Lee Sung Min Steps Into Veteran Commander Role for Sacred Jewel

“Sacred Jewel” situates its narrative in 1258, during the Goryeo Dynasty at a moment when the kingdom struggled against thirty years of warfare with Mongolia. The story follows an expedition unit tasked with locating the Avalokitesvara Bead, a sacred object believed to grant divine protection to the nation, alongside a princess determined to rescue the soldiers undertaking this dangerous mission. Lee Sung Min plays Choi Gu, the commanding officer of Yabyeolcho, an elite military division within the Goryeo armed forces.

The Weight of Experience

Lee Sung Min’s character embodies a soldier whose existence has been consumed by combat. Choi Gu has crossed into the final chapters of his life, having spent decades as an active combatant across numerous theaters of war. The accumulation of military victories and defeats has granted him profound tactical knowledge and leadership capacity, yet it has also extracted a personal cost measured in exhaustion and emotional depletion.

According to Soompi, when asked to identify three keywords capturing Choi Gu’s essential nature, Lee Sung Min selected wounds, longing, and sword. These terms sketch a portrait of a man simultaneously defined by his function as a warrior and diminished by its demands. His experience remains invaluable to the kingdom in its hour of crisis, yet internally he has begun to desire separation from military obligation and reunion with his family after years of separation.

Mentorship Across Generations

The narrative mechanics rely partly on the relationship between Choi Gu and Baek Gyeol, a junior commander assigned to lead the unit escorting the sacred relic. Baek Gyeol, played by Ahn Bo Hyun, has never experienced live combat before receiving this assignment, making him entirely dependent on Choi Gu’s accumulated battlefield knowledge. Lee Sung Min cited the dynamic between these two figures as particularly compelling, noting that Choi Gu’s influence directly shapes Baek Gyeol’s development throughout the unfolding journey.

Why Lee Sung Min Selected This Project

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Several factors converged to attract Lee Sung Min to “Sacred Jewel.”

Reunion with Director Jung Dae Yoon

The most immediate draw was the opportunity to resume working with director Jung Dae Yoon, with whom he had previously collaborated on the drama “Reborn Rich.” This existing relationship carried substantial professional weight, as both parties had demonstrated compatibility during their prior engagement.

Confidence in Writer Jung Hyun Min

The creative credentials extended beyond the directorial chair. The screenplay was authored by Jung Hyun Min, whose earlier historical drama “Jeong Do Jeon” had impressed Lee Sung Min sufficiently that he cited it as a key factor in his decision-making process. Having viewed that earlier work, he brought informed confidence into this new partnership, trusting the writer’s capacity to construct compelling character arcs and historical frameworks.

A Distinctive Story

Beyond personnel considerations, the premise itself distinguished itself from comparable historical productions. Lee Sung Min characterized the story as possessing originality and narrative distinctiveness that set it apart from other period dramas he had encountered in his career. This combination of proven collaborators and fresh storytelling gave him sufficient confidence to commit to the extended production timeline.

The Physical and Production Demands

The premise of “Sacred Jewel” involves a prolonged expedition across contested terrain in search of a sacred relic, demanding sustained physical performance from its cast. Lee Sung Min explicitly acknowledged that this dimension required substantial physical stamina throughout the filming process.

Training and Preparation

To meet these demands, Lee Sung Min underwent formal training at an action facility, marking a return to such specialized preparation after an extended period without it. This commitment signals both the production’s intention to showcase authentic combat choreography and Lee Sung Min’s own investment in embodying his character’s military background with physical credibility. The decision to pursue renewed action training suggests that “Sacred Jewel” incorporates substantial set pieces and battle sequences, requiring performers to demonstrate genuine movement competency rather than relying solely on editing and camera work to convey action.

Behind the Scenes: Creative Vision

The Writing and Direction

Jung Dae Yoon brings directorial experience from “Reborn Rich,” establishing a track record with complex character work and emotional storytelling. Jung Hyun Min’s screenplay adds another dimension, drawing from historical documents while maintaining creative liberty to invent original character arcs and interpersonal dynamics. This approach, anchoring the story in documented historical circumstances while expanding those references into new narrative territory, gives “Sacred Jewel” both grounding and imaginative space. The drama does not present itself as a strict historical recreation but rather as an original story inspired by and extending historical events.

Lee Sung Min’s Message to Audiences

As the premiere date approaches, Lee Sung Min expressed hope that the collective effort of the writing, directing, production design, and performance work would resonate with viewers. He called for audiences to extend support and affection to “Sacred Jewel,” emphasizing that the production represents a genuine collaborative achievement deserving of public engagement. The drama is scheduled to premiere on December 5 at 10:40 p.m. KST, positioning it within the year-end broadcast calendar and establishing its window for audience discovery.

Source: Soompi