Jewel in the Palace

 

Cast:

Lee Young Ae- Jang Geum

Jee Jin Hee- Min Jin Ho

Jin Ho- King

Summary:

MBC's major television production Dae Jang Geum stars Korean actress Lee Young Ae of One Fine Spring Day and JSA fame. During its run in Korea the show received over 50% of the ratings share, the highest in Korean television history.

The show tells the story of the first female royal doctor Jang Geum, who worked in the royal court in 16th century Korea. With her extraordinary determination and wisdom, she managed to achieve the impossible in a time where women have no place in society: becoming the most outstanding royal chef, then became the first woman royal doctor for the Emperor.

Based on a true story, the series ensure that accuracy is observed for the historical period it is presenting. The audience can enjoy the extravagance in its production design, the delicacy of the royal cuisine, and the wisdom of traditional Korean medical remedies."

Synopsis from krystalheart.com

Suh Chun-soo, a military officer, is ordered by the King to give poison to the queen. Upon the order for her death, she protests that this is a conspiracy meant to eliminate the royal line of power. Saddened and angered by this order from the king, she vows that when her son becomes king, he shall seek vengeance on her murderers. She drinks the poison and dies.

Suh Chun-soo meets a wise man one evening and he is told what will become of his fate. The wise man tells him that he will meet three women in his lifetime that will determine is fate. The wise man says, "Although you killed the first woman, you will not die. Although you save the second woman, she will die because of you. The third woman will kill you, but she will save many lives." The wise man tells Chun-soo that Chun-soo has already met the first woman. Chun-soo asks how he can avoid his own death by the third woman. The wise man tells Chun-soo that he must not meet the second woman if he doesn't want to meet the third woman. The wise man throws some clues written on a piece of rice paper to Chun-soo. As Chun-soo picks up the paper, the wise man disappears.

Chun-soo serves the king for ten years and decides that he wants to leave. Then one day while traveling along a creek, he finds a woman passed out along the bank. He rushes to her aid and saves her. Afterwards he realizes that he has met the second woman (from the wise man's prophecy). As much as he tries to leave the woman, she pursues him because she has no place to go. Her name is Myeong Park, who is a court lady in the Royal Kitchen. Myeong is a victim of conspiracy that lead from an attempted murder ordered by the court ladies in the Royal Kitchen. Now that Chun-soo has met the second woman, he cannot escape his fate and will eventually meet the third woman who will end his life.

Jang Geum, is the daughter Myeong and Chun-soo. She is a very bright girl who's curiosity often gets her into trouble. One day, Jang Geum's parents both die and Jang Geum is forced to live on her own. Before Jang Geum's mother dies, she tells Jang Geum that her last wish is to have Jang Geum become the Head Kitchen Lady of the Royal Kitchen, a position that Myeong has always dreamed of since she was a little girl. Little Jang Geum enters the Royal Palace and becomes a kitchen maid and eventually becoming a court lady (like her mother). The beginning of her young life as a kitchen maid leads her through many challenges and trials. Jang Geum is forced to test her wits and will power by learning what it takes to risk everything. A good heart with integrity, Jang Geum strives to fulfill her mother's dying wishes of becoming the head kitchen lady...

A court lady means that one must never marry, must never date any other man, must never leave the palace, and must always keep the sacred oath as a court lady. Disobeying the rules would lead to a punishment by death.

Learn about Jang Geum's journey of becoming the first female head physician to the king. Through many challenges and trials, Jang Geum is supported by her close friends, adoptive parents, and most importanly Sir Min Jung-Ho who has always stood by her side. Sometimes life isn't always exactly the best paved road. Sometimes you have to take many detours before discovering the real path to your true destination.

