The Throne

King Yeongjo (Song Kang Ho) ascends the Joseon throne with ambitions to overcome his tarnished background, haunted by rumors of his lower-class mother and his brother's murder. Determined to be a great ruler, he focuses on educating his son, Crown Prince Sado (Yoo Ah In), who disappoints him by showing more interest in art and swordplay than scholarly pursuits. As the relationship between father and son deteriorates, tension builds within the royal palace. Thirty-five years into Yeongjo's reign, the Crown Prince is accused of plotting treason, leading to a devastating confrontation. Unable to execute his son directly, King Yeongjo orders Prince Sado to take his own life. When the prince refuses, the King makes the brutal decision to lock him in a wooden rice chest in the palace courtyard, condemning him to a slow, agonizing death. This is a 2015 South Korean historical drama film directed by Lee Joon Ik, inspired by one of the most notorious events in Korean history.