Dae Jang Geum (Hangul: 대장금; Hanja: 大長今; RR: Dae Jang-geum; MR: Tae Chang-gǔm; literally The Great 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. 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 in order to cure the King of his various ailments. It is based on the true story of Jang-geum, the first female royal physician of the Joseon Dynasty. The main themes are her perseverance and the portrayal of traditional Korean culture, including Korean royal court cuisine and traditional medicine.
Produced for $15 million, the show received as much as 57% of viewers in South Korea and has pulled in $40 million worldwide since it first aired in 2003.[1]
The story is set in Korea during the reigns King Jungjong
At the outset, King Seongjong has ordered the execution by poisoning of his deposed wife Deposed Queen Lady Yun, the mother of the first-born son, the young crown prince (the future Prince Yeonsan). After carrying out the execution, one of the royal guards, Seo Cheon-soo, is haunted by the execution. 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 will save, but will die because of him; and the third will kill him, but will go on to save many lives. It doesn't become clear until later in the story that the three women are the poisoned Deposed Queen Lady Yun, Park Myeong-yi (Seo's eventual wife and the mother of Jang-geum) and Jang-geum (the main character and Seo's only daughter). Haunted by the curse of the executed deposed Queen Consort, 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 dies and the Crown Prince ascends the throne as the 10th King of Joseon. Park Myeong-yi is a palace girl (or gungnyeo) and apprentice cook of the royal kitchen (sooratgan). She witnesses a fellow apprentice, a girl from the powerful Choi clan named Choi Seong-geum, slip poison into the Great Royal Dowager Queen's food. Unaware that the senior kitchen officers are part of a conspiracy against the said Queen, Myeong-yi informs the head kitchen officer (choigo sanggung).[2] The officers, fearful that Myeong-yi might reveal their conspiracy, attempt to murder her. Myeong-yi's best friend, Han Baek-yeong, witnesses the crime and manages to secretly save her (by hurriedly diluting the poison with an antidote). She leaves the unconscious Myeong-yi a letter explaining what had happened. As Seo Cheon-soo wanders through the forest in his self-imposed hermitage, he stumbles upon the half-conscious Myeong-yi. He rescues her and the two fall in love and marry. They end up living peacefully in a remote village as lower caste commoners (Seo Cheon-soo posing as a butcher and village weapon smith) and raise a clever daughter named Seo Jang-geum.
In 1504, Prince Yeonsan orders the execution of people responsible for his mother (Queen Consort Jeheon)'s death, thereby launching the notorious Literati Purges of 1504. 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 low-born butcher but a former guard of the royal palace. Words spread, and the king's guards arrest 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 clan patriarch, who is determined to kill Myeong-yi and her daughter. Myeong-yi is injured and before she dies she tells Jang-geum her last wish: that she become the "Choi-go sanggung" of the royal kitchen and record the crime in a journal that is passed down through every generation of the "Choi-go sanggung"s.
Through a series of lucky coincidences (one involving Prince Yeonsan's half-brother Grand Prince Jinseong), Jang-geum manages to gain access and entrance to the palace. Unbeknownst to herself, she is taken under the wing of Han Baek-young, becoming her apprentice, her mother's best friend now raised to the rank of "sanggung". Jang-geum endures many ordeals and is bullied because she is more skilled and works harder than the other girls. During her tenure as a palace girl, Jang-geum befriends a young seonbi named Min Jeong-ho, who falls in love with her. Her rival is Choi Geum-yeong, another "gungnyeo" and Choi Seong-geum (also raised to the rank of "sanggung" due to her association with her aunt the former "choigo sanggung")'s niece. While not a cruel person, Geum-yeong's conscience is slowly subjugated and corrupted by Lady Choi's ruthless behaviour. Min Jeong-ho urges Geum-yeong to maintain her integrity and stand up to her evil relatives, but instead, hurt and angry, Geum-yeong accuses Jeong-ho of not loving her and being by her side.
Many years pass and Lady Choi schemes to win the position of "Choi-go sanggung" of royal kitchen. The Choi women have successively occupied the "Choi-go sanggung" position for five successive generations, allowing the clan to become exclusive suppliers of goods and produce to the royal kitchen, making the clan immensely wealthy and powerful. Eventually, a cooking competition is announced during which Lady Choi and Lady Han vie to become the "Choi-go sanggung". When Lady Han wins (and becomes "Choi-go sanggung"), and the King suddenly falls ill during one of his trips to a hot spring, Choi Pan-sool (Lady Choi's elder brother, and main supplier of the royal kitchen) and the Right Minister Oh Gyeom-ho (the Choi clan's ally within the Royal Cabinet) frame Lady Han and Jang-geum as traitors in league with Jo Gwang-jo, the famous Joseon reformer. In an effort to save Jang-geum, Lady Han declares that she alone is guilty of treason. Nonetheless, both are judged guilty and sent to Jeju Island to work as government slaves. On the way to Jeju, Lady Han dies from her injuries. Lady Choi replaces her as the "Choi-go sanggung", while Jang-geum vows revenge.
