Dae Jang Geum
Encyclopedia
Dae Jang Geum is a 2003 epic South Korean television series directed by Lee Byung Hoon and produced by MBC
. Starring Lee Young Ae
, it tells the tale of an orphaned kitchen cook who went on to become the king's first female physician. In a time when women held little influence in society, young apprentice cook Jang Geum strives to learn the secrets of Korean cooking and medicine in order to cure the King of his various ailments. Produced for $15 million, the show received as much as 57% of viewers in South Korea and has pulled in $40 million worldwide since it first aired in 2003.
It is based on the true story of Jang-geum
, the first female royal physician
of the Joseon Dynasty
. The main themes are her perseverance and the portrayal of traditional Korean culture
, including Korean royal court cuisine
and traditional medicine.
during the reigns of King Seongjong
(1457–1494), King Yeonsan-gun
(1494–1506) and King Jungjong
(1506–1544).
has ordered the execution by poisoning of his deposed wife Deposed Queen Lady Yun
, the mother of the first-born son, the young crown prince (the future Prince Yeonsan
). After carrying out the execution, one of the royal guards, Seo Cheon-soo, is haunted by the execution. On his way home, he suffers an accident and is rescued by a mysterious hermit
with a cryptic message—that his life will revolve around three women: the first he will be forced to kill; another he will save, but will die because of him; and the third will kill him, but will go on to save many lives. It doesn't become clear until later in the story that the three women are the poisoned Deposed Queen Lady Yun
, Park Myeong-yi (Seo's eventual wife and the mother of Jang-geum) and Jang-geum
(the main character and Seo's only daughter). Haunted by the curse of the executed deposed Queen Consort, and his prophesied fate at the hands of the third woman, he abandons his post and also becomes a hermit, refusing to take a wife.
dies and the Crown Prince
ascends the throne as the 10th King of Joseon. Park Myeong-yi is a palace girl (or gungnyeo
) and apprentice cook of the royal kitchen (sooratgan). She witnesses a fellow apprentice, a girl from the powerful Choi clan named Choi Seong-geum, slip poison into the Great Royal Dowager Queen's food. Unaware that the senior kitchen officers are part of a conspiracy against the said Queen, Myeong-yi informs the head kitchen officer (choigo sanggung
). The officers, fearful that Myeong-yi might reveal their conspiracy, attempt to murder her. Myeong-yi's best friend, Han Baek-yeong, witnesses the crime and manages to secretly save her (by hurriedly diluting the poison with an antidote). She leaves the unconscious Myeong-yi a letter explaining what had happened. As Seo Cheon-soo wanders through the forest in his self-imposed hermitage, he stumbles upon the half-conscious Myeong-yi. He rescues her and the two fall in love and marry. They end up living peacefully in a remote village as lower caste commoners (Seo Cheon-soo posing as a butcher and village weapon smith) and raise a clever daughter named Seo Jang-geum
.
orders the execution of people responsible for his mother (Queen Consort Jeheon)'s death, thereby launching the notorious Literati Purges of 1504
. Jang-geum is warned by her parents to never reveal their true identities to anyone or they will all die. One day Jang-geum and her father go to a village fair. In a wrestling match she blurts out to the jeering crowd that her father is not a low-born butcher but a former guard of the royal palace. Words spread, and the king's guards arrest Seo Cheon-soo and execute him. Mother and daughter flee but are captured by the guards. As they are taken away, the group is ambushed by mercenaries hired by the Choi clan patriarch, who is determined to kill Myeong-yi and her daughter. Myeong-yi is injured and before she dies she tells Jang-geum her last wish: that she become the choigo sanggung of the royal kitchen and record the crime in a journal that is passed down through every generation of the choigo sanggungs.
Through a series of lucky coincidences (one involving Prince Yeonsan
's half-brother Grand Prince Jinseong
), Jang-geum manages to enter the palace. She is unknowingly apprenticed to Han Baek-young, her mother's best friend now raised to the rank of sanggung. Jang-geum endures many ordeals and is bullied because she is more skilled and works harder than the other girls. During her time as a palace girl, Jang-geum befriends a young seonbi
named Min Jeong-ho, who falls in love with her. Her rival is Choi Geum-yeong, another gungnyeo and Choi Seong-geum (also raised to the rank of sanggung due to her association with her aunt the former choigo sanggung)'s niece. While not a cruel person, Geum-yeong's conscience is slowly eroded by Lady Choi's ruthless behavior. Min Jeong-ho urges Geum-yeong to maintain her integrity and stand up to her evil relatives, but an angry Geum-yeong accuses Jeong-ho of not loving her and being by her side.
Many years pass and Lady Choi schemes to win the position of choigo sanggung of royal kitchen. The Choi women have successively occupied the choigo sanggung position for five successive generations, allowing the clan to become exclusive suppliers of goods and produce to the royal kitchen, making the clan immensely wealthy and powerful. Eventually a cooking competition is declared and Lady Choi and Lady Han vie to become the choigo sanggung. When Lady Han wins (and becomes choigo sanggung), and the King suddenly falls ill during one of his trips to a hot spring, Choi Pan-sool (Lady Choi's elder brother, and main supplier of the royal kitchen) and the Right Minister Oh Gyeom-ho (the Choi clan's ally within the Royal Cabinet) frame Lady Han and Jang-geum as traitors in league with Jo Gwang-jo, famous Joseon reformer. In an effort to save Jang-geum, Lady Han declares that she alone is guilty of treason. Nonetheless, both are judged guilty and sent to Jeju Island
to work as government slaves. On the way there Lady Han dies from her injuries. Lady Choi replaces her as the choigo sanggung, while Jang-geum vows revenge.
On Jeju Island, Jang-geum meets a woman named Jang-deok, whom she first mistakes for a fellow slave. She soon discovers that Jang-deok is a famous female doctor. Jang-deok's blunt and forthright nature initially offends her, but she learns in time that the female doctor is dedicated and caring. As the days go by, Jang-geum realizes that her only way back to the palace is to become a female physician (uinyeo). She begs Jang-deok to teach her medicine. Jang-geum's friend, Jeong Woon-baek, an eccentric royal physician, disapproves of her decision to pursue medicine in order to take revenge on the Choi clan. In spite of this, Jang-geum perseveres and earns herself a spot as a female doctor-in-training at the palace.
Upon returning to the palace, Jang-geum encounters Choi Geum-yeong, who has been promoted to choigo sanggung. The ruthlessly ambitious Lady Choi has ousted the former female head officer of the palace (jaejo sanggung; one of their former allies), and now occupies that position herself. Min Jeong-ho is a lieutenant and a member of the King's Royal Cabinet. Jang-geum's childhood best friend, Lee Yeon-saeng, also a gungnyeo, had caught the king's eye, and is now his concubine (sook-ui). Jang-geum endures many trials at the palace, from being forced to wash the feet of Geum-yeong, to a backstabbing uinyeo named Park Yeol-yi. In spite of this, Jang-geum manages to accomplish great things, such as curing an epidemic and saving the king's life when the king's own physicians had failed.
With Jang-geum's status rising, several events ensue that lead to an investigation of the Choi clan, resulting in the prosecution of Lady Choi, her elder brother and several high-ranking officials, including the chief state councillor
. Everyone scrambles to escape, and only Lady Choi manages to evade the guards. Jang-geum finds her and asks if she is willing to sacrifice her niece, Geum-yeong, to the authorities while she herself escapes. Lady Choi, who had abandoned her ethics and conscience for the sake of the Choi clan, is unable to respond. Torn between self-preservation and guilt, Lady Choi wanders the countryside hallucinating. She ends up falling off a cliff off Mount Dongin and dies (but not before speaking and paying respects in front of the memorial grave of her former friend Park Myeong-yi, Jang-geum's mother). Choi Geum-yeong loses her position as choigo sanggung and is exiled along with the other officials.
Through her dedication, perseverance and skill Jang-geum saves the royal family from one disaster after another. After giving birth to a stillborn child, Queen Consort Munjeong
remained ill. Jang-geum correctly identifies a second stillborn fetus in the Queen Consort's womb and saves her life. She convinces the Dowager Queen mother to undergo medical treatment at the risk of being beheaded. She also cures Grand Prince Gyeongwon
, Queen Consort Munjeong
's only son, of smallpox, which earns the permanent gratitude of the Queen Consort.
unanimously oppose the appointment on the grounds that it violates the country's constitution. When the Dowager Queen mother humiliates herself to express her disapproval, the king revokes his decision. She urges the king to take Jang-geum as one of his concubines. Although the king is in love with Jang-geum, he refrains from making her one of his concubines against her will. Jang-geum cures a second bout of Behçet's disease
, and the king finally decrees her his personal physician. She is granted the honorific "Dae" (meaning "The Great"), as well as the position of a 3rd rank official.
Jang-geum fears that accepting this position will endanger her friends and family. However, with Min Jeong-ho's support, she accepts. The ministers and scholars of the court bitterly accept the decree, but demand that the king punish Min Jeong-ho for supporting Jang-geum's appointment. Seeing an opportunity to separate the lovers the king agrees and Jeong-ho is sentenced to exile.
