---
title: "The Red Sleeve"
year: 2021
canonical_url: "https://www.archytele.com/show/the-red-sleeve-2021"
media_type: "tv"
tmdb_id: 132925
imdb_id: "tt14687200"
status: "Ended"
seasons_count: 1
episodes_count: 17
runtime_minutes: 74
community_rating: 7.6
vote_count: 65
content_rating: "Unrated"
---

# The Red Sleeve (2021) — Television & Cinema Intelligence Dossier

> **Archytele Living Vault Canonical Record**: https://www.archytele.com/show/the-red-sleeve-2021

## Executive Summary & Cultural Positioning

The Red Sleeve is a South Korean television series that aired on MBC TV from November 12, 2021, to January 1, 2022. Based on a novel of the same name, the drama provides a fictionalised account of the lives of King Jeongjo and Consort Ui.

The story follows a royal court romance between the King of Joseon, who prioritizes his duty to his country over love, and a court lady who seeks to protect her chosen life. The series is categorized under the historical, romance, and melodrama genres.

## The Hook & The Verdict

**The Hook**: "A royal court romance between a duty-bound King and a court lady protecting her chosen life."

### Why Watch
- Based on a novel of the same name
- Fictionalised account of King Jeongjo and Consort Ui
- Features a romance between a King and a court lady

### Caveats & Content Note
- The series is categorized as a melodrama
- Tone & Suitability: The series is a historical melodrama following the record of a royal court romance.

**Micro-Themes & Vibe Matrix**: #royal-court-romance, #joseon-era-drama, #historical-melodrama, #noble-man-common-woman, #court-lady-female-lead

## Streaming Availability Matrix

| Region | Stream (Subscription) | Free / Ads | Rent / Buy |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **United States (US)** | Rakuten Viki | Rakuten Viki | None |
| **Canada (CA)** | Rakuten Viki | Rakuten Viki | None |

## Season Architecture & Lore Primers

### Season 1 (17 Episodes)
Role: Meticulous television and film archivist.
Task: Produce a JSON object for "The Red Sleeve" Season 1.
Keys: overview (160-220 words), primer (array of exactly 4 concise bullet points).
Constraints: Use ONLY provided synopsis and sources. No invented facts. No markdown/asterisks/headings/bullets in the text (except the JSON structure itself). Neutral, encyclopedic prose. Valid JSON only.
Input: TMDB Synopsis and 5 Sources.
Title: The Red Sleeve (Korean: 옷소매 붉은 끝동).
Format: South Korean television series, Drama, Historical, Romance, Melodrama.
Episodes: 17.
Aired: Nov 12, 2021 - Jan 1, 2022.
Network: MBC TV.
Cast: Lee Jun-ho, Lee Se-young, Kang Hoon, Cha Mi-kyung, Kim Byeong-chun, Lee Min-ji, Park Seo-Kyeong.
Plot: Fictionalised account of King Jeongjo and Consort Ui. Romance between a King of Joseon who prioritizes duty to his country over love and a court lady who wants to protect the life she has chosen.
Specific Plot Points: Sung Deok-Im is a court lady. She gets involved with Crown Prince Lee San. He falls in love with her. He eventually becomes King Jeongjo. He desires her to be his concubine, but she refuses because she wants to live freely and knows a concubine's life does not generally bring happiness. Ultimately, Sung Deok-Im becomes the concubine of King Jeongjo.
Goal: 160-220 words.
Drafting: The Red Sleeve is a South Korean historical drama series based on a novel of the same name. The narrative provides a fictionalised account of the lives of King Jeongjo and Consort Ui. The story follows Sung Deok-Im, a court lady, and her involvement with Crown Prince Lee San. As the two become involved, the Crown Prince falls in love with her. The narrative arc tracks the transition of Lee San as he eventually becomes King Jeongjo. A central conflict arises when the King desires Sung Deok-Im to become his concubine. Sung Deok-Im initially refuses this position because she wishes to live her life freely, a freedom she believes would be impossible as a royal concubine. Furthermore, she is aware that the life of a royal concubine does not generally bring about happiness. The series depicts the romance between a King of Joseon who believes his duty

## Filler vs. Essential Episode Classifier

- **Total Tracked Episodes**: 17
- **Crucial Mytharc Episodes**: 3 (18%)
- **Character Core Episodes**: 14 (82%)
- **Side Quest / Filler Episodes**: 0 (0%)

## Creative Credits

- **Created by**: Jung Hae-ri
- **Networks / Studios**: MBC

## Key Cast Continuity

- **JUNHO** as *Yi San / King Jeongjo*
- **Lee Se-young** as *Sung Deok-im*
- **Kang Hoon** as *Hong Deok-ro*
- **Lee Duck-hwa** as *King Youngjo*
- **Park Ji-young** as *Head Court Lady Jo*
- **Jang Hee-jin** as *Queen Jeong-sun*
- **Ahn Se-min** as *Seong Guk-min*
- **Jang Hye-jin** as *Court Lady Seo*
- **Jo Hee-bong** as *Hong Jung-yeo*
- **Seo Hyo-rim** as *Hwawan Ong-ju*

## Canonical Frequently Asked Questions

### Q: Where can I watch The Red Sleeve?
The series aired on MBC TV.

### Q: Is The Red Sleeve worth watching?
The series is a historical romance based on a novel featuring the lives of King Jeongjo and Consort Ui.

### Q: How long is the binge duration for this series?
The series consists of 17 episodes, with each episode having a duration of approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes.

### Q: Are there any essential episodes to know?
The series aired every Friday and Saturday from November 12, 2021, to January 1, 2022.

## Grounded Source Citations

- [The Red Sleeve — The Movie Database (TMDB)](https://www.themoviedb.org/tv/132925)
- [The Red Sleeve - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Red_Sleeve)
- [The Red Sleeve (TV Series 2021) - Cast & Crew — The Movie ...](https://www.themoviedb.org/tv/132925/cast)
- [The Red Sleeve Full Cast & Crew - MyDramaList](https://mydramalist.com/61399-dress-sleeved-red/cast)
- [Red Sleeve (TV Series 2021–2022) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14687200/)

---
*Generated by Archytele Open Intelligence Systems. Data verified against TMDB and JustWatch APIs.*