The series blends political intrigue with horror, showing how human greed and corruption prove just as dangerous as the zombie threat. Through Chang’s journey from prince to king, it explores themes of leadership, sacrifice, and the consequences of unchecked power.
Kingdom is a gripping South Korean historical horror-thriller series that reimagines the zombie genre within the rich political intrigue of Korea’s Joseon dynasty. Created by Kim Eun-hee and based on her webcomic The Kingdom of the Gods, the show masterfully blends period drama, palace conspiracies, and relentless undead terror into a visually stunning and narratively intense experience.
Set in a fictionalized 17th-century Korea, the story follows Crown Prince Lee Chang (Ju Ji-hoon) as he uncovers a mysterious plague that resurrects the dead as ravenous, fast-moving monsters. His fight for survival becomes entangled with a deeper conspiracy—corrupt nobles, led by the ruthless Queen Cho (Kim Hye-jun), are willing to unleash hell to seize power. Alongside physician Seo-bi (Bae Doona) and rugged soldier Yeong-shin (Kim Sung-kyu), Chang battles both the living and the undead in a struggle for the kingdom’s soul.
With its lavish production design, heart-pounding action, and sharp social commentary on class and power, Kingdom reinvents zombie lore through a distinctly East Asian lens. The series expands with Ashin of the North (2021), a special episode delving into the plague’s origins, and teases future chapters in this brutal, beautifully crafted world. For fans of historical epics and horror alike, Kingdom offers a fresh, adrenaline-fueled take on survival in an era where the greatest monsters are often human.
Kingdom – Season 1 – Summary
In medieval Korea, Crown Prince Lee Chang investigates a mysterious plague resurrecting the dead after his father, the king, falls critically ill. The queen and her powerful family, the Cho clan, scheme to seize power by hiding the king’s condition.
Chang travels to the southern province with his guard Moo-young and meets physician Seo-bi, who reveals the plague is caused by a resurrection plant. The infected become ravenous, flesh-eating monsters that spread quickly.
As the undead overrun villages, Chang and local magistrate Cho Beom-pal try to protect civilians. They discover the plague was unleashed by the queen’s faction, who used the plant to prolong the king’s suffering.
The survivors, including Chang and Seo-bi, fortify themselves in a medical camp, but the zombies breach the walls. Chang barely escapes, while Beom-pal is killed. The season ends with the undead horde spreading toward the capital.
Kingdom – Season 1 – Trailer
![Kingdom | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4l-yByZpaaM/0.jpg)
Kingdom – Season 2 – Summary
The zombie plague reaches the capital, forcing Prince Chang and his allies to fight both the undead and the corrupt Cho clan. The queen gives birth, securing her claim to the throne, but her newborn is secretly swapped with a commoner’s child.
Seo-bi and a young boy, Yeong-shin, discover that cold temperatures slow the zombies. Using this weakness, Chang leads a desperate battle at Hanyang’s ice lake, trapping and burning the undead.
The queen is killed, and Chang exposes the Cho clan’s treason. However, he learns the resurrection plant’s true origin—it was brought by Chinese traders.
Seven years later, Chang, now king, faces a new outbreak. Seo-bi and Yeong-shin investigate and find that the plant has evolved, creating even deadlier zombies. The season ends with a cliffhanger as a mysterious figure spreads the plague further.
Kingdom – Season 2 – Trailer