8 years later, Jang-geum is spotted by her adoptive father, who alerts Jang-geum's friends in the palace. By this time Jungjong
had long passed away, along with his appointed Crown Prince (who became Injong
, who ruled for less than a year due to a life of illness. The second-in-line to succeed the throne is the child Grand Prince Gyeongwon
, only son of Queen Munjeong, who is now both the Great Royal Dowager Queen and the Regent, wielding enormous power. She hears that Jang-geum is still in the country and invites her and Jeong-ho to return to the palace and be reinstated to their previous positions. Jang-geum and Jeong-ho joyfully return, but they decide for the sake of their family to live away from the palace.
As they return to their normal lives, Jang-geum comes across a pregnant woman, and successfully uses her surgical skills to deliver the woman's baby via Caesarean section
, thus becoming the first physician in Korea to do a surgical procedure. While Jang-geum celebrates her success, Jeong-ho laments the repressive social climate of Korea, and its inability to accommodate a woman with ambitions.
An intelligent and beautiful lady whose outgoing nature and enthusiasm allow her stand out from the crowd. Ever since her parents died during a political massacre, she has suffered many hardships and obstacles, especially in the palace, but she overcomes them with strong determination and perseverance.
Being strong-willed, Jang Geum strives to reach her goal no matter what and it is with her extraordinary medical skills/knowledge and her moral to only use it for good that she becomes the first female physician for the Emperor, and named the Great Dae Jang Geum, ranking third in the officers, something that had never happened before in Chosun history.
A learned man with good looks and high intelligence, he is an outstanding scholar who combines both learning and the martial arts. Min Jung Ho is a judge of the Hang Sung Boo, a government ministry governing the affairs of the capital Hang Sung. He is saved by Jang Geum without his knowledge when he is shot. They then meet again when she goes to him to borrow books. They become romantically involved as he moves to Nae Geum Wee, the Royal Military Guard as Jong Sa Gwan, a senior officer.
Choi Keum-Young starts her life in the palace as the niece of the influential Lady Choi, and becomes Jang Geum's long-time rival. She is an arrogant girl burning with ambitions. Although she is with the Choi clan, she is desperate to find her own way: never really accepting the Chois' way but unable to find her own independent identity. Her intelligence and talents often put her head-to-head with Jang Geum and she desperately competes with her in order to become better than her. Eventually Lady Choi's influence and her unreciprocated attraction to Min Jung-ho prompt her to keep mostly to the Choi clan's ways.
The 11th king of the Chosun Dynasty. He is very gentle but extremely irresolute and indecisive. He is a kind man who has lost his ability to love a woman as his first wife was forced to be killed by cabinet ministers for political reasons. The Emperor deeply grieved over his beloved wife, but he had no actual power to protect her. He is constantly aware that he is only a puppet to the appointed ministers and is angered over the fact he is helpless to do anything. The Emperor gets to know Jang Geum in the midst of his aggressive efforts toward pushing for a political reform and grows fond of her for her warm personality and outstanding talents. He finds an understanding companion within her and later, for the first time in a decade, becomes attracted to her.
As one of Soo Ra Gan's Sang Gung, she possesses a talent in culinary art and is able to identify the source of the ingredients in a dish. Best friend to Jang Geum's mother, she often misses and regrets not being able to save her friend. She is a rigorous person who is not to be swayed from her purpose. Although obdurate in nature, she is actually very kind-hearted. Jang Geum's appearance allowed to open up and she treats her as both a strict teacher and kind mother.
Choi Pan Sool's younger sister and Keum-Young's aunt. Comes from a family of high hierarchy and is to be the successor of Soo Ran Gan's Highest Sang Gung from a long bloodline. She started learning the delicacy of food at a young age. She is arrogant in nature and holds her pride above anything else. She possesses a fierce need to get what she wants and will stop at nothing until she does. She is sharp-minded and quick in action and thus is always one step ahead of plotting against Jang Geum and Han Sang Gung.
. It is unclear whether a person by that name existed.
The script originally included a kissing scene between Seo Jang-geum and Min Jung-ho, but Lee Yeong-ae, who plays Jang-geum, felt it wasn't necessary and that the drama did not need such scenes in order to generate viewer ratings. Hence the scene was removed.
Lady Han (Yang Mi-gyeong) was supposed to die in episode 18 but due to fan protests, the director delayed her death.
Park Eun-hye was originally cast to play the role of Seo Jang-geum, but later when it was confirmed that Lee Young-ae would be acting in the drama as well, Eun-hye was recast in the role of Lee Yeon-saeng.
, Kahn and Minh were watching Dae Jang Geum (which is dubbed in Laotian).
In episode 1 of Princess Hours, Chae-gyeong's family is watching episode 30 of Dae Jang Geum (Yeon-saeng being scolded for playing with the King's puppy).
In episode 32 of Love Truly
, Yeo Bong-soon's mother (played by Geum Bo-ra) is watching Dae Jang Geum. This is ironic because Geum Bo-ra is also in Dae Jang-geum, where she played Jang-geum's adoptive mother Na Joo-daek.
In episode 9 of Who Are You, there is a large Dae Jang Geum poster on the side of a building.
In episode 2 of Silence, a Taiwanese drama starring Park Eun Hye, Dae Jang Geum is mentioned as a famous Korean drama.
The song is in the pansori
style, a particular type of Korean music that emerged during the Joseon Dynasty
and was very popular in the 19th century. It utilizes the vocals of one singer, a sorikkun, and one drummer, a gosu, to tell a themed story. The refrain
("He-iya di-iya he-iya naranino") is called chu-imsae and, in traditional pansori, it is supplied by the drummer to give rhythm to the song in addition to the beat. Chuimsae consists of meaningless vowel
sounds or short words of encouragement. Chuimsae is analogous to scat singing
in jazz
nonsense syllables such as "La, la, la," or "Shoop, shoop ba doop" in English-language popular songs.
Since the song is in archaic Korean, the meaning of the song can be ambiguous. But one explanation is that the song depicts a girl who longs for a man that she cannot be with. So she accepts the way it is and moves on with her life.
singer who graduated from the Korean classical music department at Seoul National University
.
in Cantonese for the Hong Kong
release. "Baby" (娃娃 Wáwá) was sung by Angela Chang
in Mandarin Chinese
for the Taiwan
release. "Calling" (呼唤 Hūhuàn) sung by Tang Can and "Hope" (希望 Xīwàng) sung by five winners of the Super Girl singing contest were among those used for the China
release. Faith Cuneta sang an entirely different Tagalog
song titled "Pangarap na Bituin" for the Philippines
release.
, Taiwan
, Hong Kong
, Malaysia, Singapore
, Brunei
, Japan
, Indonesia
, Philippines
, Thailand
and Vietnam
, further continuing the “Korean wave
” cultural fever that has gripped Asia since the early 2000s. It has been shown in Australia
, the United States
, Sweden
, Russia
, Iran
, Saudi Arabia
, Turkey
, Peru
, Colombia
, Egypt
, Romania
, Canada
, India
, Israel
, Hungary
and New Zealand
.
Dae Jang Geum was first shown in South Korea
from 15 September 2003 to 23 March 2004 on MBC
where it was the top program with an average viewer rate of 45.8% and an all-time high of 57.1%. It is the highest rated drama in South Korean history.
and known as Da Changjin (大長今 Dà Chángjīn). It was the number one program in Taiwan, where the theme song was sung by Angela Chang
.
In New Zealand it aired in Korean with English subtitles twice a week from October 2009 on Triangle TV
and Stratos Television.
In September 2005 it was shown on Hong Kong’s TVB
with the same name 大長今, where it became the top-rated drama in Hong Kong history until the season finale of Moonlight Resonance
, a popular Hong Kong-based drama. The theme song was sung by Kelly Chen
.
TVB Anniversary Awards (2005)
In September, Dae Jang Geum aired for the first time in mainland China on Hunan TV where it was known as Da Changjin (大長今 Dà Chángjīn). The theme song of the drama has been performed in many variations by Chinese artists, including versions by CETV
, Hunan TV, and a version sung by five winners of the Super Girl singing contest, a popular TV show. Chinese President Hu Jintao
once told the leader of the ruling Uri Party
that it was a shame his busy schedule kept him from watching every episode.
In Japan
, it appeared beginning in October 2005 on the country's biggest TV station, NHK
, under the title of The Vow of Palace Court Lady Jang Geum. (宮廷女官チャングムの誓い Kyūtei Nyokan Changumu no Chikai). It was also aired by TBS
in 2009.
Dae Jang Geum was shown in Thailand
(as แดจังกึม จอมนางแห่งวังหลวง) in October 2005 on Channel 3
.
It aired in Cambodia
in the middle of 2005 on Royal Cambodian Armed Forces Television channel and received critical acclaim from several newspapers and magazines. The series performed outstandingly due to its air time during the national school vacation period. Cast member Hong Ri-na
visited Cambodia
during the first airing. Dae Jang Geum was renamed Chavit Neang Jang Kim and means The Life of Jang Geum Lady.
