Dae Jang Geum (2003)

Original title

대장금

Directed by

Lee Byung-hoon

Cast

Lee Young Ae, Jo Jung Eun, Hong Ri Na, Lee Se Young, Ji Jin Hee, Im Ho, Eom Yoo Shin, Park Jung Sook

Genre

historical fiction

Country

South Korea

Length

1 season, 54 episodes

Rated

NR

Rating

8.5 of 10 from 278 voters

Elsewhere

IMDb

How it feels

An orphaned kitchen apprentice named Jang-geum works her way up in the royal court. She learns cooking and medicine eventually becoming the king's first female physician during the Joseon period.

historicalinspiringearnestslow-burnwholesomedeterminedimmersivedramatic

What happens

Jewel in the Palace (Korean: 대장금; Hanja: 大長今; RR: Daejanggeum) is a 2003 South Korean historical drama television series directed by Lee Byung-hoon. It first aired on MBC from September 15, 2003, to March 23, 2004, where it was the top program with an average viewership rating of 45.8% and a peak of 57.1% (making it the 10th highest rated Korean drama of all time). Produced for US$15 million, it was later exported to 91 countries and has earned US$103.4 million worldwide, being known as one of the primary proponents of the Korean Wave by heightening the spread of Korean culture abroad. Starring Lee Young-ae in the title role, 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 to cure the King of his various ailments. It is based on the true story of Janggeum, the first female royal physician of the Joseon period. The main themes are her perseverance and the portrayal of traditional Korean culture, including Korean royal court cuisine and traditional medicine. (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)

Trailer

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