Min Jeong-ho follows Jang-geum to Jeju Island. He offers to help Jang-geum escape, but she refuses since doing so would mean never be able to return to the palace to not only clear Lady Han's name, but obtaining justice for her mother's death. Min Jeong-ho declares he will wait for her at the palace, confident that Jang-geum will find a way to re-enter the palace.
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 manner at first offend her, but as time goes by, she begins to see that the female doctor is dedicated and caring. As the days go by, Jang-geum realizes that her only way back to the palace is to become a female physician ("uinyeo"). 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 clan. In spite of this, Jang-geum perseveres and earns herself a post as a female doctor-in-training at the palace.[3]
Upon returning to the palace, Jang-geum encounters Choi Geum-yeong, who, during Jang-geum's absence has been promoted to "Choi-go sanggung". The ruthlessly ambitious Lady Choi has ousted the former head officer of the palace ("Jae-jo sanggung"; one of their former allies),[4] and now occupies that position herself. Min Jeong-ho is a lieutenant and a member of the King's Royal Cabinet. Jang-geum's childhood best friend, Lee Yeon-saeng, also a "gungnyeo", has caught the king's eye, and is now his concubine ("sook-ui"[5]). Jang-geum endures many trials at the palace, from being forced to wash the feet of Geum-yeong, to a backstabbing "uinyeo" named Park Yeol-yi. In spite of this, Jang-geum manages to accomplish great feats, such as halting an epidemic and saving the king's life when the king's own physicians fail.
With Jang-geum's status rising, several events ensue that lead to an investigation of the Choi clan, resulting in the prosecution of Lady Choi, her elder brother and several high-ranking officials, including the Chief State Councillor. Everyone tries to escape, but only Lady Choi manages to evade the guards. Jang-geum finds her and asks if she is willing to sacrifice her niece, Geum-yeong, to the authorities while she herself escapes. Having abandoned her ethics and conscience for the sake of the Choi clan a long time ago, Lady Choi is unable to respond. Torn between self-preservation and guilt, Lady Choi wanders the countryside hallucinating. She ends up falling off a cliff off Mount Dongin and dies (but not before speaking and paying respects in front of the memorial grave of her former friend Park Myeong-yi, Jang-geum's mother). Choi Geum-yeong loses her position as "Choi-go sanggung" and is exiled along with the other officials.
Through her dedication, perseverance and medical skills, Jang-geum saves the royal family from re-occurring, seemingly never-ending ill fortune. After giving birth to a stillborn child, Queen Consort Munjeong remains ill. Jang-geum correctly identifies a second stillborn fetus in the Queen Consort's womb and saves her life. She convinces the Dowager Queen mother to undergo medical treatment at the risk of being beheaded. She also cures Grand Prince Gyeongwon, Queen Consort Munjeong's only son, of smallpox, which earns the permanent gratitude of the Queen Consort.
For her achievements King Jungjong makes Jang-geum a 6th rank official[6] 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 Dowager Queen mother humiliates herself to express her disapproval, the king revokes his decision. She urges the king to take Jang-geum as one of his concubines. Although the king is in love with Jang-geum, he refrains from making her one of his concubines 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 Jeong-ho's support, she accepts. The ministers and scholars of the court bitterly accept the decree, but demand that the king punish Min Jeong-ho for supporting Jang-geum's appointment. Seeing an opportunity to separate the lovers the king agrees and Jeong-ho is sentenced to exile.
Eventually, the king's previous medical condition re-emerges. Jang-geum attempts to heal him using all the medical equipment and knowledge available 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.[7] However, the king's body is considered sacred and the court unanimously opposes this new procedure, and the king decides not to allow the operation. Knowing Jang-geum's life will be in danger after his death, the repentant king grants her escape to be with Min Jeong-ho. Jang-geum and Jeong-ho live as fugitives.
Eight years later, Jang-geum is spotted by her adoptive father, who alerts Jang-geum's friends in the palace. By this time Jungjong has been dead, along with his appointed Crown Prince (who became Injong, who ruled for less than a year plagued by a life of ill health. The second-in-line to succeed the throne is Grand Prince Gyeongwon, the only child and son of Queen Munjeong, who is now both the Great Royal Dowager Queen and the Regent, wielding enormous power.[8] When she learns that Jang-geum is still in the country, she invites her and Jeong-ho to return to the palace and be reinstated to their previous positions. Jang-geum and Jeong-ho joyfully return, but decide for the sake of their family to live outside the palace.