In Indonesia
, Dae Jang Geum was shown in December 2005 by Indosiar
.
In Malaysia the drama series first appeared in November 2004 until February 2005 on 8TV however dubbed in Mandarin taken from the Taiwan "Da Changin". After several years, it's re shown in late 2011 on TV Alhijrah
(Islamic TV) in original Korean with Malay subtitles.
In the Philippines Dae Jang Geum was shown by GMA Network
under the title Jewel in The Palace and was the highest rated Korean novela from November 2005 to March 2006, beaten only by My Name is Kim Sam Soon, which also aired on GMA. During April, the show bounced back to the lead spot when the latter show ended. Due to its massive popularity, the show was re-run and enjoyed high ratings. Faith Cuneta sang a Tagalog
version of the theme song titled “Pangarap na Bituin” for the Philippines release.
From September 2007 Dae Jang Geum began airing on the country's state-owned DD-TV in India
after it was dubbed and renamed 'Ghar ka Chirag'("the lamp of the house") in Hindi
.
Dae Jang Geum appeared on Channel 2
under the title Jewel in The Palace in 2006 and 2007. It reminded viewers of Oshin
, a popular Japanese drama that had aired 20 years ago. Based on a survey conducted by IRIB (Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting), this series is ranked as the most popular drama of IRIB from March to April 2007 with 57 percent viewership and 92 percent satisfaction.
Dae Jang Geum has also aired in Jordan and Egypt.
Shown in Brunei
in April 2007 on RTB2 under the title Jewel in The Palace.
The Arabic Dub which has also started airing on Dubai TV
on October 14, 2007 carries the title Jawharatu Alqasr (جوهرة القصر). It is the Arabic translation for Jewel in the Palace.
Turkish television also started airing Dae Jang Geum on TRT 1 on January 14, 2008. The Turkish title is "Saraydaki Mücevher".
In Nigeria the African Independent Television channel aired "Dae Jang Geum" as "Jewel in The Palace" on Sundays 9am.
The Israeli cable TV daytime-drama channel "Viva" started airing "Dae Jang Geum" (in Korean with subtitles) as "The Diamond in the Crown " (היהלום שבכתר) on October 2008. It was rebroadcast from 10 July 2010, two episodes every weekend, and ended 15 January 2011.
Dae Jang Geum was also aired in Zimbabwe, under the title "Jewel in the Korean Palace". The station also had a promo wherein viewers have to answer three questions from the drama. It was said that almost one-fourth of the population joined the "Jewel in the Korean Palace Quiz".
on AZN Television
and on ethnic Korean stations such as KBFD
in Hawaii
and WOCH-CA
in Chicago.
In July 2005 it was shown on Canada’s Cantonese-language Fairchild TV
and in September 2005 on Australia’s Cantonese-language TVB Jade
.
In Peru Dae Jang Geum aired every weekday at 5:30 pm with a special 3 hour edition on Sunday from November 2008 to February 2009 by TV Perú, the country's public broadcasting station. It aired under the title "Una Joya en el Palacio" and was the first Korean drama to be shown in Latin America.
In Colombia the cable Canal Capital was shown the serie in Spanish "Una Joya en el Palacio" at 4:30 pm in 2010.
In Mexico the cable TV channel TVMEX ran the series in Spanish under the name "Una Joya en el Palacio" from Monday to Friday at 5:30 pm.
In Venezuela this drama was transmitted by the television channel La Tele
.
In Costa Rica the drama was shown by Canal 13 (Costa Rica)
as "Una Joya en el Palacio".
In Puerto Rico the drama is currently being aired by WIPR-TV
as "Una Joya en el Palacio". Starting on September 2010, from Monday to Friday at 5:00pm.
In Trinidad and Tobago, the drama is shown by CCN TV6
as "Jewel in the Palace" with English sub-titles. The series began airing in July 2011 on Saturdays and Sundays at 6:00pm.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina
the drama began airing on January 2010 under the name "Dragulj u Carskoj Palati" in Korean with Serbian subtitles.
In Hungary
it was dubbed into Hungarian and began showing on October 3, 2008 on m1 (TV channel)
with the name of "A palota ékköve". It aired again on the same channel during the summer of 2008. Due to popular demand m1 TV decided to re-run the show in 2009 autumn
Dae Jang Geum was dubbed into Russian and shown on Russia's DVTRK in March 2007.
As of 2010 an online campaign is urging the British Broadcasting Corporation in the UK to show Dae Jang Geum. The campaign's website is at http://showdjgonbbc.blogspot.com/.
of South Korean popular culture
in East Asia
, Dae Jang Geum’s immense popularity has had significant cultural impact.
promotes Dae Jang Geum-oriented tourism in East Asia and the United States and the main outdoor sets built by MBC for the shooting of the drama were purchased by the South Korean government. The Dae Jang Geum Theme Park
was opened in Yangju
, Gyeonggi Province in 2004 at the site of these sets where much of the filming occurred.
is much the same story but focuses on Jang Geum in her younger years.
Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation
Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC (Hangul : 문화방송주식회사, Munhwa Bangsong Jushikoesa) is one of four major national South Korean television and radio networks. Munhwa is the Korean word for "culture". Its flagship terrestrial television...
. Starring Lee Young Ae
Lee Young Ae
Lee Young Ae is a South Korean actress.-Career:Lee made her debut as a TV model in 1991. After appearing in TV commercials, she started playing in TV dramas and movies....
, it tells the tale of an orphaned kitchen cook who went on to become the king's first female physician. In a time when women held little influence in society, young apprentice cook Jang Geum strives to learn the secrets of Korean cooking and medicine in order to cure the King of his various ailments. Produced for $15 million, the show received as much as 57% of viewers in South Korea and has pulled in $40 million worldwide since it first aired in 2003.
It is based on the true story of Jang-geum
Jang Geum
Jang Geum was reputedly the only female Royal Physician in Korean history. She was mentioned about seven times in the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, albeit with very vague and sketchy details. It is known, however, that King Jungjong was pleased with Jang Geum's medical knowledge and trusted her...
, the first female royal physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
of the Joseon Dynasty
Joseon Dynasty
Joseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
. The main themes are her perseverance and the portrayal of traditional Korean culture
Culture of Korea
The current political separation of North and South Korea has resulted in divergence in modern Korean cultures; nevertheless, the traditional culture of Korea is historically shared by both states.-Dance:...
, including Korean royal court cuisine
Korean royal court cuisine
Korean royal court cuisine was the style of cookery within Korean cuisine traditionally consumed at the court of the Joseon Dynasty, which ruled Korea from 1392 to 1910. There has been a revival of this cookery style in the 21st century...
and traditional medicine.
Synopsis
The story is set in KoreaKorea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
during the reigns of King Seongjong
Seongjong of Joseon
Seongjong of Joseon was the ninth king of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. He succeeded King Yejong in 1469 and ruled until 1494.-Reign:...
(1457–1494), King Yeonsan-gun
Yeonsangun of Joseon
Yeonsan-gun , born Yi Yung, was the 10th king of Korea's Joseon Dynasty. He was the eldest son of Seongjong by his second wife, Lady Yoon. He is often considered the worst tyrant in Joseon Dynasty, notorious for launching two bloody purges of the seonbi elite...
(1494–1506) and King Jungjong
Jungjong of Joseon
Jungjong of Joseon , born Yi Yeok, ruled during the 16th century in what is now Korea. He succeeded his half-brother, Yeonsangun, because of the latter's tyranical misrule, which culminated in a coup placing Jungjong on the throne.-Jo Gwang-jo's reforms:On the day Yeonsangun was deposed, soldiers...
(1506–1544).
Executions
At the outset, King SeongjongSeongjong of Joseon
Seongjong of Joseon was the ninth king of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. He succeeded King Yejong in 1469 and ruled until 1494.-Reign:...
has ordered the execution by poisoning of his deposed wife Deposed Queen Lady Yun
Deposed Queen Lady Yun
Deposed Queen Lady Yun or Waste Queen Lady Yun , 11th generation descendant of General Yun Kwan , was Joseon Dynasty's King Seongjong of Joseon's second wife...
, the mother of the first-born son, the young crown prince (the future Prince Yeonsan
Yeonsangun of Joseon
Yeonsan-gun , born Yi Yung, was the 10th king of Korea's Joseon Dynasty. He was the eldest son of Seongjong by his second wife, Lady Yoon. He is often considered the worst tyrant in Joseon Dynasty, notorious for launching two bloody purges of the seonbi elite...
). After carrying out the execution, one of the royal guards, Seo Cheon-soo, is haunted by the execution. On his way home, he suffers an accident and is rescued by a mysterious hermit
Hermit
A hermit is a person who lives, to some degree, in seclusion from society.In Christianity, the term was originally applied to a Christian who lives the eremitic life out of a religious conviction, namely the Desert Theology of the Old Testament .In the...
with a cryptic message—that his life will revolve around three women: the first he will be forced to kill; another he will save, but will die because of him; and the third will kill him, but will go on to save many lives. It doesn't become clear until later in the story that the three women are the poisoned Deposed Queen Lady Yun
Deposed Queen Lady Yun
Deposed Queen Lady Yun or Waste Queen Lady Yun , 11th generation descendant of General Yun Kwan , was Joseon Dynasty's King Seongjong of Joseon's second wife...
