Sword & Silence (Munmu) KBS2: Release Date, Cast, Plot
KBS2's big-budget historical epic "Sword & Silence" premieres this Saturday, Nov. 14, at 9:20 p.m. KST. The 28-episode series, known in Korea as "Munmu," airs on Saturdays and Sundays and is rated 15+.
The drama is a sageuk, a Korean historical drama, set in the Three Kingdoms era. It follows how the kingdom of Silla absorbed people from the fallen kingdoms of Goguryeo and Baekje, fought the Tang dynasty of China alongside them, and moved toward becoming one nation. Lee Hyun-wook leads the cast as Kim Beop-min, who becomes King Munmu. The ensemble also includes Kim Kang-woo, Park Sung-woong, Jung Woong-in, Kim Do-hyun, Oh Seung-hoon and Lee Ji-hoon. Soompi reports that actors including Yang Hyun-min, Choi Ye-bin, Go Young-bin and Kim Byung-gi play key figures on the Tang side and in the court.
Director Kim Yeong-jo has described the story as one of blood shed by heroes as Silla built a unified people. He said he hopes the series will be remembered as a work that "expands the scope of epic historical dramas."
Some history helps. Silla, allied with Tang China, defeated Baekje in 660 and Goguryeo in 668, then spent years fighting Tang forces that tried to hold the peninsula. King Munmu, who reigned from 661 to 681, presided over that turn from alliance to war, which is the period the drama covers.
The series is written by Kim Ri-heon and Hong Jin-yi, according to a drama database listing, and is directed by Kim Yeong-jo and Gu Seong-joon.
Why it may interest U.S. viewers. Most Western audiences know Korean period dramas through Netflix hits, but this is a traditional KBS weekend slot production. The Silla-Tang war is a rarely dramatized chapter of East Asian history: a smaller kingdom resisting the expansion of a much larger imperial power on its border. That makes it a useful entry point for viewers curious about how Koreans understand their own national origins.
Where to watch. KBS2 broadcasts the series in Korea. No international streaming partner has been announced in the sources reviewed, so U.S. availability is unconfirmed. KBS content frequently reaches global viewers through its own world service channels and licensed platforms, but viewers should check official KBS announcements before the premiere.
The first two episodes air Nov. 14 and 15. With 28 episodes in total, the series will run for roughly 14 weeks on its twice-weekly schedule, so viewers have time to catch up after the premiere weekend.