As they return to their previous routine, Jang-geum comes across a pregnant woman, and successfully uses her surgical skills to deliver the woman's baby via Caesarean section, thus becoming the first physician in Korea to undertake a surgical procedure. While Jang-geum celebrates her success, Jeong-ho laments the repressive social climate of Korea, and its inability to accommodate a woman with ambitions.
An intelligent and beautiful lady whose outgoing nature and enthusiasm allow her stand out from the crowd. Ever since her parents died during a political massacre, she has suffered many hardships and obstacles, especially in the palace, but she overcomes them with strong determination and perseverance.
Being strong-willed, Jang Geum strives to reach her goal regardless of the obstacles she is facing and it is with her extraordinary medical skills&knowledge as well as her integrity and high ethics to only use her knowledge to heal and cure that she becomes the first female physician to the Emperor, and named the Great Dae Jang Geum, ranking third in the officers, something unheard of at the time during the Chosun era.
An educated, very intelligent and good-looking man, he is an outstanding scholar who combines both learning and the martial arts. Min Jung Ho is a judge of the Hang Sung Boo, the Ministry governing the affairs of the capital Hang Sung. Unaware of who he is Jang Geum saves him upon being shot at. They then meet again when she goes to him to borrow books. They become romantically involved as he moves to Nae Geum Wee, the Royal Military Guard as Jong Sa Gwan, a senior officer.
Ambitious and arrogant, Choi Geum-Young starts her life in the palace as the niece of the influential Lady Choi, becomes Jang Geum's lifelong rival. Although she is with the Choi clan, she yearns to find her own way - never really accepting the Chois' way of doing things but unable to find her own independent identity. Her intelligence and talent often put her head-to-head with Jang Geum and she competes with her in order to become better than her. Eventually Lady Choi's influence and her unreciprocated attraction to Min Jung-ho prompt her to keep mostly to the Choi clan's ways.
The 11th king of the Chosun Dynasty, he is very gentle but extremely irresolute and indecisive. A kind man who, after his first wife was forced to be commit suicide by cabinet ministers for political reasons, has shut down his heart. The Emperor deeply mourns over his beloved wife, powerless to protect her. He is constantly aware that he is only a puppet to the appointed ministers and angry that he is helpless to do anything about it. The Emperor gets to know Jang Geum in the midst of his aggressive efforts toward pushing for a political reform and grows fond of her warm personality and outstanding talents. He finds an understanding companion in her and later, for the first time in a decade, becomes attracted to her.
As one of Soo Ra Gan's Sang Gung, she possesses a talent in culinary art and is able to identify the source of the ingredients in a dish. Best friend to Jang Geum's mother, she often misses and regrets not being able to save her friend. She is a rigorous, steadfast person who is not to be swayed from her purpose. Although obdurate in nature, she is actually very kind-hearted. Jang Geum's presence allows her to open up and she treats her as both a strict teacher and kind 'Ersatz' mother.
Choi Pan Sool's younger sister and Geum-Young's aunt. Comes from a family of high hierarchy and is to be the successor of Soo Ran Gan's Highest Sang Gung from a long bloodline. She learns and is being taught about the delicacy of food from a young age. Arrogant and too proud, she has a fierce need to get what she wants and will stop at nothing until she gets what she wants. Sharp-minded and quick to act, she is always a step ahead of plotting against Jang Geum and Han Sang Gung.
- Early life
- Jo Jung-eun as Seo Jang-Geum (child)
- Park Chan-hwan as Seo Cheon-Soo† (Jang-geum's father)
- Kim Hye-seon as Park Myeong-yi† (Jang-geum's mother)
- Im Hyeon-sik as Kang Duk-gu (Jang-geum's adoptive father)
- Geum Bo-ra as Na Joo-daek (Deok-gu's wife and Jang-geum's adoptive mother)
- Time as a palace chef
- Yang Mi-gyeong as Han Baek-young†
- Park Eun-hye as Lee Yeon-saeng
- Lee Ip-sae as Yoon Young-roh†
- Kim So-ih (김소이 金素怡) as Min Mee-geum
- Yeo Woon-kay (여운계 呂運計) as Jung Mal-geum†
- Park Jeong-soo (박정수 朴貞洙) as Park Yong-shin
- Choi Ja-hye as Chang-ee
- Jo Gyeong-hwan as Oh Gyeom-ho (오겸호 吳兼護)
- Lee Hee-do as Choi Pan-sul† - Lady Choi's brother
- Na Seong-gyun as Yun Mak-gae - Young-roh's uncle
- Choi Seong-geum's aunt was the Top Lady during Park Myeong-yi, Choi Seong-geum, and Han Baek-young's time as palace maids. She was the executor of Myeong-yi's secret "death sentence" administered to all palace maids committing moral errors.