, Park Myeong-yi (Seo's eventual wife and the mother of Jang-geum) and Jang-geum
Jang Geum
Jang Geum was reputedly the only female Royal Physician in Korean history. She was mentioned about seven times in the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, albeit with very vague and sketchy details. It is known, however, that King Jungjong was pleased with Jang Geum's medical knowledge and trusted her...
(the main character and Seo's only daughter). Haunted by the curse of the executed deposed Queen Consort, and his prophesied fate at the hands of the third woman, he abandons his post and also becomes a hermit, refusing to take a wife.
Park Myeong-yi
After many years, the former kingSeongjong of Joseon
Seongjong of Joseon was the ninth king of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. He succeeded King Yejong in 1469 and ruled until 1494.-Reign:...
dies and the Crown Prince
Yeonsangun of Joseon
Yeonsan-gun , born Yi Yung, was the 10th king of Korea's Joseon Dynasty. He was the eldest son of Seongjong by his second wife, Lady Yoon. He is often considered the worst tyrant in Joseon Dynasty, notorious for launching two bloody purges of the seonbi elite...
ascends the throne as the 10th King of Joseon. Park Myeong-yi is a palace girl (or gungnyeo
Gungnyeo
Gungnyeo is a Korean term referring to women waiting on the king and other royalty in traditional Korean society. It is short for "gungjung yeogwan", which translates as "a lady officer of the royal court". Gungnyeo includes sanggung and nain , both of which hold rank as officers...
) and apprentice cook of the royal kitchen (sooratgan). She witnesses a fellow apprentice, a girl from the powerful Choi clan named Choi Seong-geum, slip poison into the Great Royal Dowager Queen's food. Unaware that the senior kitchen officers are part of a conspiracy against the said Queen, Myeong-yi informs the head kitchen officer (choigo sanggung
Sanggung
Sanggung was an official title of the senior 5th rank , the highest attainable for gungnyeo, a lady-in-waiting during the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. Female officers with the title were assigned to govern the inner affairs of the palace. When a regular nain served for more than 15 years, she would be...
). The officers, fearful that Myeong-yi might reveal their conspiracy, attempt to murder her. Myeong-yi's best friend, Han Baek-yeong, witnesses the crime and manages to secretly save her (by hurriedly diluting the poison with an antidote). She leaves the unconscious Myeong-yi a letter explaining what had happened. As Seo Cheon-soo wanders through the forest in his self-imposed hermitage, he stumbles upon the half-conscious Myeong-yi. He rescues her and the two fall in love and marry. They end up living peacefully in a remote village as lower caste commoners (Seo Cheon-soo posing as a butcher and village weapon smith) and raise a clever daughter named Seo Jang-geum
Jang Geum
Jang Geum was reputedly the only female Royal Physician in Korean history. She was mentioned about seven times in the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, albeit with very vague and sketchy details. It is known, however, that King Jungjong was pleased with Jang Geum's medical knowledge and trusted her...
.
Jang-geum
In 1504, Prince YeonsanYeonsangun of Joseon
Yeonsan-gun , born Yi Yung, was the 10th king of Korea's Joseon Dynasty. He was the eldest son of Seongjong by his second wife, Lady Yoon. He is often considered the worst tyrant in Joseon Dynasty, notorious for launching two bloody purges of the seonbi elite...
orders the execution of people responsible for his mother (Queen Consort Jeheon)'s death, thereby launching the notorious Literati Purges of 1504
Korean Literati Purges
The term "Literati purges" is a translation of Korean term sahwa by Edward W. Wagner, Harvard professor of Korean history. Sahwa literally means "seonbi's calamity" and refers to a series of political purges in late 15th and 16th century, in which Sarim scholars suffered persecution at the hands...
. Jang-geum is warned by her parents to never reveal their true identities to anyone or they will all die. One day Jang-geum and her father go to a village fair. In a wrestling match she blurts out to the jeering crowd that her father is not a low-born butcher but a former guard of the royal palace. Words spread, and the king's guards arrest Seo Cheon-soo and execute him. Mother and daughter flee but are captured by the guards. As they are taken away, the group is ambushed by mercenaries hired by the Choi clan patriarch, who is determined to kill Myeong-yi and her daughter. Myeong-yi is injured and before she dies she tells Jang-geum her last wish: that she become the choigo sanggung of the royal kitchen and record the crime in a journal that is passed down through every generation of the choigo sanggungs.
Through a series of lucky coincidences (one involving Prince Yeonsan
Yeonsangun of Joseon
Yeonsan-gun , born Yi Yung, was the 10th king of Korea's Joseon Dynasty. He was the eldest son of Seongjong by his second wife, Lady Yoon. He is often considered the worst tyrant in Joseon Dynasty, notorious for launching two bloody purges of the seonbi elite...
's half-brother Grand Prince Jinseong
Jungjong of Joseon
Jungjong of Joseon , born Yi Yeok, ruled during the 16th century in what is now Korea. He succeeded his half-brother, Yeonsangun, because of the latter's tyranical misrule, which culminated in a coup placing Jungjong on the throne.-Jo Gwang-jo's reforms:On the day Yeonsangun was deposed, soldiers...
), Jang-geum manages to enter the palace. She is unknowingly apprenticed to Han Baek-young, her mother's best friend now raised to the rank of sanggung. Jang-geum endures many ordeals and is bullied because she is more skilled and works harder than the other girls. During her time as a palace girl, Jang-geum befriends a young seonbi
Seonbi
Seonbi means "virtuous scholar" in Korean and typically denotes young nobleman who was preparing for the gwageo examination or passed it but did not take on government position during Joseon Dynasty...
named Min Jeong-ho, who falls in love with her. Her rival is Choi Geum-yeong, another gungnyeo and Choi Seong-geum (also raised to the rank of sanggung due to her association with her aunt the former choigo sanggung)'s niece. While not a cruel person, Geum-yeong's conscience is slowly eroded by Lady Choi's ruthless behavior. Min Jeong-ho urges Geum-yeong to maintain her integrity and stand up to her evil relatives, but an angry Geum-yeong accuses Jeong-ho of not loving her and being by her side.
Many years pass and Lady Choi schemes to win the position of choigo sanggung of royal kitchen. The Choi women have successively occupied the choigo sanggung position for five successive generations, allowing the clan to become exclusive suppliers of goods and produce to the royal kitchen, making the clan immensely wealthy and powerful. Eventually a cooking competition is declared and Lady Choi and Lady Han vie to become the choigo sanggung. When Lady Han wins (and becomes choigo sanggung), and the King suddenly falls ill during one of his trips to a hot spring, Choi Pan-sool (Lady Choi's elder brother, and main supplier of the royal kitchen) and the Right Minister Oh Gyeom-ho (the Choi clan's ally within the Royal Cabinet) frame Lady Han and Jang-geum as traitors in league with Jo Gwang-jo, famous Joseon reformer. In an effort to save Jang-geum, Lady Han declares that she alone is guilty of treason. Nonetheless, both are judged guilty and sent to Jeju Island
Jeju-do
Jeju-do is the only special autonomous province of South Korea, situated on and coterminous with the country's largest island. Jeju-do lies in the Korea Strait, southwest of Jeollanam-do Province, of which it was a part before it became a separate province in 1946...
to work as government slaves. On the way there Lady Han dies from her injuries. Lady Choi replaces her as the choigo sanggung, while Jang-geum vows revenge.
In exile at Jeju
Min Jeong-ho follows Jang-geum to Jeju Island. He offers to help Jang-geum escape, but she refuses since doing so would mean never returning to the palace to clear Lady Han's name, as well as never obtaining justice for her mother's death. Min Jeong-ho declares he will wait for her at the palace, confident that Jang-geum will find a way to re-enter the palace.On Jeju Island, Jang-geum meets a woman named Jang-deok, whom she first mistakes for a fellow slave. She soon discovers that Jang-deok is a famous female doctor. Jang-deok's blunt and forthright nature initially offends her, but she learns in time that the female doctor is dedicated and caring. As the days go by, Jang-geum realizes that her only way back to the palace is to become a female physician (uinyeo). She begs Jang-deok to teach her medicine. Jang-geum's friend, Jeong Woon-baek, an eccentric royal physician, disapproves of her decision to pursue medicine in order to take revenge on the Choi clan. In spite of this, Jang-geum perseveres and earns herself a spot as a female doctor-in-training at the palace.
Upon returning to the palace, Jang-geum encounters Choi Geum-yeong, who has been promoted to choigo sanggung. The ruthlessly ambitious Lady Choi has ousted the former female head officer of the palace (jaejo sanggung; one of their former allies), and now occupies that position herself. Min Jeong-ho is a lieutenant and a member of the King's Royal Cabinet. Jang-geum's childhood best friend, Lee Yeon-saeng, also a gungnyeo, had caught the king's eye, and is now his concubine (sook-ui). Jang-geum endures many trials at the palace, from being forced to wash the feet of Geum-yeong, to a backstabbing uinyeo named Park Yeol-yi. In spite of this, Jang-geum manages to accomplish great things, such as curing an epidemic and saving the king's life when the king's own physicians had failed.
