Introduction Of Korean TV Drama (Historical)
Daejoyoung:
Daejoyoung (aka King Dae Jo-young, The) is a KBS (Korean Broadcasting System) HDTV Drama and place its story in the Goguryeo Dynasty. This TV Drama is in close competition with Yeongaesomun and Jumong. Dae Jo-young (played by veteran actor Choi Soo-jong – Emperor Of The Sea) is a general from Goguryeo, who founded Balhae Kingdom (northern part of the Korean Peninsula, eastern Manchuria and the Russian Far East, 698-926 A.D.). Aired in 2006, this epic TV Drama contains 100 episodes. For more info’s see here: Daejoyoung
Cast:
Choi Soo-jong as Daejoyoung
Hong Soo-hyun as Suk Young
Jung Bo-suk as Yi Hae Go
Lee Deok-hwa as Seol In Kwi
Park Ye-jin as Cho Rin
Emperor Of The Sea:
Emperor of the Sea is a 51-episode KBS (Korean Broadcasting System) HDTV Drama, based on the Choi In-ho’s novel of the same title. The drama depicts the life of Jang Bo-go (? – 846 AD), who dominated the sea of East Asia and the international trade during the unified Shilla Dynasty (676 – 935 A.D.)
Synopsis for Emperor Of The Sea here.
Hong Gil Dong:
Aka: Sharp Blade Hong Gil Dong. Produced in 2007, this is a korean based historical drama with 24 episodes.
Cast:
Jang Geun-suk
Kang Ji-hwan
Kim Ri-na
Sung Yu-ri
Kim Jae-seung as Hong In Hyung (Gil Dong's brother)
Cha Hyun-jung as Jung Mal Nyeo
Park Sang-wook as Shim Soo Geun
Choi Ran as Court Lady Noh / Noh Sang Koong
Ahn Suk-hwan as Seo Yoon Sup / Minister Seo (Eun Hye's father)
Jung Eun-pyo as the monk / Gil Dong's master
Son Hyun-sul
Moon Se-yun as Mr. Yeon
Kil Yong-woo as Hong Pan Seo (Gil Dong's father)
In Sung as Chi Soo (Chang Hwi's right hand)
Lee Duk-hee as Mr. Kim
Jo Hee-bong as Lee Kwang Whe (Chang Hwui's brother)
Maeng Ho-rim as Choi Seung Ji
Kim Jong-suk as Eunuch Go
Park Yong-jin as Eunuch Jang
Choi Seung-kyung as Mr. Wang
Byun Shin-ho as Hal Meom
Jung Kyu-soo as Huh No Im
Maeng Se-chang as Kom Yi
Choi Soo-hwan as young Chang Hwui
Lee In-sung as young Hong Gil Dong
Synopsis:
Hong Gil Dong based on a novel about a kind of Robin Hood in Korea. This drama is very loosely based on the western “Robin Hood” and the time it was set in. Hong Gil Dong is the bastard son of a minister. He spends most of his time lazing the day away and taking goods from the various merchants. However, a local monk think he's destined to be more. Hong Gil Dong, for his part, really dislikes the injustices in this ranked world. Heo Yi Nok has returned to Korea, fresh from China. She's an upbeat, naive and carefree girl. She's been living with her grandfather for the last few years. They both are merchants looking to make a fortune back in Korea. Lee Chang Hwi, however, has been told since he was young that he's the rightful king of Korea. He bumps into Heo Yi Nok. This initially causes misunderstanding between them, but over time his heart is softening towards her. Meanwhile Heo Yi Nok and Hong Gil Dong are developing a friendship that feels like (at least to Yi Nok) that it could be more. As the question of rightful succession comes into play, Hong Gil Dong and Yi Nok are forced to take sides.
Immortal Admiral Yi Sun-shin:
Immortal Admiral Yi Sun-shin is a KBS TV Drama who depicts the life of General Yi Sun-shin, the founder of the modern Korean navy. This TV series contains 100 episodes and aired from 04.09.2004 – 28.08.2005. The Korean DVD release (with english subtitles) contains 33 episodes.
Synopsis for Immortal Admiral Yi Sun-shin here.
King Seonjo (Jo Min-gi):
Since King Seonjo is enthroned, his status is nothing more as an advocate of a reform-directed civil administration. He respects Yi Hwang as his teacher and turns out in the public to be a reform-oriented King. He doesn’t hesitate to appoint scholars, who have lain low during the previous administrations under Kings Jungjong, Injong and Myongjong, to government posts. However, he gives higher priorities to building a solid monarchy over taking care of the livelihood of the people. But his reformative principles lose momentum gradually in the process of fixing the political strifes and undergoing the war. The king suffers greatly as an unfortunate monarch, because he has to flee from the capital city to Pyongyang first and then, during the war, to Uiju. When Yi Sun-shin governs Jeolla region well and gains the support of the people, the king has remained seized even with fear that his throne might be threatened. King Seonjo is on endless guard against Yi Sun-shin.
