# Warrior Baek Dong-soo (무사 백동수)
**Warrior Baek Dong-soo** (무사 백동수) is a 2011 South Korean television series broadcast on SBS, a martial-arts action historical drama (sageuk) built around the [Crown Prince Sado](https://www.edgepedia.org/crown-prince-sado) conspiracy and the Joseon-era swordsmen Baek Dong-soo and Yeo Woon.[1](https://asianwiki.com/index.php?title=Warrior_Baek_Dong_Soo) It aired in 29 episodes from July 4 to October 10, 2011, in the Monday and Tuesday 21:55 time slot, and stars [Ji Chang-wook](https://www.edgepedia.org/ji-chang-wook) as Baek Dong-soo and [Yoo Seung-ho](https://www.edgepedia.org/yoo-seung-ho) as Yeo Woon.[1](https://asianwiki.com/index.php?title=Warrior_Baek_Dong_Soo) • [2](https://cine21.com/tv/info/?tv_id=2434)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Network and run | SBS, 29 episodes, July 4 – October 10, 2011, Monday & Tuesday 21:55[1](https://asianwiki.com/index.php?title=Warrior_Baek_Dong_Soo) |
| Native title and romanization | 무사 백동수, revised romanization Moosa Baek Dong Soo[1](https://asianwiki.com/index.php?title=Warrior_Baek_Dong_Soo) |
| Direction and writing | Directed by Lee Hyun-jik and Kim Hong-sun; written by Kwon Soon-gyu, based on the comic by Lee Jae-hyun[1](https://asianwiki.com/index.php?title=Warrior_Baek_Dong_Soo) • [2](https://cine21.com/tv/info/?tv_id=2434) |
| Lead cast | Ji Chang-wook (Baek Dong-soo), Yoo Seung-ho (Yeo Woon), Yoon So-yi (Hwang Jin-joo), Shin Hyun-bin (Yoo Ji-sun)[2](https://cine21.com/tv/info/?tv_id=2434) |
| Genre | Martial-arts action historical drama; content rating 15 and over[2](https://cine21.com/tv/info/?tv_id=2434) • [3](https://koreandrama.org/k-dramas/warrior-baek-dong-soo/) |
| Historical hook | Set in the Joseon dynasty and based on real events surrounding the martial-arts manual Muyedobotongji, created during the reigns of Yeongjo and Jeongjo[2](https://cine21.com/tv/info/?tv_id=2434) |
| Ratings | IMDb 7.9/10 from 868 votes; AsianWiki user rating 96/100 (2,765 votes)[4](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3052852/ratings/) • [1](https://asianwiki.com/index.php?title=Warrior_Baek_Dong_Soo) |
## Production and broadcast
The series was produced by SBS with Cho Nam-guk as the producer in charge, [Lee Hyun](https://www.edgepedia.org/lee-hyun)-jik and Kim Hong-sun as directors, and Kwon Soon-gyu as the writer.[5](https://programs.sbs.co.kr/drama/baekdongsoo/main) Each episode ran about 1 hour 5 minutes, and the show aired on SBS TV and SBS Gorilla.[3](https://koreandrama.org/k-dramas/warrior-baek-dong-soo/) • [6](https://www.newswire.co.kr/newsRead.php?no=557686) It took over the Monday and Tuesday 21:55 slot previously occupied by "Lie to Me" and was itself followed by "A Thousand Days' Promise" on October 17, 2011.[1](https://asianwiki.com/index.php?title=Warrior_Baek_Dong_Soo)
## Source material and historical basis
The drama adapts the manhwa (comic) *Yanoe Baek Dong Soo* by Lee Jae-hyun, first published on January 29, 2010.[1](https://asianwiki.com/index.php?title=Warrior_Baek_Dong_Soo)
**Historical grounding.** Cine21's synopsis describes the show as a martial-arts action sageuk about the Joseon-era knight-errant Baek Dong-soo, based on the true record of the Muyedobotongji (무예도보통지), which it calls the finest martial-arts manual of Joseon, compiled during the reigns of Yeongjo and Jeongjo.[2](https://cine21.com/tv/info/?tv_id=2434) KoreanDrama.org likewise identifies Baek Dong-soo as a real-life figure who created a martial-arts guide in Joseon, with his group defending King Jeongjo against a mysterious criminal organization plotting to kill the king.[3](https://koreandrama.org/k-dramas/warrior-baek-dong-soo/) Because the subject was a real person, SBS opened a companion feature called "Baek Dong-soo Catch-up" (백동수 따라잡기) on the show's official website, presenting historical facts about the characters and explanations of the martial arts and weapons described in the Muyedobotongji; the feature was operated together with the Muye 24 Gi Preservation Society, which carries on the manual's tradition.