With Jang-geum's status rising, several events ensue that lead to an investigation of the Choi clan, resulting in the prosecution of Lady Choi, her elder brother and several high-ranking officials, including the chief state councillor
Yeonguijeong
Yeonguijeong was a title created in 1400, during the Joseon Dynasty of Korea and given to the Chief State Councillor as the highest government position of "Uijeongbu" . Existing for over 500 years, its function can be compared to that of a present day "Prime Minister of South Korea"...
. Everyone scrambles to escape, and only Lady Choi manages to evade the guards. Jang-geum finds her and asks if she is willing to sacrifice her niece, Geum-yeong, to the authorities while she herself escapes. Lady Choi, who had abandoned her ethics and conscience for the sake of the Choi clan, is unable to respond. Torn between self-preservation and guilt, Lady Choi wanders the countryside hallucinating. She ends up falling off a cliff off Mount Dongin and dies (but not before speaking and paying respects in front of the memorial grave of her former friend Park Myeong-yi, Jang-geum's mother). Choi Geum-yeong loses her position as choigo sanggung and is exiled along with the other officials.
Through her dedication, perseverance and skill Jang-geum saves the royal family from one disaster after another. After giving birth to a stillborn child, Queen Consort Munjeong
Queen Munjeong
Queen Munjeong was the wife of King Jungjong of Joseon.She was of the Papyeong Yun clan. She was regent for her son King Myeongjong when he was still too young to rule by himself until 1565. Known as a good administrator, she continued to rule even after he reached the age of majority...
remained ill. Jang-geum correctly identifies a second stillborn fetus in the Queen Consort's womb and saves her life. She convinces the Dowager Queen mother to undergo medical treatment at the risk of being beheaded. She also cures Grand Prince Gyeongwon
Myeongjong of Joseon
King Myeongjong was the 13th king of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. He was the second son of Jungjong, and his mother was Queen Munjeong, who was Jungjong's third queen....
, Queen Consort Munjeong
Queen Munjeong
Queen Munjeong was the wife of King Jungjong of Joseon.She was of the Papyeong Yun clan. She was regent for her son King Myeongjong when he was still too young to rule by himself until 1565. Known as a good administrator, she continued to rule even after he reached the age of majority...
's only son, of smallpox, which earns the permanent gratitude of the Queen Consort.
Court physician
For her achievements King Jungjong makes Jang-geum a 6th rank official and appoints her to be his personal physician, the first woman to hold such a position. The court is in uproar and the state councillorsState Council of Joseon
The State Council of Joseon or Uijeongbu was the highest organ of government under the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. It was led by three officials known as the High State Councillors...
unanimously oppose the appointment on the grounds that it violates the country's constitution. When the Dowager Queen mother humiliates herself to express her disapproval, the king revokes his decision. She urges the king to take Jang-geum as one of his concubines. Although the king is in love with Jang-geum, he refrains from making her one of his concubines against her will. Jang-geum cures a second bout of Behçet's disease
Behçet's disease
Behçet's disease is a rare immune-mediated systemic vasculitis that often presents with mucous membrane ulceration and ocular involvements...
, and the king finally decrees her his personal physician. She is granted the honorific "Dae" (meaning "The Great"), as well as the position of a 3rd rank official.
Jang-geum fears that accepting this position will endanger her friends and family. However, with Min Jeong-ho's support, she accepts. The ministers and scholars of the court bitterly accept the decree, but demand that the king punish Min Jeong-ho for supporting Jang-geum's appointment. Seeing an opportunity to separate the lovers the king agrees and Jeong-ho is sentenced to exile.
Escape, and fugitives from the law
Eventually, the king's old illness returns. Jang-geum attempts to heal him using all the medical technologies known at the time. The other doctors offer advice but nothing works; the king is dying. Jang-geum resorts to her last option—an experimental technique using newly 'discovered' anesthesia and surgery. However, the king's body is considered sacred and the court unanimously opposes this new procedure, and the king decides not to allow the operation. Knowing Jang-geum's life will be in danger after his death, the repentant king sends her to escape with Min Jeong-ho. Jang-geum and Jeong-ho live as fugitives.8 years later, Jang-geum is spotted by her adoptive father, who alerts Jang-geum's friends in the palace. By this time Jungjong
Jungjong of Joseon
Jungjong of Joseon , born Yi Yeok, ruled during the 16th century in what is now Korea. He succeeded his half-brother, Yeonsangun, because of the latter's tyranical misrule, which culminated in a coup placing Jungjong on the throne.-Jo Gwang-jo's reforms:On the day Yeonsangun was deposed, soldiers...
had long passed away, along with his appointed Crown Prince (who became Injong
Injong of Joseon
King Injong of Joseon was the 12th king of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. His father was King Jungjong, and his mother was Queen Janggyeong, whose brother was Yun Im...
, who ruled for less than a year due to a life of illness. The second-in-line to succeed the throne is the child Grand Prince Gyeongwon
Myeongjong of Joseon
King Myeongjong was the 13th king of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. He was the second son of Jungjong, and his mother was Queen Munjeong, who was Jungjong's third queen....
, only son of Queen Munjeong, who is now both the Great Royal Dowager Queen and the Regent, wielding enormous power. She hears that Jang-geum is still in the country and invites her and Jeong-ho to return to the palace and be reinstated to their previous positions. Jang-geum and Jeong-ho joyfully return, but they decide for the sake of their family to live away from the palace.
As they return to their normal lives, Jang-geum comes across a pregnant woman, and successfully uses her surgical skills to deliver the woman's baby via Caesarean section
Caesarean section
A Caesarean section, is a surgical procedure in which one or more incisions are made through a mother's abdomen and uterus to deliver one or more babies, or, rarely, to remove a dead fetus...
, thus becoming the first physician in Korea to do a surgical procedure. While Jang-geum celebrates her success, Jeong-ho laments the repressive social climate of Korea, and its inability to accommodate a woman with ambitions.
Cast
- Lee Young-ae as Seo Jang GeumSeo Jang GeumFor the historical figure that this character is based on, see Jang GeumSeo Jang Geum is the main character of the Korean television series Dae Jang Geum. Based on the historical figure Jang Geum, possibly the first and only female physician of the King in all of Korean history...
An intelligent and beautiful lady whose outgoing nature and enthusiasm allow her stand out from the crowd. Ever since her parents died during a political massacre, she has suffered many hardships and obstacles, especially in the palace, but she overcomes them with strong determination and perseverance.
Being strong-willed, Jang Geum strives to reach her goal no matter what and it is with her extraordinary medical skills/knowledge and her moral to only use it for good that she becomes the first female physician for the Emperor, and named the Great Dae Jang Geum, ranking third in the officers, something that had never happened before in Chosun history.
- Ji Jin-hee as Min Jung-ho
A learned man with good looks and high intelligence, he is an outstanding scholar who combines both learning and the martial arts. Min Jung Ho is a judge of the Hang Sung Boo, a government ministry governing the affairs of the capital Hang Sung. He is saved by Jang Geum without his knowledge when he is shot. They then meet again when she goes to him to borrow books. They become romantically involved as he moves to Nae Geum Wee, the Royal Military Guard as Jong Sa Gwan, a senior officer.
- Hong Ri-naHong Ri-naHong Ri-na is a South Korean actress, perhaps best known for playing Choi Geum-young in the popular TV series Dae Jang Geum.-Television series:*Dae Jang Geum*Honest Living*The Dawn of the Empire*Still Loving You*Sister’s Mirror*Blue Classroom...
as Choi Geum-youngChoi Geum-youngChoi Geum-young is a major character in Dae Jang Geum. She is the niece of the evil but prominent merchant Choi Pan-sul. A very skilled cook, she obtains the post of Highest Lady of the Royal Kitchen and the privilege of cooking and serving the King's food. However, she got this unjustly from...
Choi Keum-Young starts her life in the palace as the niece of the influential Lady Choi, and becomes Jang Geum's long-time rival. She is an arrogant girl burning with ambitions. Although she is with the Choi clan, she is desperate to find her own way: never really accepting the Chois' way but unable to find her own independent identity. Her intelligence and talents often put her head-to-head with Jang Geum and she desperately competes with her in order to become better than her. Eventually Lady Choi's influence and her unreciprocated attraction to Min Jung-ho prompt her to keep mostly to the Choi clan's ways.
- Im HoIm HoIm Ho is a South Korean actor, perhaps best known for playing King Jungjong in the television series Dae Jang Geum and Yeon Namsaeng in the TV series Dae Jo Yeong....
as King Jungjong
The 11th king of the Chosun Dynasty. He is very gentle but extremely irresolute and indecisive. He is a kind man who has lost his ability to love a woman as his first wife was forced to be killed by cabinet ministers for political reasons. The Emperor deeply grieved over his beloved wife, but he had no actual power to protect her. He is constantly aware that he is only a puppet to the appointed ministers and is angered over the fact he is helpless to do anything. The Emperor gets to know Jang Geum in the midst of his aggressive efforts toward pushing for a political reform and grows fond of her for her warm personality and outstanding talents. He finds an understanding companion within her and later, for the first time in a decade, becomes attracted to her.
