Kingdom stand out from your average Western zombie flick. It’s about class as much as it’s about brains.
Bae Doona: More Than Just a Physician
If you’ve seen Sense8 or Cloud Atlas, you already know Bae Doona is a powerhouse. In Kingdom, she plays Seo-bi. She isn't a "fighter" in the traditional sense, but she’s arguably the most important person on screen. While everyone else is swinging swords, she’s doing the science. She’s the one trying to figure out the thermal properties of the resurrection plant.
Bae Doona plays Seo-bi with this intense, quiet focus. She doesn't scream. She doesn't panic. She just works. It’s a refreshing take on the female lead in horror. She isn't there to be rescued; she’s there to solve the problem. Her performance is grounded, which is necessary when the plot involves frozen flowers and parasitic worms.
✨ Don't miss: Why October London Make Me Wanna Is the Soul Revival We Actually Needed
The Villain We Love to Hate
Ryu Seung-ryong as Lord Cho Hak-ju is terrifying. No, he doesn't have super powers. He doesn't turn into a monster (at least not a literal one). He’s just a man who wants power so badly he’s willing to let the world rot for it. Ryu Seung-ryong has this deep, resonant voice that makes every threat feel like a death sentence. When he sits on that mat, staring down the Prince, the tension is thicker than the fog in Hanyang.
He represents the real "monster" of the show: greed. The cast of TV show Kingdom works because the human villains are often scarier than the undead ones. You can outrun a zombie. You can’t outrun a political conspiracy that has branded you a traitor.
Don't Sleep on the Supporting Players
- Kim Sung-kyu as Yeong-shin: The mysterious tiger hunter. This guy is a total badass. His speed with a musket is basically the only reason the main characters survive the first few episodes. Kim Sung-kyu brings a jagged, dangerous energy to the group.
- Kim Hye-jun as the Queen Consort: Talk about a breakout performance. In season one, people thought she was a bit stiff. Then season two hit, and she turned into a cold-blooded mastermind. Her "I don't need a king" energy was a highlight of the entire series.
- Heo Joon-ho as Lord Ahn Hyeon: The mentor figure. He brings a legendary status to the screen. When he shows up, you feel like things might actually be okay, even though they definitely aren't.
Why This Ensemble Works Better Than The Walking Dead
The cast of TV show Kingdom benefits from a tighter script. Because it’s a "sageuk" (historical drama), the stakes are baked into the social hierarchy. Every actor knows exactly where they fit in the world. The way they speak, the way they bow, and the way they fight all reflect their social standing.
When a zombie attacks, the high-born officials are often more worried about their silk robes or their dignity than their lives. It’s darkly funny. It’s also a biting commentary on how leadership fails during a crisis. The actors lean into this. They aren't just playing "survivor #4." They are playing specific roles in a crumbling society.
The Special Case of Jun Ji-hyun (Gianna Jun)
We have to talk about that season two finale. It was like two seconds of footage, but it broke the internet. Jun Ji-hyun appearing as Ashin changed the trajectory of the whole show. It led to the prequel, Kingdom: Ashin of the North.
🔗 Read more: How to Watch The Wolf and the Lion Without Getting Lost in the Wild
In that special, Jun Ji-hyun proved why she’s one of the highest-paid actresses in South Korea. She barely speaks for the first half-hour, but her eyes tell the whole story of her village's destruction. She turned the "zombie origin story" into a tragedy about revenge and isolation. Adding her to the cast of TV show Kingdom was like adding a nuclear reactor to a bonfire. It just made everything bigger and more intense.
The Physicality of the Performance
Being in this cast looks exhausting. Have you seen the "making of" clips? The actors are sprinting through mountains in full traditional dress. The zombies aren't CGI; they are hundreds of dancers and actors who have been trained to move in ways that look physically impossible.
The main cast has to react to that. Ju Ji-hoon has mentioned in interviews how difficult it was to film the winter scenes, where the cold was so biting it made the swords difficult to hold. That physical discomfort translates to the screen. It looks cold. It looks dirty. It looks real.
Navigating the Politics of Joseon
The show isn't just about biting; it’s about the throne. The cast of TV show Kingdom spends about 40% of their time arguing in courtyards. This is where the veteran actors like Ryu Seung-ryong shine. They make "boring" political maneuvers feel like a high-stakes poker game.
You’re watching the Prince try to prove he’s the rightful heir while the Queen is faking a pregnancy and the Prime Minister is hiding a zombie King in the basement. It’s a lot. If the acting weren't top-tier, the whole thing would collapse under its own absurdity. Instead, it feels like a period-accurate drama that just happens to have a plague problem.
💡 You might also like: Is Lincoln Lawyer Coming Back? Mickey Haller's Next Move Explained
What's Next for the Kingdom Universe?
While fans have been clamoring for a third season for years, the status remains a bit of a question mark. Director Seong-hun Kim and writer Kim Eun-hee have both expressed interest in continuing the story, but the cast of TV show Kingdom are all massive stars with packed schedules. Ju Ji-hoon and Bae Doona are constantly in demand for other films and series.
However, the world is too rich to leave alone. The ending of season two set up a massive expansion into the northern territories and the origins of the plague.
Actionable Steps for Fans and Newcomers
If you want to dive deeper into the world of Kingdom, don't just stop at the main series.
- Watch "Ashin of the North" immediately. It’s a feature-length special that provides the "why" behind the zombies. It’s darker and more focused than the main series, featuring an incredible performance by Jun Ji-hyun.
- Pay attention to the hat game. Seriously. In Joseon-era Korea, hats (called gat) were a status symbol. The production design used the cast of TV show Kingdom to showcase the intricate hierarchy of the time. The larger or more ornate the hat, the more power the character likely holds.
- Check out the actors' other work. To see the range of this cast, watch Ju Ji-hoon in Hyena or Bae Doona in Stranger (Forest of Secrets). It will give you a much deeper appreciation for how they transformed for their roles in Kingdom.
- Look for the "Making of" documentaries on Netflix. Understanding how the zombie actors (the "unnamed" cast members) were trained by choreographers helps you appreciate the chaos on screen. They weren't told to act like monsters; they were told to act like they were driven by a singular, agonizing hunger.
The cast of TV show Kingdom succeeded because they treated a "zombie show" with the same reverence as a historical epic. They didn't wink at the camera. They didn't lean into the camp. They stayed in character while running through the woods at 3:00 AM, and that’s why we’re still talking about it years later.