MBC's hugely popular Jumong is the first of a wave of Korean historical dramas dealing with the Goguryeo Dynasty (approximately 37 BC-AD 668). Written by veteran Choi Wan Gyu (Hur Jun, Sang Do, and All In) and Jung Hyung Soo (Damo), Jumong is one of Korea's most impressive and popular historical dramas. It dominated television screens during its broadcast, attracting viewership ratings of over 40 Percent in Korea.

Jumong is the name of the legendary founder of Goguryeo, King Dongmyeongseong. The story starts with the conflict between Gojoseon, an ancient Korean kingdom, and Han Chinese forces, eventually leading to a fragmented Korean Peninsula. Hero-in-the-making Jumong (Song Il Kook, Emperor of the Sea) is born in this time of chaos and struggle in the little independent state of Buyeo. He quickly finds himself the most unlikely of princes and the victim of a rivalry with his brother Dae So (Kim Seung Soo, A Million Roses). He is forced to choose between the boyish charm of young merchant So Seo No (Han Hye Jin; Be Strong, Geum Soon!) and the innocent smile of Bu Yeong (Im So Young), a servant he's known for years. Other than chronicling Jumong's slow coming-of-age path, the first part of Jumong also deals with the touchy relationship between Buyeo and the Han, with King Geum Wa (Chun Kwang Ryul, Hur Jun) torn between loyalty to his rebel friend Hae Mo Su (Hur Jun Ho, Silmido) and the fate of his nation.