Lee San, Wind in the Palace

Lee San, Wind in the Palace follows the life of Yi San, a prince caught in the complex web of Joseon court politics. The series tracks his shifting relationships, including a tender but tested bond with Seong Song-yeon, as rival factions, family expectations, and the demands of rule press in from all sides. Rather than rushing through events, the show spends time on conversations, strategy, and small personal moments that reveal character. The tone mixes intimate scenes with large political maneuvers, keeping the focus on how duty, loyalty, and personal desire shape Yi San's decisions without spoiling how things turn out.

The series aired on MBC from September 17, 2007 to June 16, 2008, on Mondays and Tuesdays at 21:55. It was directed by Lee Byeong-hoon and created by Kim Yi-young and Jung Hae-ri, with Lee Byeong-hoon also listed as producer, following his work on Dae Jang Geum.

At MBC's Acting Awards the show earned recognition for its leads, with Lee Seo-jin receiving the Top Excellence Acting Award and Han Ji-min taking Best Actress. Those wins highlighted the performances as a standout element of the production.

Critics and viewers generally praised the acting and period detail, reflected in a user vote average of 7.4/10 from 16 voters. Reviewers noted the deliberate pacing and layered power struggles, calling attention to the moral and political choices the characters face. Production values and costume work were often mentioned as strengthening the show's historical atmosphere.

Among fans of historical Korean drama, Lee San, Wind in the Palace reinforced interest in palace sagas and boosted the profiles of its main cast. It invited comparisons to other big-name sageuk because of its long run and high-profile creative team, and it remains recommended by viewers who appreciate character-focused political drama set in the Joseon era.