三国中最有远见的新罗意识到取胜不仅需要强大的军事力量，还需要不懈地向先进文明学习。因此，它一方面虚心学习盛唐文化，一方面积极向唐王朝示好，为自己争取了一定的发展空间。与此同时，高句丽内部则面临四分五裂的局面，权臣渊盖苏文去世，长子男生接班，却激起次子男建的不满，兄弟间埋下了自相残杀的隐患。最终，心狠手辣的强硬派男建取得了政权，逼得男生出走，不得不向唐王朝求救。此时，新罗已和唐朝组成联合部队，欲以铲除高句丽。八年前，在《黄山伐》中苟活下来的无名小兵再次投入平壤保卫战中，却不幸沦为高句丽的俘虏。他急中生智，不断诽谤对手新罗，更无意中邂逅了英姿飒爽的女兵佳顺，谱写了一段诙谐的浪漫故事。 尽管男建拼死抵抗，试图保全都城平壤，却终因大势已去，高句丽的历史画上了句号……
An elite group of young warriors trained in morals and martial arts finds love and friendship in Silla during Korea’s ancient Three Kingdoms period.
Emperor of the Sea is a South Korean television drama series directed by Kang Il-soo and Kang Byung-taek and starring Choi Soo-jong, Chae Shi-ra, Song Il-gook and Soo Ae. It aired on KBS2 from November 24, 2004 to May 25, 2005 on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:50 for 51 episodes. The historical drama is based on Choi In-ho's novel of the same title, which depicts the life of Jang Bogo, who rises from a lowly slave to a powerful maritime figure who dominated the East Asia seas and international trade during the Unified Silla Dynasty. The drama was received extremely well, holding the number one spot in the ratings for majority of the weeks it aired. It was also exported to eight countries earning approximately US$1.8 million in profits. The filming set in Wando County, South Jeolla Province also became a tourist attraction.
This drama is loosely based on one of Korea's oldest folk songs. Suh Dong was the illegitimate son of the Baekje king and with the help of Princess Sun Hwa, the daughter of the king of the Silla, he went on to become the king of Baekje against all odds.
Kim Chunchu is the grandson of King Jinji, but when his grandfather is overthrown, Chunchu is denied the chance to become a successor to the throne of Silla. He later meets Kim Yushin, and the two men begin a friendship. Chunchu later becomes King Muyeol, the 29th Korean monarch who leads the unification of three ancient kingdoms - Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla, while Kim Yushin becomes one of the greatest generals in Korean history.
