EBS ‘Korean History Figures with Deongi and Kwaengi’, Queen Seondeok Episode to be Broadcast

The EBS children's historical drama ‘Korean History Figures with Deongi and Kwaengi’ presents the Queen Seondeok episode as its second story. According to EBS, this episode will be broadcast on EBS 1TV on weekdays at 6:30 PM from October 12 to October 23, 2026. The first broadcast is on Monday, October 12. Following the King Sejong episode in the Joseon Period, the story follows Silla clay figures Deongi and Kwaengi, who awaken in a museum and travel back 1,400 years to Silla to meet Princess Deokman. The program covers the process of Deokman, who was a princess, becoming the first queen of Silla and the crises she faced after ascending the throne, tailored to a children's perspective.

Starting October 12… Broadcasting on weekdays at 6:30 PM

The Queen Seondeok episode of EBS ‘Korean History Figures with Deongi and Kwaengi’ will begin its first broadcast on Monday, October 12 at 6:30 PM and will air at the same time on weekdays until October 23. The broadcast period is two weeks, and the channel is EBS 1TV. EBS introduced this story as an ‘children's historical drama met through AI.’ However, the broadcast guide does not include specific explanations regarding how AI technology was used in the production or imagery.

The Queen Seondeok episode is the second story of the program. The setting for the previous time travel was the Joseon Period where King Sejong resided, and this time, the setting moves to Silla 1,400 years ago when the Three Kingdoms were in fierce competition. The story begins with Silla clay figures Deongi and Kwaengi, who awakened in a museum, arriving at a new time travel destination and meeting Princess Deokman, a girl looking at the night sky. EBS focused on the process of Deokman living as a royal princess and facing the destiny of the throne.

The broadcast guide introduces Queen Seondeok as the first queen of Silla and describes her as a monarch who led Silla through constant crises and left a thousand-year legacy. At the same time, this episode deals not only with glorious achievements but also with the story of a person facing the process of ascending the throne and ruling the country. The main background of the story is that ascending the throne as a princess was not easy, and her qualifications as a king were doubted simply because she was a woman. Following the time travel of Deongi and Kwaengi, the story unfolds showing what situations Deokman was placed in and the process through which she had to prove her abilities as a king.

The process until Princess Deokman ascends the throne

While living as a royal princess, Deokman faces the situation surrounding the throne. EBS introduced the act of ascending the throne as a ‘huge destiny’ approaching Deokman, stating that ascending the throne as a princess was not easy from the start. At that time, Deokman's qualifications as a king were doubted because she was a woman, and she was placed in a position where she had to constantly prove her abilities in the face of crises surrounding Silla. The Queen Seondeok episode is composed from the perspective of Deongi and Kwaengi so that young viewers can follow this process.

Even after ascending the throne, doubts and opposition continued. The question presented by EBS is how Deokman found her way and overcame crises amidst the doubts and opposition she received for being a queen. The broadcast follows the important moments of choice Deokman faced and also covers how Queen Seondeok protected Silla until the end.

EBS stated that they do not explain Queen Seondeok only through her achievements, but also include the burdens surrounding the throne and her story as an individual. Deokman had her qualifications as a king doubted because she was a queen and had to respond to crises inside and outside Silla. The program centers on the process of how she maintained her position as a queen and led the country. The broadcast guide contains content that examines the situations and choices Queen Seondeok faced from a children's perspective and introduces Silla's history and the figures of that time through her life.

Baekje's attacks, royal power conflicts, and Queen Seondeok who selected talented individuals

Silla during the period ruled by Queen Seondeok faced challenges from both inside and outside. EBS explained that attacks from Baekje continued and conflicts surrounding royal power persisted within Silla. Queen Seondeok, whose qualifications as a king were doubted because she was a woman, overcame these crises by selecting talented individuals, expanding diplomatic relations, and strengthening the power of Silla. The Queen Seondeok episode covers these historical circumstances and responses following Deokman's accession process.

As examples of talent recruitment, Kim Yu-sin and Kim Chun-chu are introduced. Kim Yu-sin had a background as a descendant of the Geumgwan Gaya royal family, and Kim Chun-chu was from the Jingol class. EBS stated that Queen Seondeok recognized the abilities of these two figures and provided opportunities for them to demonstrate their capabilities. The broadcast guide explains this as talent recruitment that transcended origin and background. It was presented that Queen Seondeok sought to strengthen the country's power by selecting talented individuals and expanding diplomatic relations during Silla's crisis.

During the era of Queen Seondeok, Kim Yu-sin and Kim Chun-chu played important roles on the historical stage and grew into major figures leading the future of Silla. EBS covers Queen Seondeok's recruitment of talent and the activities of the two figures together, examining how the queen's choices led to the future of Silla. However, the broadcast guide does not provide the specific timing of when the two were recruited, the positions given to each individual, or detailed information on diplomatic relations. The program unravels the relationships between the figures and the crises Silla faced at the time as a story of a children's historical drama.

Silla's culture and science met by Deongi and Kwaengi

Following the Joseon Period where King Sejong was, Deongi and Kwaengi now go on a time travel to Silla. Princess Deokman, whom the two clay figures meet, is introduced as a girl looking at the stars in the night sky. Through this meeting, the program covers not only the personal life of Queen Seondeok but also the Silla culture and science of that era. EBS stated that as young viewers follow Deongi and Kwaengi to encounter the stories of Queen Seondeok's era, they can naturally encounter the Silla culture and science passed down through more than a thousand years.

At the center of the broadcast lies the process of Deokman ascending the throne, facing crises, and making choices. In that process, Baekje's attacks, royal power conflicts within Silla, talent recruitment, and the expansion of diplomatic relations appear as the historical background. The Queen Seondeok episode sequentially shows the situation where Deokman's qualifications were doubted because she was a queen and the choices she made while leading Silla. The content also continues with Kim Yu-sin and Kim Chun-chu growing into major figures during Queen Seondeok's era.

EBS explained that through this episode, they follow Queen Seondeok's worries and courage hidden behind her achievements from a children's perspective. They also introduced it as a story of meeting Queen Seondeok as a person who maintained her position even in the face of fear. The broadcast guide presented the image of Queen Seondeok protecting Silla until the end and the content of what her choices left for the future of Silla, which led to Kim Yu-sin and Kim Chun-chu, as the main questions. Deongi and Kwaengi's second time travel is composed to cover Queen Seondeok's life along with Silla's figures, culture, and science.

The Queen Seondeok episode will begin its first broadcast on October 12, 2026, and will be broadcast on EBS 1TV on weekdays at 6:30 PM until October 23. EBS plans to present the time travel of Deongi and Kwaengi to Silla, the process of Princess Deokman's accession to the throne, and the stories of crises and figures of Queen Seondeok's era for two weeks.

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