Gwanggaeto, The Great Conqueror, also known as King Gwanggaeto the Great, is a historical drama based on the life of the nineteenth monarch of GoguryeoGwanggaeto the Great. The drama was based on two sources, Gwanggaeto the Great by Jeong Jip, and Great Conquests of Gwanggaeto by Hyeong Minu.
Goguryeo, at the time of the protagonist's birth, is no longer as powerful as it used to be. Prior to his birth, his grandfather, King Gogugwon was killed by the Baekje forces led by King Geunchogo. When his uncle King Sosurim died without an heir, his father King Gogugyang rose to the throne of Goguryeo. At the same time, they were also under attack by the Later Yan forces, led by none other than the Emperor of Later Yan himself, Murong Chui.
After his father's death, he rises to the throne and vows to restore Goguryeo to its former glory. His struggle would later form the basis of a popular Korean legend. He would regain land lost to Baekjae, and he will defeat many other smaller kingdoms in the process. Near the end of the story, he manages to obliterate Later Yan and later subjugated her as a sister state.
Hong Kyung-in as Yeon Salta (Killed in the battle of Sujuncheng)
Kim Chul-ki as Sagal Hyeon (Damdeok's Chief of Security; killed by Asin during the battle of Gwanmiseong)
Kim Jung-hwa as Seol Ji (Seol Doan's sister and later Damdeok's bodyguard)
Kim Young-ki as General Hae Mowol (servant of Gae Yeonsu and later Damdeok's follower)
Kim Jin-tae as Go Mu (Damdeok's Grandfather and King Gogugwon's brother), died after the duel with Murong Chui during the second siege of Yodongseong Fortress by Later Yan and Biryeo Khitan forces
Nam Sung-jin as Go Chang (Damdeok's Uncle and Go Mu's son)
Lee Won-bal as Mo Duyeong
Im Dae-ho as Mo Duru (elder brother of Mo Duyeong)
Kim Myung-su as Hwang Hoe (leader of central army)
Yun Seung-won as Ha Muji (Damdeok's Military Advisor from Liuju; he was killed by Houyan general)
Park Seung-ho as Do Gwang (General who sided Murong Un and later died as Damdeok's follower)