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, a Taiwanese drama starring Park Eun Hye, Dae Jang Geum is mentioned as a famous Korean drama.
The theme song, Onara (Korean: 오나라) 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.[9]
The song is in the pansori style, a particular type of Korean music that emerged during the Joseon Dynasty and was very popular in the 19th century. It utilizes the vocals of one singer, a sorikkun, and one drummer, a gosu, to tell a themed story. The refrain ("He-iya di-iya he-iya naranino") is called chu-imsae and, in traditional pansori, it is supplied by the drummer to give rhythm to the song in addition to the beat. Chuimsae consists of meaningless vowel sounds or short words of encouragement. Chuimsae is analogous to scat singing in jazz nonsense syllables such as "La, la, la," or "Shoop, shoop ba doop" in English-language popular songs.
Since the song is in archaic Korean, the meaning of the song can be ambiguous. But one explanation is that the song depicts a girl who longs for a man that she cannot be with. So she accepts the way it is and moves on with her life.
The end of each episode of Dae Jang Geum features "Onara" sung by three Korean children, Gim Ji-hyeon (김지현 / 金智賢), Baek Bo-hyeon (백보현 / 白寶賢), Gim Seul-gi (김슬기 / 金슬기), who were elementary schoolers learning Korean classic music at the time. The Dae Jang Geum soundtrack album also features a slower version of the song sung by E Ahn (이안 / 李安) (real name: I Dong-hui [이동희 / 李冬熙), a Korean traditional music singer who graduated from the Korean classical music department at Seoul National University.
"Onara" has several other versions that were used with Dae Jang Geum’s release outside of Korea. "Hope" (希望 Hèimohng) was the version sung by Kelly Chen in Cantonese for the Hong Kong release. "Baby" (娃娃 Wáwá) was sung by Angela Chang in Mandarin Chinese for the Taiwan release. "Calling" (呼唤 Hūhuàn) sung by Tang Can and "Hope" (希望 Xīwàng) sung by five winners of the Super Girl singing contest were among those used for the China release. Faith Cuneta sang an entirely different Tagalog song titled "Pangarap na Bituin" for the Philippines release.
- 고원 (高原)
- 창룡 (蒼龍) Dae Jang Geum Opening theme, Practicing Medicine theme, Return to the palace
- 하망연 (何茫然) Hamangyeon-Featuring Safina
- 오나라 II
- 0815 (空八一五)
- 연밥
- 덕구
- Hamangyeon Featuring Safina
- APNA
- 다솜
- 비 (悲)
- 단가 (短歌)
- 연도 (烟濤)
- 오나라 I
- The Legend Becomes History
- 자야오가 (子夜吳歌) Techno Ver.
- 하망연 (何茫然) Hamangyeon-Instrumental
MBC Drama Awards
- Grand Prize/Daesang - Lee Young Ae
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.[10][11] It has been shown in Australia, the United States, Sweden, Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Peru, Colombia, Egypt, Romania, Canada, India, Israel, Hungary and New Zealand.[citation needed]
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.[12]
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 TV and 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.
TVB Anniversary Awards (2005)
- Won: Best Foreign Program
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[disambiguation needed 
], 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.[13]
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 Malaysia, the drama series first appeared in November 2004 until February 2005 on 8TV, however it was dubbed in Mandarin taken from the Taiwan "Da Changin" with the programme title Jewel in the Palace. After several years, it is re-shown in late 2011 on TV Alhijrah (Islamic TV) in original Korean with Malay subtitles.
In Singapore, Dae Jang Geum first premiered on 8 July 2005 on VV Drama Ch 855, a Mandarin cable television channel which belongs to Starhub, aired as Jewel in the Palace. It was aired on weekdays at 7pm. A one-minute filler produced by Hong Kong’s TVB was aired before the start of every episode. The fillers, hosted by TVB artiste Bowie Lam, give viewers brief information on the content featured in each episode. The drama was also aired on Singapore's free-to-air TV MediaCorp Channel U on weekdays at 10pm, beginning from 14 March 2006. The drama was a huge success that it was shown again on Channel U from 9 September 2006 onwards, weekends at 7.30pm, barely three months after the original broadcast ended. Dae Jang Geum became the first foreign drama in MediaCorp's history to have a repeat telecast during prime time. Also, to mark VV Drama's 20th anniversary, this drama will also be rerun from 23 July 2012 at 6.00pm.