 

Official Site:

Main page
http://www.imbc.com/broad/tv/drama/...ggum/index.html

Photo gallery
http://www.imbc.com/broad/tv/drama/...hoto/index.html

What I Think:

I have never been a big fan of wu xia series (ancient series) like this stuff but when I got to watch Jewel in the Palace, everything changed! I absolutely looooooovvve ¡§Jewel in the Palace.¡¨ People have been telling me to watch the series, but when I saw the dvd box set of 9 cds (that is a lot of episodes¡K) oh Lord, I just cannot do this. But when its local run started, I figured I must see this one. I watched it for a month. ƒº

I am at a loss where to start, but let me start with the acting. Lee Young Ae was marvelous! I have first seen her in a series ¡§Irene¡¨ I think. I didn¡¦t finish that series but I think she was far off better in acting here in ¡¥Jewel in the Palace¡¨ She is just different, she doesn¡¦t look as beautiful as Song Hye Kyo or Jeon Ji Yeon, not as regal as Kim Ha Neul but I loved her! She was so good in the drama scenes where jang Geum was being tortured, being bullied and all. Jang geum was resilient, beautiful, intelligent, loving, she was close to perfect.

Jee Jin Hee, awwww I like his character too. He was a knight-in-shining amour! He was the silent crowd who helps and cheers Jang Geum, he was always there for her, I reckon Jang Geum will always be safe for as long as Jin Ho is there beside her.

The antagonists are so¡Kgrrr I so hate them all! They are really good actors because I absolutely loathed them till the end. Madam Cui, you know I think she is so pretty really really pretty but she makes Jang Geum¡¦s life difficult so I hated her.

Yon seng, Jang Geum¡¦s best friend was also so beautiful and so loyal. I really like her too. She was still thinking of Jang Geum¡¦s safety even when she was already the Queen So-waen.

The ending interview clip: I just want to talk about this one bit. The good old Madam Han when you watch her in Jewel in the Palace she looks very old right, like a mother to Jang Geum and stuff, but when I saw her at the ending interview clip, man she absolutely looks like Choi Ji Woo!! She was that pretty! Madam Han was equally beautiful too! Jee Jin Hee had shorter spikey hair and looks so gorgeous, and he is so tall too!

In the first half of the dvd box set, there were lots of scenes of cooking. So for people who love cooking, you¡¦ll love these scenes you get to learn the ancient Korean way of cooking and all. With Jang Geum, she incorporates the medicinal value of food in her cooking so there are lots of science, medicine and pharmacognosy here too.

I am listing down the memorable scenes here:

@ I have lots of favorite scenes in Jewel in the Palace, but I can vividly remember one scenes where Min Jin Ho and jang Geum were just walking and talking..

MJH: Are you happy? JG: I am Sad.

MJH: Are you sad? JG: I am happy.

MJH: Are you scared? JG: I am in despair.

MJH: Are you in despair? JG: I am scared.

Then they just laughed.

@ Madam Cui realized Jang Geum is Ming Yi¡¦s real daughter when she saw the little red notebook/diary.

@ Madam Han realized Jang Geum was her best friend¡¦s daughter and Jang Geum realized Madam Han was her mom¡¦s best friend and the one person she was looking for all this time. They hugged each other tightly.

@ Jang Geum trained to be a doctor to be able to go back to the Palace.

@ All the romantic times of Jang Geum and Min Jin Ho spent in Jeju Island.

@ When the King visited his concubine, Yon seng! That was so hilarious!

@ The first time Jang Geum hugged MJH when he saved her and came back for her in the village with an epidemic.

@ MJH proposed to Jang Geum and they ran away just to get secretly married.

@ When the king realized that he has learned to love Jang Geum, but he lets her go and allowed her to marry MJH.

@ Jang Geum and MJH¡¦s married life and them going back to the Palace with their daughter.

In "Jewel in the Palace" you¡¦ll get to see the aesthetics of Korean cooking, the beauty of the different places in Korea (these are really famous tourist attractions, like Jeju..) and their colorful culture.

 

Fact File:
- In Real History, the King Did fell in Love with Jang Geum, but he can't do anything to save Jang Geum after his death...

-There is a person named Min Jeong-Ho, but he has no relationship with Jang-Geum at al

Geum Young(Jing Ying) and Court Lady Choi exsisted in the real history. In reality, Court Lady Choi was 10 times worser than the one in the show.. She apparently made Geum Young one of the King's comcubine, and also make Jang-Geum's life worse..

credits: asianfanatics, official site

Rating: 10 Korean Kimchis out of 10

Music Playing in the Background: GOD- Jah Yoo