- Han Sang Gung
As one of Soo Ra Gan's Sang Gung, she possesses a talent in culinary art and is able to identify the source of the ingredients in a dish. Best friend to Jang Geum's mother, she often misses and regrets not being able to save her friend. She is a rigorous person who is not to be swayed from her purpose. Although obdurate in nature, she is actually very kind-hearted. Jang Geum's appearance allowed to open up and she treats her as both a strict teacher and kind mother.
- Kyeon Mi-riKyeon Mi-riKyeon Mi-Ri is a South Korean actress and singer, best known for her role in Dae Jang Geum as the main antagonist Lady Choi.- Career :Kyeon Mi-Ri's role in the period drama Dae Jang Geum brought her to the attention of fans in East Asia and South East Asia, including regions like Japan, Hong Kong,...
as Choi Seong-geumChoi Seong-geumChoi Seong-geum is a major character in Dae Jang Geum. She is considered the most notorious woman in the series, and is known as Lady Choi throughout much of the series...
Choi Pan Sool's younger sister and Keum-Young's aunt. Comes from a family of high hierarchy and is to be the successor of Soo Ran Gan's Highest Sang Gung from a long bloodline. She started learning the delicacy of food at a young age. She is arrogant in nature and holds her pride above anything else. She possesses a fierce need to get what she wants and will stop at nothing until she does. She is sharp-minded and quick in action and thus is always one step ahead of plotting against Jang Geum and Han Sang Gung.
Series notes
Dae Jang Geum is a fictionalized drama of a historical figure by the name of Jang-geumJang Geum
Jang Geum was reputedly the only female Royal Physician in Korean history. She was mentioned about seven times in the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, albeit with very vague and sketchy details. It is known, however, that King Jungjong was pleased with Jang Geum's medical knowledge and trusted her...
. It is unclear whether a person by that name existed.
The script originally included a kissing scene between Seo Jang-geum and Min Jung-ho, but Lee Yeong-ae, who plays Jang-geum, felt it wasn't necessary and that the drama did not need such scenes in order to generate viewer ratings. Hence the scene was removed.
Lady Han (Yang Mi-gyeong) was supposed to die in episode 18 but due to fan protests, the director delayed her death.
Park Eun-hye was originally cast to play the role of Seo Jang-geum, but later when it was confirmed that Lee Young-ae would be acting in the drama as well, Eun-hye was recast in the role of Lee Yeon-saeng.
Dae Jang-geum references in other shows
In an episode of King of the HillKing of the Hill
King of the Hill is an American animated dramedy series created by Mike Judge and Greg Daniels, that ran from January 12, 1997, to May 6, 2010, on Fox network. It centers on the Hills, a working-class Methodist family in the fictional small town of Arlen, Texas...
, Kahn and Minh were watching Dae Jang Geum (which is dubbed in Laotian).
In episode 1 of Princess Hours, Chae-gyeong's family is watching episode 30 of Dae Jang Geum (Yeon-saeng being scolded for playing with the King's puppy).
In episode 32 of Love Truly
Love Truly
Love Truly is a 34-episode South Korean television drama broadcast by MBC in 2006.-Synopsis:There's no ‘nobody.’ Everybody is once an important person to somebody...
, Yeo Bong-soon's mother (played by Geum Bo-ra) is watching Dae Jang Geum. This is ironic because Geum Bo-ra is also in Dae Jang-geum, where she played Jang-geum's adoptive mother Na Joo-daek.
In episode 9 of Who Are You, there is a large Dae Jang Geum poster on the side of a building.
In episode 2 of Silence, a Taiwanese drama starring Park Eun Hye, Dae Jang Geum is mentioned as a famous Korean drama.
Theme song
The theme song, Onara is in Old Korean. This produced arguments about the lyrics and how they should be interpreted. As a result, different interpretations surfaced. Eventually the songwriter, Im Se-Hyeon, revealed the lyrics.The song is in the pansori
Pansori
Pansori is a genre of Korean traditional music. It is a vocal and percussional music performed by one sorikkun and one gosu . The term pansori is derived from pan , and sori .- Overview :...
style, a particular type of Korean music that emerged during the Joseon Dynasty
Joseon Dynasty
Joseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
and was very popular in the 19th century. It utilizes the vocals of one singer, a sorikkun, and one drummer, a gosu, to tell a themed story. The refrain
Refrain
A refrain is the line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse; the "chorus" of a song...
("He-iya di-iya he-iya naranino") is called chu-imsae and, in traditional pansori, it is supplied by the drummer to give rhythm to the song in addition to the beat. Chuimsae consists of meaningless vowel
Vowel
In phonetics, a vowel is a sound in spoken language, such as English ah! or oh! , pronounced with an open vocal tract so that there is no build-up of air pressure at any point above the glottis. This contrasts with consonants, such as English sh! , where there is a constriction or closure at some...
sounds or short words of encouragement. Chuimsae is analogous to scat singing
Scat singing
In vocal jazz, scat singing is vocal improvisation with wordless vocables, nonsense syllables or without words at all. Scat singing gives singers the ability to sing improvised melodies and rhythms, to create the equivalent of an instrumental solo using their voice.- Structure and syllable choice...
in jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
nonsense syllables such as "La, la, la," or "Shoop, shoop ba doop" in English-language popular songs.
Since the song is in archaic Korean, the meaning of the song can be ambiguous. But one explanation is that the song depicts a girl who longs for a man that she cannot be with. So she accepts the way it is and moves on with her life.
Korean version
The end of each episode of Dae Jang Geum features "Onara" sung by three Korean children, Gim Ji-hyeon (김지현 / 金智賢), Baek Bo-hyeon (백보현 / 白寶賢), Gim Seul-gi (김슬기 / 金슬기), who were elementary schoolers learning Korean classic music at the time. The Dae Jang Geum soundtrack album also features a slower version of the song sung by E Ahn (이안 / 李安) (real name: I Dong-hui [이동희 / 李冬熙), a Korean traditional musicKorean music
Traditional Korean music includes both the folk, vocal, religious and ritual music styles of the Korean people. Korean music, along with arts, painting, and sculpture has been practiced since prehistoric times....
singer who graduated from the Korean classical music department at Seoul National University
Seoul National University
Seoul National University , colloquially known in Korean as Seoul-dae , is a national research university in Seoul, Korea, ranked 24th in the world in publications in an analysis of data from the Science Citation Index, 7th in Asia and 42nd in the world by the 2011 QS World University Rankings...
.
Foreign versions
"Onara" has several other versions that were used with Dae Jang Geum’s release outside of Korea. "Hope" (希望 Hèimohng) was the version sung by Kelly ChenKelly Chen
Kelly Chen is a Hong Kong Cantopop singer and actress. Kelly has also been known as a diva in Asia. She has a great success in Asia Entertainment industry with nearly 20 million record sales of 38 albums...
in Cantonese for the Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
release. "Baby" (娃娃 Wáwá) was sung by Angela Chang
Angela Chang
Angela Chang was born on 19 January 1982. She is a Taiwanese Mandopop singer and actress. She has been nominated twice for Best Leading Actress in a Television Series at the Golden Bell Awards, Taiwan.-Biography:...
in Mandarin Chinese
Standard Mandarin
Standard Chinese or Modern Standard Chinese, also known as Mandarin or Putonghua, is the official language of the People's Republic of China and Republic of China , and is one of the four official languages of Singapore....
for the Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
release. "Calling" (呼唤 Hūhuàn) sung by Tang Can and "Hope" (希望 Xīwàng) sung by five winners of the Super Girl singing contest were among those used for the China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
release. Faith Cuneta sang an entirely different Tagalog
Tagalog language
Tagalog is an Austronesian language spoken as a first language by a third of the population of the Philippines and as a second language by most of the rest. It is the first language of the Philippine region IV and of Metro Manila...
song titled "Pangarap na Bituin" for the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
release.
Tracklisting of OST
- 고원 (高原)
- 창룡 (蒼龍) Dae Jang Geum Opening theme, Practicing Medicine theme, Return to the palace
- 하망연 (何茫然) Hamangyeon-Featuring Safina
- 오나라 II
- 0815 (空八一五)
- 연밥
- 덕구
- Hamangyeon Featuring Safina
- APNA
- 다솜
- 비 (悲)
- 단가 (短歌)
- 연도 (烟濤)
- 오나라 I
- The Legend Becomes History
- 자야오가 (子夜吳歌) Techno Ver.
- 하망연 (何茫然) Hamangyeon-Instrumental
Commercial success
Dae Jang Geum has experienced extensive success throughout Asia, in places such as ChinaChina
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, Malaysia, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, Brunei
Brunei
Brunei , officially the State of Brunei Darussalam or the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace , is a sovereign state located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
and Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, further continuing the “Korean wave
Korean wave
The Korean Wave, also known as the Hallyu , refers to spread of South Korean culture around the world. The term was coined in China in mid-1999 by Beijing journalists surprised by the fast growing popularity of Korean entertainment and culture in China...
