| Dae Jang Geum 대장금 |
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| Also known as | Jewel in the Palace on the AZN Television broadcast |
| Genre | Historical fiction |
| Format | Television drama |
| Created by | Kim Yeong-Hyeon |
| Starring | Lee Young Ae Ji Jin-Hee Hong Ri-Na Im Ho Im Hyeon-Sik Geum Bo-Ra Yang Mi Hyeong Gyeon Mi-Ri Jo Kyeong-Hwan Lee Hee-Do Yeo Woon-kay Park Yeong-Soo Park Eun-Hye Park Jung-Sook |
| Opening theme | Changryong |
| Ending theme | Onara |
| Country of origin | South Korea |
| Language(s) | Korean |
| No. of episodes | 54 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Lee Byeong-Hoon |
| Camera setup | Multi-camera |
| Running time | Approximately 1 Hour |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | MBC (South Korea) |
| Picture format | 1080i HDTV |
| Original run | September 15, 2003 – March 30, 2004 |
| External links | |
| Official website | |
Dae Jang Geum (Hangul: 대장금; Hanja: 大長今; RR: Dae Jang-geum; MR: Tae Chang-gǔm; literally The Great Jang Geum, aired in the United States as Jewel in the Palace) is a 2003 TV series directed by Lee Byung Hoon and produced by South Korean TV channel MBC(Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation).
Loosely based on the historical figure depicted in the Annals of Joseon Dynasty, the show focuses on Jang-geum (played by Lee Young Ae), the first female royal physician of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. The main themes are her perseverance and the portrayal of traditional Korean culture, including Korean royal court cuisine and traditional medicine.
Contents |
The story is set in Korea during the reigns of King Seongjong (1457–1494), King Yeonsan-gun (1494–1506) and King Jungjong (1506–1544).
At the outset, King Seongjong has ordered the execution by poisoning of the deposed Queen Jeheon, the mother of the young crown prince Yeonsan-gun. After carrying out the execution, an imperial guard, Seo Cheon-soo, is haunted by the murder. 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 saves but who dies because of him, and a third kills him but goes on to save many lives. It doesn't become clear until later in the story that the three women are Queen Jeheon (the poisoned queen), Park Myeong-i (Seo's eventual wife and the mother of Jang-geum) and Jang-geum (the main character and Seo's daughter). Haunted by the cruelty of the former queen's execution 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.
After many years, the former king is deposed and the crown prince Yeonsan-gun ascends to the throne. Park Myeong-i is a palace girl (or gungnyeo) and apprentice cook of the royal kitchen. She witnesses a fellow apprentice, a girl from the powerful Choi family named Choi Seong-geum, slip poison into the queen's food. Unaware that the senior kitchen officers are part of a conspiracy against the queen, Myeong-i informs the head kitchen officer (choigo sanggung)[1]. The officers, fearful that Myeong-i might reveal their conspiracy, attempt to murder her. Myeong-i's best friend, Han Baek-young, witnesses the crime and manages to secretly save her. She leaves the unconscious Myeong-i a letter explaining what had happened. As Seo wanders through the forest in his self-imposed hermitage, he stumbles upon the half-conscious Myeong-i. He rescues her and the two fall in love and marry. They end up living peacefully in a remote village as lower caste commoners and raise a clever daughter named Seo Jang-geum.
In 1504, Yeonsan-gun, orders an investigation into his mother's (Queen Jeheon's) murder. 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 lower caste commoner but a former guard of the royal palace. Word spread and the king's detectives capture 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 family patriarch, who is determined to kill Myeong-i and her daughter. Myeong-i 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 choigo sanggung.
