Seo Cheon-Soo
Encyclopedia
Seo Cheon-soo is a minor character in Dae Jang Geum
. He is the father of Seo Jang Geum
and a military guard from the middle class(chungjin). He is the first of all the characters to appear in the series. The series begins as he is practicing for an archery tournament. Then a military officer in the Royal Guards, he is forced by King Seongjong to administer poison to Queen Yun, deposed mother of the next king, King Yeonsangun. Queen Yun dies cursing Seo and the other guards saying that they would die the same way she did; this comes true when her son becomes king and takes revenge for her. While depressed from this, Seo falls down a gorge and is saved by a Taoist hermit
, who tells him three women control his fate. He shall kill the first woman, save the second woman who will die because him, and die because of the third woman who will save many lives. Seo is given three Chinese characters that will guide him in finding out if he has met one of the women. The first word is "jin" made by combining "nu"(lady) and "jin"(today). This means he met the first woman that day. The second word is "shun", made by combining "shun"(flow) and "dao"(head). This means the second woman Seo will find her with her head submerged in flowing water. The third word is "hao"(good), which is made by combining "nu"(lady) and "zhi"(son). This means the third woman will be the daughter Seo has by the second woman.
Seo immediately knows the first woman is Queen Yun. Fourteen years later, Seo comes across Park Myeong-yi
just after she was deposed of by the Royal Kitchen. Her head is under water like she is drowning. Without remembering the hermit's words, Seo saves her and takes cares of her as she leaves. Finally, he remembers the word "shun". The clue of Myeong-yi's head bg under flowing water gives her away. Park Myeong-yi
is the second woman. Feeling she owes her life to Seo for saving her, Myeong-yi follows and marries Seo. For eight years they live in hiding as cheonmin
, raising their bright daughter Seo Jang Geum
.
Now King, Yeonsangun visits his grandmother(Queen Yun's mother) and she tells him how his mother died. She gives him a handkerchief with his mother's blood on it proving her execution. Yeonsangun becomes enraged and psychotic which causes him to look for all who participated in his mother's execution to take revenge.
When her father is in trouble Jang Geum immaturely blurts out the truth that her father was a military guard. Seo is discovered to be the guard who poisoned the mother of Yeonsangun. Seo is executed and the third woman is discovered to be Jang Geum.
Dae Jang Geum
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...
. He is the father of Seo Jang Geum
Seo Jang Geum
For 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...
and a military guard from the middle class(chungjin). He is the first of all the characters to appear in the series. The series begins as he is practicing for an archery tournament. Then a military officer in the Royal Guards, he is forced by King Seongjong to administer poison to Queen Yun, deposed mother of the next king, King Yeonsangun. Queen Yun dies cursing Seo and the other guards saying that they would die the same way she did; this comes true when her son becomes king and takes revenge for her. While depressed from this, Seo falls down a gorge and is saved by a Taoist 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...
, who tells him three women control his fate. He shall kill the first woman, save the second woman who will die because him, and die because of the third woman who will save many lives. Seo is given three Chinese characters that will guide him in finding out if he has met one of the women. The first word is "jin" made by combining "nu"(lady) and "jin"(today). This means he met the first woman that day. The second word is "shun", made by combining "shun"(flow) and "dao"(head). This means the second woman Seo will find her with her head submerged in flowing water. The third word is "hao"(good), which is made by combining "nu"(lady) and "zhi"(son). This means the third woman will be the daughter Seo has by the second woman.
Seo immediately knows the first woman is Queen Yun. Fourteen years later, Seo comes across Park Myeong-yi
Park Myeong-yi
Park Myeong-yi is a minor character in Dae Jang Geum. She is Seo Jang Geum's mother. Myeong-yi is from the upper class yangban. Her grandfather was a court official who lost favor with the court. Myeong-yi was sent to the palace in hopes she could gain rank and salary and raise her family. She...
just after she was deposed of by the Royal Kitchen. Her head is under water like she is drowning. Without remembering the hermit's words, Seo saves her and takes cares of her as she leaves. Finally, he remembers the word "shun". The clue of Myeong-yi's head bg under flowing water gives her away. Park Myeong-yi
Park Myeong-yi
Park Myeong-yi is a minor character in Dae Jang Geum. She is Seo Jang Geum's mother. Myeong-yi is from the upper class yangban. Her grandfather was a court official who lost favor with the court. Myeong-yi was sent to the palace in hopes she could gain rank and salary and raise her family. She...
is the second woman. Feeling she owes her life to Seo for saving her, Myeong-yi follows and marries Seo. For eight years they live in hiding as cheonmin
Cheonmin
Cheonmin, or "vulgar commoners," were the lowest caste of commoners in dynastical Korea. They abounded during the Goryeo and Joseon periods of Korea's agrarian bureaucracy. Like the caste system in India, this social class was largely hereditary and based on certain professions considered...
, raising their bright daughter Seo Jang Geum
Seo Jang Geum
For 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...
.
Now King, Yeonsangun visits his grandmother(Queen Yun's mother) and she tells him how his mother died. She gives him a handkerchief with his mother's blood on it proving her execution. Yeonsangun becomes enraged and psychotic which causes him to look for all who participated in his mother's execution to take revenge.
When her father is in trouble Jang Geum immaturely blurts out the truth that her father was a military guard. Seo is discovered to be the guard who poisoned the mother of Yeonsangun. Seo is executed and the third woman is discovered to be Jang Geum.