” cultural fever that has gripped Asia since the early 2000s. It has been shown in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
Dae Jang Geum was first shown in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
from 15 September 2003 to 23 March 2004 on MBC
Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation
Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC (Hangul : 문화방송주식회사, Munhwa Bangsong Jushikoesa) is one of four major national South Korean television and radio networks. Munhwa is the Korean word for "culture". Its flagship terrestrial television...
where it was the top program with an average viewer rate of 45.8% and an all-time high of 57.1%. It is the highest rated drama in South Korean history.
Asia
The drama was shown on GTV in Taiwan in May 2004 where it was dubbed into MandarinStandard Mandarin
Standard Chinese or Modern Standard Chinese, also known as Mandarin or Putonghua, is the official language of the People's Republic of China and Republic of China , and is one of the four official languages of Singapore....
and known as Da Changjin (大長今 Dà Chángjīn). It was the number one program in Taiwan, where the theme song was sung by Angela Chang
Angela Chang
Angela Chang was born on 19 January 1982. She is a Taiwanese Mandopop singer and actress. She has been nominated twice for Best Leading Actress in a Television Series at the Golden Bell Awards, Taiwan.-Biography:...
.
In New Zealand it aired in Korean with English subtitles twice a week from October 2009 on Triangle TV
Triangle TV
Triangle Television and Stratos Television are public service television stations based in Auckland, New Zealand. Triangle broadcasts across Auckland on analogue UHF, while Stratos broadcasts around New Zealand on the Freeview, Sky TV and TelstraClear cable digital platforms...
and Stratos Television.
In September 2005 it was shown on Hong Kong’s TVB
Television Broadcasts Limited
Television Broadcasts Limited, commonly known as TVB, is the second over-the-air commercial television station in Hong Kong. It commenced broadcasting on 19 November 1967...
with the same name 大長今, where it became the top-rated drama in Hong Kong history until the season finale of Moonlight Resonance
Moonlight Resonance
Moonlight Resonance is an award-winning 2008 grand production HDTV drama by TVB. It is an spiritual sequel to 2007's award-winning series, Heart of Greed featuring most of the original cast members. The series is written and edited by Cheung Wah-biu and Sit Ga-wah. Sponsored by Kee Wah Bakery, the...
, a popular Hong Kong-based drama. The theme song was sung by Kelly Chen
Kelly Chen
Kelly Chen is a Hong Kong Cantopop singer and actress. Kelly has also been known as a diva in Asia. She has a great success in Asia Entertainment industry with nearly 20 million record sales of 38 albums...
.
TVB Anniversary Awards (2005)
TVB Anniversary Awards (2005)
TVB Anniversary Awards 2005 is an award ceremony that celebrates the best in TVB programming of 2005. The award ceremony took place on 19 November 2005.-Best Actor:"Best Actor in a Leading Role" Award ....
- Won: Best Foreign Program
In September, Dae Jang Geum aired for the first time in mainland China on Hunan TV where it was known as Da Changjin (大長今 Dà Chángjīn). The theme song of the drama has been performed in many variations by Chinese artists, including versions by CETV
CETV
China Entertainment Television is a Mandarin Chinese-language satellite television channel in the Greater China region, owned jointly by the Hong Kong-based TOM Group and the United States’ TBS Networks . The broadcaster is based in Shenzhen, China.- External links :...
, Hunan TV, and a version sung by five winners of the Super Girl singing contest, a popular TV show. Chinese President Hu Jintao
Hu Jintao
Hu Jintao is the current Paramount Leader of the People's Republic of China. He has held the titles of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China since 2002, President of the People's Republic of China since 2003, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission since 2004, succeeding Jiang...
once told the leader of the ruling Uri Party
Uri Party
The Yeollin Uri Party , generally abbreviated to Uri Party , was the briefly ruling political party in South Korea with a centrist political ideology...
that it was a shame his busy schedule kept him from watching every episode.
In Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, it appeared beginning in October 2005 on the country's biggest TV station, NHK
NHK
NHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....
, under the title of The Vow of Palace Court Lady Jang Geum. (宮廷女官チャングムの誓い Kyūtei Nyokan Changumu no Chikai). It was also aired by TBS
Tokyo Broadcasting System
, TBS Holdings, Inc. or TBSHD, is a stockholding company in Tokyo, Japan. It is a parent company of a television network named and radio network named ....
in 2009.
Dae Jang Geum was shown in Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
(as แดจังกึม จอมนางแห่งวังหลวง) in October 2005 on Channel 3
Channel 3 (Thailand)
Thailand Colour Television Channel 3 is a Thailand television channel. The headquarters are located in Bangkok, Thailand. The channel was established in 1970.The owner of the channel is BEC-TERO.- Ident :-Broadcast times:...
.
It aired in Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
in the middle of 2005 on Royal Cambodian Armed Forces Television channel and received critical acclaim from several newspapers and magazines. The series performed outstandingly due to its air time during the national school vacation period. Cast member Hong Ri-na
Hong Ri-na
Hong Ri-na is a South Korean actress, perhaps best known for playing Choi Geum-young in the popular TV series Dae Jang Geum.-Television series:*Dae Jang Geum*Honest Living*The Dawn of the Empire*Still Loving You*Sister’s Mirror*Blue Classroom...
visited Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
during the first airing. Dae Jang Geum was renamed Chavit Neang Jang Kim and means The Life of Jang Geum Lady.
In Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, Dae Jang Geum was shown in December 2005 by Indosiar
Indosiar
Indosiar is a publicly owned national television station in Indonesia, and has been operating from West Jakarta since 1994. It was listed on the Indonesian Stock Exchange in 2004. Citibank Singapore has an 8.5 percent shareholding...
.
In Malaysia the drama series first appeared in November 2004 until February 2005 on 8TV however dubbed in Mandarin taken from the Taiwan "Da Changin". After several years, it's re shown in late 2011 on TV Alhijrah
TV Alhijrah
TV AlHijrah is a state-owned free-to-air television network in Malaysia, which is owned and operated by Al Hijrah Media Corporation, a government owned company. It broadcasts from its headquarters in Pusat Islam, Kuala Lumpur...
(Islamic TV) in original Korean with Malay subtitles.
In the Philippines Dae Jang Geum was shown by GMA Network
GMA Network
GMA Network is a major commercial television & radio network in the Philippines. GMA Network is owned by GMA Network, Inc. a publicly listed company...
under the title Jewel in The Palace and was the highest rated Korean novela from November 2005 to March 2006, beaten only by My Name is Kim Sam Soon, which also aired on GMA. During April, the show bounced back to the lead spot when the latter show ended. Due to its massive popularity, the show was re-run and enjoyed high ratings. Faith Cuneta sang a Tagalog
Tagalog language
Tagalog is an Austronesian language spoken as a first language by a third of the population of the Philippines and as a second language by most of the rest. It is the first language of the Philippine region IV and of Metro Manila...
version of the theme song titled “Pangarap na Bituin” for the Philippines release.
From September 2007 Dae Jang Geum began airing on the country's state-owned DD-TV in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
after it was dubbed and renamed 'Ghar ka Chirag'("the lamp of the house") in Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
.
Middle East
In IranIran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
Dae Jang Geum appeared on Channel 2
Channel 2 (Iran)
Channel 2 , is one of five nationally broadcast television channels in Iran.It was the second television channel established in Iran, created in the 1970s...
under the title Jewel in The Palace in 2006 and 2007. It reminded viewers of Oshin
Oshin
Oshin is a Japanese serialized morning television drama, which aired on broadcaster NHK from April 4, 1983 to March 31, 1984. The series follows the life of Shin Tanokura during the Meiji period up to the early 1980s. Shin was called "Oshin", which is Japanese archaic cognomen.In total, 297...
, a popular Japanese drama that had aired 20 years ago. Based on a survey conducted by IRIB (Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting), this series is ranked as the most popular drama of IRIB from March to April 2007 with 57 percent viewership and 92 percent satisfaction.
Dae Jang Geum has also aired in Jordan and Egypt.
Shown in Brunei
Brunei
Brunei , officially the State of Brunei Darussalam or the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace , is a sovereign state located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia...
in April 2007 on RTB2 under the title Jewel in The Palace.
The Arabic Dub which has also started airing on Dubai TV
Dubai TV
Dubai TV is a channel offered by the Dubai Media Incorporated . It replaced Emirates Dubai Television in June 2004. Dubai TV broadcasts programmes predominantly in Arabic. The programming caters to family Arab audience specifically in the Persian Gulf region and is available in Australia, Europe,...
on October 14, 2007 carries the title Jawharatu Alqasr (جوهرة القصر). It is the Arabic translation for Jewel in the Palace.
Turkish television also started airing Dae Jang Geum on TRT 1 on January 14, 2008. The Turkish title is "Saraydaki Mücevher".
In Nigeria the African Independent Television channel aired "Dae Jang Geum" as "Jewel in The Palace" on Sundays 9am.