Through a series of lucky coincidences Jang-geum manages to enter the palace. She is unknowingly apprenticed to Lady Han Baek-young, her mother's best friend. 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 officer named Min Jung-ho, who falls in love with her. Her rival is Choi Geum-young, another palace girl and Lady Choi Seong-geum's niece. While not a cruel person, Geum-young's conscience is slowly eroded by Lady Choi's ruthless behavior. Min Jung-ho urges Geum-young to maintain her integrity and stand up to her evil relatives, but an angry Geum-young accuses Jung-ho of not loving her and being by her side. Many years pass and Lady Choi schemes to win the position of choigo sanggung. The Choi women have successively occupied the choigo sanggung position for five generations, allowing the family to become exclusive suppliers of goods and produce to the royal kitchen. This has made the Choi family immensely wealthy and powerful. Eventually a cooking competition is declared and Lady Choi and Lady Han vie to become choigo sanggung. When Lady Han wins, Lady Choi's brother and the chief state councillor plot to frame Lady Han and Jang-geum as traitorous rebels. In an effort to save Jang-geum Lady Han declares that she alone is guilty of treason. Nonetheless both are 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.
Min Jung-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 Jung-ho declares he will wait for her at the palace, confident that Jang-geum will find a way to re-enter the court.
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 the only way back to the palace is to become a female doctor. 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 family. In spite of this Jang-geum perseveres and earns herself a spot as a doctor-in-training at the palace.[2]
Upon returning to the palace Jang-geum encounters Choi Geum-young, who has been promoted to choigo sanggung. The ruthlessly ambitious Lady Choi has ousted the former female head officer of the palace (jejo sanggung)[3] and now occupies that position herself. Min Jung-ho is a lieutenant and a member of the King's cabinet. Jang-geum's childhood best friend, Yeon-sang, also a palace girl, had caught the king's eye and is now his concubine and the 8th Queen. Jang-geum endures many trials at the palace, from being forced to wash the feet of Geum-young to a backstabbing female doctor named Park Yeol-i. 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 family, resulting in the prosecution of Lady Choi, her 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-young, to the authorities while she herself escapes. Lady Choi, who had abandoned her ethics and conscience for the sake of the Choi family, is unable to respond. Torn between self-preservation and guilt Lady Choi wanders the countryside hallucinating. She ends up falling off a cliff and dies. Choi Geum-young 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 Munjeong remained ill. Jang-geum correctly identifies a second stillborn fetus in the queen's womb and saves the queen's life. She convinces the queen mother to undergo medical treatment at the risk of being beheaded. She also cures the prince, Queen Munjeong's only son, of smallpox, which earns the permanent gratitude of the queen.
For her achievements King Jungjong makes Jang-geum a 9th rank official[4] and appoints her to be his personal physician, the first woman to hold such a position. The court is in uproar and the state councillors unanimously oppose the appointment on the grounds that it violates the country's constitution. When the queen dowager humiliates herself to express her disapproval the king revokes his decision. She urges the king to take Jang-geum as one of his queen consorts. Although the king is in love with Jang-geum he refrains from making her a consort 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 Jung-ho's support she accepts. The ministers and scholars of the court bitterly accept the decree, but demand that the king punish Min Jung-ho for supporting Jang-geum's appointment. Seeing an opportunity to separate the lovers the king agrees and Jung-ho is sentenced to exile.
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.[5] However, the king's body is considered sacred and King Jungjong refuses. Knowing Jang-geum's life will be in danger after his death the repentant king sends her to escape with Min Jung-ho and they live as fugitives. Years later Jang-geum is spotted by her adoptive father who alerts Jang-geum's friends in the palace. By this time King Jungjong had passed away along with Crown Prince Injong, who ruled for less than a year. The second in line to succeed the throne is child king Myeongjong, son of Queen Munjeong, who is now queen regnant and wields enormous power. She hears that Jang-geum is still in the country and invites her and Jung-ho to return to the palace and be reinstated to their previous positions. Jang-geum and Jung-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 came across a pregnant woman, and successfully used her surgical skills to deliver the woman's baby, thus becoming the first physician in Korea to do a surgical procedure. While Jang-geum celebrates her success, Jung-ho came to lament on the repressive social climate of Korea, and its inability to accommodate a woman with ambitions.
