A Tree with Deep Roots

Set during the early reign of King Sejong the Great in the Joseon Dynasty, the series follows the mysterious serial murders of scholars in the Jiphyeonjeon (Hall of Worthies). Kang Chae-yoon, a former slave turned royal guard, is tasked with investigating these deaths, only to discover a vast, shadowy conspiracy involving a secret organization known as 'Hidden Root' that seeks to undermine the King's authority. As the investigation unfolds, the narrative shifts to the King's secret, monumental project: the creation of the Hunminjeongeum, the Korean alphabet. King Sejong struggles to empower the common people by providing them with a language of their own, while battling the entrenched aristocratic class who fear that literacy will destroy their power. The drama masterfully blends historical political intrigue with a high-stakes mystery, exploring the philosophical clash between absolute monarchy and the democratization of knowledge.