The Israeli cable TV daytime-drama channel "Viva" started airing "Dae Jang Geum" (in Korean with subtitles) as "The Diamond in the Crown " (היהלום שבכתר) on October 2008. It was rebroadcast from 10 July 2010, two episodes every weekend, and ended 15 January 2011.
Dae Jang Geum was also aired in Zimbabwe, under the title "Jewel in the Korean Palace". The station also had a promo wherein viewers have to answer three questions from the drama. It was said that almost one-fourth of the population joined the "Jewel in the Korean Palace Quiz".
Americas
Beginning in June 2005, the variously titled program was shown in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on AZN Television
AZN Television
AZN Television promoted itself as "the network for Asian America". It was run by International Networks, a wholly owned subsidiary of Comcast Corporation. The channel’s programming targeted the fast-growing, young, affluent, English-speaking Asian American community...
and on ethnic Korean stations such as KBFD
KBFD
KBFD-DT is an independent station that airs Asian programming. The Allen Broadcasting outlet operates on ATSC channel 33 and is licensed to Honolulu, Hawaii. Since they do not have any satellite stations in Hawaii, KBFD can be also seen on Oceanic Cable basic channel 4 in Oahu, while digital cable...
in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
and WOCH-CA
WOCH-CA
WOCH-CA is a class-A television station in Chicago, Illinois that broadcasts as the Korean American Broadcasting Company, or KBC. The station transmits programs from South Korea. The station currently broadcasts on UHF channel 41...
in Chicago.
In July 2005 it was shown on Canada’s Cantonese-language Fairchild TV
Fairchild TV
Fairchild TV or FTV is a Canadian Cantonese language Category A specialty channel. It is co-owned by majority owner Fairchild Media Group and Television Broadcasts Limited which owns 20% of the business...
and in September 2005 on Australia’s Cantonese-language TVB Jade
TVB Jade
TVB Jade is a flagship TV channel in Hong Kong, established by Television Broadcasts Limited, and is one of the free-to-air Cantonese language television channels in Hong Kong, the other being its arch-rival ATV Home...
.
In Peru Dae Jang Geum aired every weekday at 5:30 pm with a special 3 hour edition on Sunday from November 2008 to February 2009 by TV Perú, the country's public broadcasting station. It aired under the title "Una Joya en el Palacio" and was the first Korean drama to be shown in Latin America.
In Colombia the cable Canal Capital was shown the serie in Spanish "Una Joya en el Palacio" at 4:30 pm in 2010.
In Mexico the cable TV channel TVMEX ran the series in Spanish under the name "Una Joya en el Palacio" from Monday to Friday at 5:30 pm.
In Venezuela this drama was transmitted by the television channel La Tele
La Tele
La Tele is a regional television network in Venezuela. It can be seen on the cable and satellite systems of DirecTV , Supercable , Intercable , and Net Uno .-History:La Tele...
.
In Costa Rica the drama was shown by Canal 13 (Costa Rica)
Canal 13 (Costa Rica)
Canal 13 is a public Costa Rican television channel, owned and operated by Sistema Nacional de Radio y Television S.A. .- External links :*...
as "Una Joya en el Palacio".
In Puerto Rico the drama is currently being aired by WIPR-TV
WIPR-TV
WIPR-TV is an non-commercial educational, full-power public television station located in San Juan, Puerto Rico transmitting over analog channel 6, digital 43. The station is owned and operated by Corporación de Puerto Rico para la Difusión Pública ...
as "Una Joya en el Palacio". Starting on September 2010, from Monday to Friday at 5:00pm.
In Trinidad and Tobago, the drama is shown by CCN TV6
CCN TV6
The Caribbean Communications Network Television 6 ' is the largest private television broadcaster in Trinidad and Tobago. The station operates an analog composite NTSC 525 television system, broadcasting on channels 6 and 18 in the island of Trinidad, channel 5 on the Flow Cable System and channel...
as "Jewel in the Palace" with English sub-titles. The series began airing in July 2011 on Saturdays and Sundays at 6:00pm.
Europe
Romanian National Television TVR1 aired the drama under the name "Giuvaierul Palatului", or "Jewel In The Palace". It was shown Monday to Friday from 5:10 PM to 6:10 PM with Romanian subtitles. The series ended on October 12, 2009.In Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
the drama began airing on January 2010 under the name "Dragulj u Carskoj Palati" in Korean with Serbian subtitles.
In Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
it was dubbed into Hungarian and began showing on October 3, 2008 on m1 (TV channel)
M1 (TV channel)
m1 is a Hungarian television channel own and operated by Magyar Televízió. It is also transmitted in high definition.It was 24 hours in 2000 along with m2...
with the name of "A palota ékköve". It aired again on the same channel during the summer of 2008. Due to popular demand m1 TV decided to re-run the show in 2009 autumn
Dae Jang Geum was dubbed into Russian and shown on Russia's DVTRK in March 2007.
As of 2010 an online campaign is urging the British Broadcasting Corporation in the UK to show Dae Jang Geum. The campaign's website is at http://showdjgonbbc.blogspot.com/.
Cultural impact
A part of the Korean waveKorean wave
The Korean Wave, also known as the Hallyu , refers to spread of South Korean culture around the world. The term was coined in China in mid-1999 by Beijing journalists surprised by the fast growing popularity of Korean entertainment and culture in China...
of South Korean popular culture
Contemporary culture of South Korea
The contemporary culture of South Korea developed from the traditional culture of Korea, and on its own path away from North Korean culture since the division of Korea in 1948. The industrialization and urbanization of South Korea, especially Seoul, have brought many changes to the way Korean...
in East Asia
East Asia
East Asia or Eastern Asia is a subregion of Asia that can be defined in either geographical or cultural terms...
, Dae Jang Geum’s immense popularity has had significant cultural impact.
Tourism
The Korea Tourism OrganizationKorea Tourism Organization
The Korea Tourism Organization is a statutory organization of the Republic of Korea under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and is commissioned to promote the country's tourism industry.-Overview:...
promotes Dae Jang Geum-oriented tourism in East Asia and the United States and the main outdoor sets built by MBC for the shooting of the drama were purchased by the South Korean government. The Dae Jang Geum Theme Park
Dae Jang Geum Theme Park
Dae Jang Geum Theme Park is restored and renovated outdoor set where most of Korean drama Dae Jang Geum was filmed. The area of the Dae Jang Geum Theme Park is about 2000 square meters within the MBC Yangju Culture Valley which is located in Mansong-dong, Yangju City, Gyeonggi Province.Dae Jang...
was opened in Yangju
Yangju
Yangju is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Yangju is located south of Dongducheon and north of Uijeongbu not far from Seoul.- Attractions:...
, Gyeonggi Province in 2004 at the site of these sets where much of the filming occurred.
Spin-offs
The cartoon rendition of Dae Jang Geum, called Jang Geum's DreamJang Geum's Dream
Jang Geum's Dream is a Korean animation. It is a production by Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation. The animation was done by Sonokong and Heewon Entertainment. The animation centers on Jang Geum , who enters the Royal Kitchen as an apprentice court lady...
is much the same story but focuses on Jang Geum in her younger years.
See also
- List of Korea-related topics
- List of top rated Korean Dramas
- History of KoreaHistory of KoreaThe Korean Peninsula was inhabited from the Lower Paleolithic about 400,000-500,000 years ago. Archeological evidence indicates that the presence of modern humans in northeast Asia dates to 39,000 years ago. The earliest known Korean pottery dates to around 8000 BC, and the Neolithic period began...
- Korean waveKorean waveThe Korean Wave, also known as the Hallyu , refers to spread of South Korean culture around the world. The term was coined in China in mid-1999 by Beijing journalists surprised by the fast growing popularity of Korean entertainment and culture in China...
- Jang GeumJang GeumJang Geum was reputedly the only female Royal Physician in Korean history. She was mentioned about seven times in the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, albeit with very vague and sketchy details. It is known, however, that King Jungjong was pleased with Jang Geum's medical knowledge and trusted her...
- Jang Geum's DreamJang Geum's DreamJang Geum's Dream is a Korean animation. It is a production by Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation. The animation was done by Sonokong and Heewon Entertainment. The animation centers on Jang Geum , who enters the Royal Kitchen as an apprentice court lady...
- the animated television series - Dr. Quinn, Medicine WomanDr. Quinn, Medicine WomanDr. Quinn, Medicine Woman is an American post-Civil War western/drama series created by Beth Sullivan. Dr. Michaela "Mike" Quinn, played by Jane Seymour, left Boston in search of adventure. She goes to Colorado Springs, Colorado where she establishes herself as doctor/adviser.The show ran on CBS...
- American version of a woman doctor
External links
- Daejanggeum(Jewel In The Palace) : The Official Korea Tourism Guide Site
- Dae Jang Geum official website (MBC)
- Dae Jang Geum official website (MBC)
- Dae Jang Geum official website in Japan (NHK)
- Dae Jang Geum Official Homepage in Mainland China (Hunan TV)
- Hong Kong - Jewel in the Palace official homepage (TVB)
- Complete summaries, theme songs and news about Jewel In The Palace
- Dae Jang Geum Theme Park website