At over 12 million tickets sold, "The King and the Clown" is the current all-time box office champ in South Korea, beating the records of such blockbusters as "Taegukgi" and "JSA". Anyone who keeps even one eye half open on Korean cinema these days can't help but be aware of this film. Be it for its box office success, the insane rise to super-stardom of actor Lee Jun-Ki, or the surprise inclusion of a love triangle between three men, it's hard to have missed all the hype! Reams of paper and gigabytes of internet space have already been devoted to singing its praises; it's daunting to even consider writing a review!

For the sake of the half-dozen or so out there who may not already know, "The King and the Clown" is the tale of a group of minstrels in Chosun Era Korea (circa 1500). These were men who performed as acrobats, musicians, singers and actors for the amusement of both the aristocrats and the commoners. When strong-willed leader Jang-Saeng and his girlish partner Gong-Gil run into trouble in the country, they escape to the capital city of Hanyang (now Seoul) to start a new life. Almost immediately they land an opportunity to perform, and their efforts impress the audience as well as a trio of local minstrels. Named Six, Seven and Eight, they initiate the country bumpkins to city life and fill them in on all the gossip.

Jang-Saeng quickly determines that the best way to drum up business is to lampoon king Yon-San and his favorite concubine, Nok-Su, who reportedly has the royal "under her skirts". Their raunchy performances are an instant success and the money rolls in. New travels fast in the big city, though, and before you can say "kimchi" the troupe catches the attention of the king's advisor, are arrested and sentenced to death. Ever the quick thinker, Jang-Saeng proposes they be allowed to perform for the king. If he laughs, their lives will be spared.

Of course, the king laughs, though it's due more to the genius of Gong-Gil and Jang-Saeng and their ability to improvise than any planning on their part. The king declares they should be given rooms in the royal palace (a big no-no at that time) and become his court jesters. It's not long, however, before the king begin to show an unhealthy obsession with Gong-Gil, and they are all unwittingly dragged into court politics. The king's benevolence is not always a blessing. Especially with a king as emotionally unstable as Yon-San, and whose mistress has a nasty jealous streak.