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.[14]
Shown in Brunei in April 2007 on RTB2 under the title Jewel in The Palace.
From September 2007 Dae Jang Geum began airing on the country's state-owned DD-TV in India after it was dubbed and renamed 'Ghar ka Chirag'("the lamp of the house") 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.[15] 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.[16]
Dae Jang Geum has also aired in Jordan and Egypt.
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 "Viva" started airing "Dae Jang Geum" (in Korean with subtitles) as "The Diamond in the Crown " (היהלום שבכתר) on October 2008. It was rebroadcast from 10 July 2010, two episodes every weekend, and ended 15 January 2011.
Dae Jang Geum was also aired in Zimbabwe, under the title "Jewel in the Korean Palace". The station also had a promo wherein viewers have to answer three questions from the drama. It was said that almost one-fourth of the population joined the "Jewel in the Korean Palace Quiz".
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 Colombia the cable Canal Capital was shown the serie in Spanish "Una Joya en el Palacio" at 4:30 pm in 2010.
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".
In Puerto Rico the drama is currently being aired by WIPR-TV as "Una Joya en el Palacio". Starting on September 2010, from Monday to Friday at 5:00pm.
In Trinidad and Tobago, the drama is shown by CCN TV6 as "Jewel in the Palace" with English sub-titles. The series began airing in July 2011 on Sundays at 5:55pm.
In Barbados the drama is shown by CBC TV8 as "Jewel in the Palace" with English sub-titles.
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.[citation needed]
In Hungary it was dubbed into Hungarian and 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.[10]
In 2007, Dae Jang Geum was made into a musical titled "The Great Jangguem," staged at the Seoul Arts Center from May 26 to June 16. Following the same storyline, it condensed 54 episodes of the original TV drama into a two-and-a-half hour-long musical which combined Western orchestral music with traditional Korean group dances. An eye-catching 400 different traditional Korean costumes enhanced the beauty and scale of the stage, coupled with beautifully detailed stage settings. Producer Han Jin-sup said the musical used music to substitute for visual effects, "rhythm and melodies that replace the enjoyment of watching beautiful sets of Korean food and also have lots of Korean colors and styles to amaze audiences". For example, when girls in the royal kitchen made dumplings to win the cooking competition, "plate dances" expressed the enthusiasm of the girls and the variety of dumplings. A total of 40 songs for the musical were arranged and written by Cho Sung-woo, a famous film composer. This was the first time that Cho had written vocal and background music for a musical, saying, "This is a great opportunity and an honor for musicians like me to have a chance to write songs for musical productions. I tried to make songs that have both the Korean and Western melodies." Asked about how to deliver a storyline that requires some knowledge of Korean history to foreign audiences, co-chairman of PMC Production Song Seung-hwan cited the familiarity of most Asian viewers with the drama's plot and said the musical will highlight "love," as a universal theme in the musical.[17][18]
The musical was again staged at Sungjeon Hall in Gyeonghui Palace on September 5-30, 2008. Hosted by the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture and the Seoul City government, it was the foundation's idea to put the ancient palaces to added use beyond mere preservation and protection for viewing. Gyeonghui Palace was one of the "Five Grand Palaces" built in the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910); about ten kings of the era stayed at the palace from King Injo to King Cheoljong. In the latter Joseon period, the palace served as a secondary palace ― a place where the king moves in times of emergency, as it was situated on the west side of Seoul. The palace was built incorporating the slanted geography of the surrounding mountain and boasts traditional beauty along with architecture rich with historical significance. The upgraded version of the musical highlighted the musical elements to better portray each character based on the more historical facts, reinterpreting the work through a new theme rather than the episodes. Keeping the colors, patterns, touches of the structures intact, the production used the natural backgrounds, traditional atmosphere and the outdoor characteristics.[19] Audiences were surprised by the unconventional modern setting. While the story revolved around an historic palace from the Joseon Dynasty, the musical incorporated hip hop, fast tempos and a dynamic staging. The actors even broke into rap, creating an imaginative, gutsy and intense show.[20]
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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| Sunday Series |
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| Warehoused Series |
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![Dae Jang-Geum - Soundtrack [4]](http://web.archive.org./web/20130602061146im_/http://i.ytimg.com/vi/JwS9xvsObIU/default.jpg "Dae Jang-Geum - Soundtrack [4]")
