Dae Jang Geum

Dae Jang Geum (sometimes known as The Great Jang Geum, or A Jewel In The Palace) is a 2003 TV Series produced by Korean TV channel MBC.

The show focuses on the life of Jang-geum, the first female royal physician in the Joseon Dynasty in Korea. The main theme is her perseverence, as well as the portrayal of traditional Korean culture, including Korean royal court cuisine and medicine.

Synopsis

The story is set in Korea under the Joseon Dynasty, during the reigns of King Seongjong (only briefly), Yeonsangun (1494-1506) and King Jungjong (1506-1544). The story begins with the mother of young Yeonsangun being poisoned by a group of imperial guards under the order of the king.

After the incident, an imperial guard, Suh Chun-soo, who accompanies the group returns to his home but suffers an accident on his way back. He is rescued by a Confucian monk, who tells him that his life will revolve around three women (Yeonsangun's mother, Jang-geum's mother, and Jang-geum herself), and that he will be killed by the third woman, which will be Jang-geum. He eventually resigns. On the other hand, Lady Park, a former royal kitchen servant, witnesses a conspiracy against the queen mother and is in turn indicted on false charges and ordered executed. She is saved by Lady Han, her best friend in the palace, and later inadvertently by the now retired Suh. The two marry, and give birth to Jang-geum.

In the year 1504, Yeonsanggun orders a massive investigation into his mother's murder, and eventually finds Suh and his family, partly because of Jang-geum. Suh is arrested, and presumably later executed. Jang-geum and her mother flee, but Jang-geum's mother is severely wounded by her enemies, and before her death she tells Jang-geum her last wish, which is for her to become the head chef in the royal kitchen and record her bitterness.

Jang-geum enters the palace, and through her curiosity, talent, and hard work, she helps her mother's best friend, Lady Han, become the head chef in the palace. However, a conspiracy results in them being exiled to the Cheju Island, and Lady Han passed away en route. In Cheju, Jang-geum becomes acquainted to a female doctor who instructs Jang-geum in medical studies. Jang-geum eventually returns to the Joseon palace, this time as a medical worker inside the imperial hospital.

The schemers who have been trying to hurt Jang-geum eventually fall victim to the consequences of their own conspiracies, and Jang-geum then pleads the case to King Jungjong, and is able to restore the positions and the reputation of her mother and Lady Han. Afterwards, Jang-geum delves further into medical studies, and is able to cure the perpetually ailing Queen and Queen Mother, along with a smallpox plague that also affects the Crown Prince. With such achievements, Jang-geum is eventually accepted by the palace's workers and doctors, who initally are prejudiced against her because of her gender and secretive attitude.

With the support of her love interest Min Jung-ho and her friend Yeon-seng, Jang-geum becomes the first female imperial physician in the history of Korea, and is awarded the title "Dae Jang-geum" and a third-class officer position (c.f. nine-rank system) in the royal court.

Historical Connection

Dae Jang-geum was a real person documented in the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty. Descriptions of and references to her, though, were few and mostly short. Many assert that Dae Jang-geum was the first female royal physician of the king in Korean history. However, some believe that Dae Jang-Gum is merely a fictional figure drawn from various references of female doctors in the Annals. The argument continues to this day.

Commercial Success

Dae Jang-geum has experienced massive success in Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Chicago, further continuing the South Korean cultural fever that has gripped Asia since the early 2000's. The sets built by MBC for the shooting of this TV series have been purchased by the South Korean government and is turned into a tourist attraction.

External Links

• Jewel in the Palace official homepage (TVB, Chinese)
• English Summaries, themesongs and news about Jewel In The Palace
• Dae Jang Geum forum
• Dae Jang Geum background information