From a foreigner's point of view; I know nothing about Korean history, so I won't address that, but found this to be a deeply moving story of two lifelong friends. It makes it seem perfectly possible that a slave might be the only real friend of a king. It's also a story of genius and how politics hold back progress, as true now as it was then, if not more so. Being a king doesn't necessarily mean you get to do as you like in everything. It's as frustrating to watch here as it is in real life. But the friendship survives. The king's regret and the former slave's sacrifice are heartbreaking. Well worth watching.