The movieâs plot takes place during the Joseon Dynasty. Jang-saeng (played by Gam Woo-sung) is a clown in the Namsadang troupe who abandons his troupe after realizing that it had degenerated into a plaything for the aristocrats. With a fellow clown named Gong-gil (played by Lee Jun-ki), whom he loves deep in his heart, Jang-saeng leaves for Hanyang for a new life. There he leads a show troupe and with his exceptional talent makes the troupe famous with a show that satirizes King Yeonsan (played by Chung Jin-young) and his favorite concubine, Nok-su (played by Kang Sung-yeon). King Yeonsan, who happens to see to the show, falls in love with the performance and provides living quarters for the clowns in the palace. He soon starts to cast amorous glances at Gong-gil, however, which causes Nok-su to fall into a jealous rage and devise an evil plot.