[6](https://www.newswire.co.kr/newsRead.php?no=557686)
## Premise and plot
The story opens before the adult leads' timeline. Crown Prince Sado challenges the power of the No-Ron political faction, and the faction responds by conspiring with the Qing Dynasty to frame the Crown Prince as plotting a revolt. In order to spare his son, King Yeongjo and No-Ron decide to have the Crown Prince's closest liaison, Baek Sa-geong, put to death and made the scapegoat; Baek Sa-geong, everyone in his family, and even the child he has yet to be born are all sentenced to die. Right before his beheading, Baek Sa-geong asks his closest friend Kim Kwang-taek, regarded as the best swordsman, to take care of his wife and unborn child.[1](https://asianwiki.com/index.php?title=Warrior_Baek_Dong_Soo) The adult drama centers on the rivalry and friendship between Baek Dong-soo, the son of that doomed family, and Yeo Woon, with the defense of King Jeongjo against a black-clad assassin organization (Heuksachorong) driving the main conflict.[3](https://koreandrama.org/k-dramas/warrior-baek-dong-soo/) • [5](https://programs.sbs.co.kr/drama/baekdongsoo/main)
## Cast
The four principal adult roles belong to Ji Chang-wook (Baek Dong-soo), Yoo Seung-ho (Yeo Woon), Yoon So-yi (Hwang Jin-joo), and Shin Hyun-bin (Yoo Ji-sun).[2](https://cine21.com/tv/info/?tv_id=2434) The supporting and royal cast is extensive:[2](https://cine21.com/tv/info/?tv_id=2434) • [1](https://asianwiki.com/index.php?title=Warrior_Baek_Dong_Soo)
- Jeon Kwang-leol as Kim Kwang-taek, Choi Min-soo as Chun, Park Jun-gyu as Hook Sa-mo (Heuk-sa-mo)
- Oh Man-seok as Crown Prince Sado and Jeon Kuk-hwan as King Yeongjo, with Keum Dan-bi as Queen Jungsoon
- Eom Hyo-seop as Baek Sa-geong, Lee Won-jong as Hong Dae-joo, Jeong Ho-bin as Im Soo-woong, Ahn Suk-hwan as Seo Yoo-dae
- Sung Ji-ru as Hwang Jin-gi, Kim Da-hyun as the painter [Kim Hong-do](https://www.edgepedia.org/kim-hong-do), Kim Eung-soo as Yoo So-gang
The childhood versions of the leads were also cast with named actors: [Yeo Jin-goo](https://www.edgepedia.org/yeo-jin-goo) as young Baek Dong-soo, Park Geon-woo as young Yeo Woon, Lee Hye-in as young Hwang Jin-joo, and [Nam Ji-hyun](https://www.edgepedia.org/nam-ji-hyun) as young Yoo Ji-sun.[2](https://cine21.com/tv/info/?tv_id=2434) A 2011 press release noted that the child actors' early episodes, together with the presence of Jeon Kwang-leol and [Choi Min-soo](https://www.edgepedia.org/choi-min-soo), drew initial viewer attention before the adult cast took over.[6](https://www.newswire.co.kr/newsRead.php?no=557686)
## Reception
On IMDb the series holds a rating of 7.9 out of 10 from 868 users, with an unweighted mean of 8.3; per-episode scores on the site range from 7.8 for the premiere to 9.2 for episode 10.[4](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3052852/ratings/) AsianWiki's aggregated user rating stands at 96 out of 100 from about 2,765 votes, and MyShows users give the series a 4.23.[1](https://asianwiki.com/index.php?title=Warrior_Baek_Dong_Soo) • [7](https://en.myshows.me/view/32418/rating/)
The series remains available on legal streaming services including Viki, Prime Video, and Kocowa.[3](https://koreandrama.org/k-dramas/warrior-baek-dong-soo/)
## References
1. [Warrior Baek Dong Soo, AsianWiki](https://asianwiki.com/index.php?title=Warrior_Baek_Dong_Soo)
2. [무사 백동수 (Warrior Baek Dong Soo, 2011), Cine21](https://cine21.com/tv/info/?tv_id=2434)
3. [Warrior Baek Dong Soo, KoreanDrama.org](https://koreandrama.org/k-dramas/warrior-baek-dong-soo/)
4. [Warrior Baek Dong-soo (TV Series 2011) – Ratings, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3052852/ratings/)
5. [무사 백동수, SBS 공식 홈페이지](https://programs.sbs.co.kr/drama/baekdongsoo/main)
6. ['무사 백동수'보며 궁금한 내용이 있다면…'백동수 따라잡기' 코너 오픈, 뉴스와이어 (2011-07-12)](https://www.newswire.co.kr/newsRead.php?no=557686)
7. [Rating of seasons and episodes Warrior Baek Dong Soo (2011), MyShows.me](https://en.myshows.me/view/32418/rating/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › International serial drama and telenovelas › East Asian drama series › Korean historical drama (sageuk)*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license