Dae Jang Geum | |
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End title of Dae Jang Geum in episode 32
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Also known as | Jewel in the Palace |
Genre | Historical fiction |
Written by | Kim Young-hyun |
Directed by | Lee Byung-hoon |
Starring | |
Opening theme | "Changryong" |
Ending theme | "Onara" |
Country of origin | South Korea |
Original language(s) | Korean |
No. of episodes | 54 |
Production | |
Executive producer(s) | Jo Joong-hyun |
Camera setup | Multi-camera |
Running time | 60 minutes |
Release | |
Original network | Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation |
Picture format | 480i SDTV |
Original release | September 15, 2003 | – March 23, 2004
External links | |
Website |
Dae Jang Geum (Hangul: 대장금; Hanja: 大長今; RR: Dae Jang-geum; MR: Tae Chang-gǔm; literally "The Great Jang-geum"), also known as Jewel in the Palace, is a 2003 Korean television series directed by Lee Byung-hoon. It first aired from September 15, 2003 to March 23, 2004 on MBC, where it was the top program with an average viewership rating of 46.3% and a peak of 57.8% (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, becoming known as one of the primary proponents of the Korean Wave by heightening the popularity of Korean pop 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 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.