Dae Jang-Geum was documented in the Annals of Joseon Dynasty, as well as a medical document of the time. However, descriptions and references of her were scarce and mostly brief. Many assert that Dae Jang-geum was the first female royal physician of the king in Korean history. Throughout the intervening five centuries, the Republic Of Korea's Presidential physicians have been always male. An alternative explanation is that Dae Jang-Geum is merely a fictional figure drawn from various references of female doctors in the Annals. Dae Jang-geum is the only female physician to have been the King's personal physician.
Jungjong's 3rd wife, Queen Munjeong (Park Jeong-sook), was a major historical figure in the history of Joseon, even after the death of Jungjong and the reign of 2 of his sons. She ruled Korea from behind the bamboo screen (with absolute power[14]) for 8 years through the regency of her only son. Thus, Jang-geum was not the only woman who broke through gender inequality and sexual discrimination. This was briefly mentioned in the series, during an intimate talk between Jang-geum and the Queen.
Choi Geum-yeong and Court Lady Choi did exist in the history of Joseon. However, the historical Court Lady Choi was much worse than the one portrayed in the show. Apart from making Jang-geum's life miserable, she allegedly even forced Geum-yeong into being one of Jungjong's concubines.
During Jungjong's reign, there was a major conflict between 2 Confucian factions, the Yanban & the Shilin. The Yanban faction (to which the Right Minister Oh belongs) were descendants of the group responsible for Sejong's accession to the throne, and as a result of this service, accumulated a great deal of power and wealth. The Shilin faction (to which the Left Minister Pak and Min Jeong-ho belong) believe in merit rather than breeding and connections, in direct opposition to the Yanban. Jungjong took the Shilin faction's philosophy a step further by appointing Jang-geum as his personal physician and bestowed her the title of Dae.
Jungjong tried to push for reforms by appointing Jo Gwang-jo to his administration. Jo failed and was subsequently exiled. In 1521, the Yanban pressed for Jo's execution rather than exile. This served as a historical basis for the Sulfur Duck incident where Lady Court Han was accused of conspiring with Jo.
The DVD box-set of the series was given to North Korea's leader Kim Jong-Il by South Korea's Former PresidentRoh Moo-Hyun during the Korean summit in October 2007.
Dae Jang Geum is a fictionalized drama of a historical figure by the name of Jang-geum. 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.
In an episode of King of the Hill, 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, [Taiwanese drama, starring Park Eun Hye] 'Dae Jang Geum' is mentioned as a famous Korean drama.
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.[15]
Dae Jang Geum has experienced extensive success throughout Asia, in places such as China, 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.[16][17] It has been shown in Australia, the United States, Sweden, Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Peru, 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.[18]
The drama was shown on GTV in Taiwan in May 2004 where it was dubbed into Mandarin 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 TVand 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.
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.[19]
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 (Khmer: ជីវីតនាងចំាងគឹម) and means The Life of Jang Geum Lady.
In Indonesia, Dae Jang Geum was shown in December 2005 by Indosiar.
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.[20]
From September 2007 Dae Jang Geum began airing on the country's state-owned DDTV in India after it was renamed 'Ghar ka Chirag' in Hindi.
In Iran 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.[21] 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. [22]
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 started airing "Dae Jang Geum" (in Korean with subtitles) as "The Crown Diamond" (היהלום שבכתר) on October 2008.
Beginning in June 2005, the variously titled program was shown in the United States 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 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".
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 the drama began airing on January 2010 under the name "Dragulj u Carskoj Palati" in Korean with Serbian subtitles.
In Hungary it 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 [2].
A part of the Korean wave of South Korean popular culture in East Asia, Dae Jang Geum’s immense popularity has had significant cultural impact.
The Korea Tourism Organization 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.[16]
The cartoon rendition of Dae Jang Geum, called Jang Geum's Dream is much the same story but focuses on Jang Geum in her younger years.
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