Won Gyun (Choi Jae-seong):
Won Gyun (written “Pyongjung”) is in its own way a naive man of straight talks. His herculean strength is shown in the battle against the Yojin tribe. Won Gyun is also praised as the guardian of the six fortresses. Winning the confidence of Shin Lip and Lee Il, two military top leaders, he makes a brilliant progress becoming a military officer.
Won Gyun also spent his childhood days together with Yi Sun-shin. His lifelong rivalry to Yi Sun-shin remains during the war. Won knows, that his rival Yi Sun-shin is the most resourceful military leader, but he, Won, is the bravest soldier.
Yi Sun-shin (Kim Myeong-min):
Yi Sun-shin (written “Yohae”), a man with scholarly look and delicate sentiments travels around the country till his mid-20’s, associating with knights and chivalrous men. Fighting Japanese pirates on the southern coast and sometimes punishing corrupt officials in his own way in mind, he also knows he cannot change the world alone.
After entering the government services, he loses a battle at Nokdundo island. This failure leaves people sceptical about his military qualifications. So he is exposed to criticism as target. But Yi Sun-shin overcome all difficulties and he saves the country by winning all 23 naval battles during the Hideyoshi Invasion and emerges eventually as Chosun’s most remarkable military leader of its time.
Yu Seong-ryong (Lee Jae-ryong):
Yu Seong-ryong (written “Seoae” or “Igyon”) is an intelligent and clever thinker that he perceives Confucian philosophy at the age of eight. As a great scholar, Yu has inherited the academic tradition of Yi Hwang (written “Toegye”, 1501-1570 A.D.) and administrates as a competent prime minister the state affairs wisely during the Hideyoshi Invasion. In his youth he spent his time with Yi Sun-shin in the same village. Since this time Yu Seong-ryong is Admiral Yi Sun-shin’s lifelong supporter and friend.
Directed:
Han Joon-seo & Lee Seong-joo
Cast:
Ahn Yeon-hong
Choi Cheol-ho
Choi Jae-seong (1540-1597) as Won Gyun
Choi Joon-yong
Choi Yoo-jeong
Jeon Ye-seo
Jeong Ae-ri
Jeong Dong-hwan
Jeong Eun-pyo
Jeong Wook
Jo Jae-wan
Jo Min-gi (1552-1608) as King Seonjo
Joo Min-soo
Kim Bo-kyeong
Kim Joo-bong
Kim Gyoo-cheol
Kim Gyoo-ri
Kim Hak-joon
Kim Hong-pyo
Kim Jong-gyeol
Kim Myeong-min (1545-1598) as Yi Sun-shin
Kim Myeong-gook
Kim Sang-sik
Lee Doo-il
Lee Jae-ryong (1542-1607) as Yu Seong-ryong
Lee Han-gal
Lee Han-wi
Lee Joon
Lee Ye-seo
Minji
Park Cheol-min
Park Dong-bin
Park Hye-sook
Yoo Seung-ho
Yoo Tae-woong
Jumong:
Jumong is another MBC (Munhwa Broadcasting Company) HDTV Drama of a wave of Korean historical dramas dealing with Korean history who is set in the Goguryeo Dynasty (ca. 37 BC – 668 AD). Based more on imaginations as Yeongaesomun, Jumong is written by veteran Choi Wan-gyu (Hur Jun, Sang Do, and All In) and Jung Hyung-soo (Damo).
Jumong promises to be one of Korea's most impressive historical dramas. In its first 20 of 81 episodes, Jumong amazingly attracted over 40% viewer ship ratings.
Jumong is the name of the legendary founder of Goguryeo, King Dongmyeongseong. The story starts with the conflict between Gojoseon, an ancient Korean kingdom, and Han Chinese forces, eventually leading to a fragmented Korean Peninsula. Hero-in-the-making Jumong (played by Song Il-gook - Emperor Of The Sea) is born in this time of chaos and struggle in the little independent state of Buyeo. He quickly finds himself the most unlikely of princes and the victim of a rivalry with his brother Dae So (Kim Seung-soo - A Million Roses). He is forced to choose between the boyish charm of young merchant So Seo No (Han Hye-jin - Be Strong, Geum Soon!) and the innocent smile of Bu Yeong (Im So-young), a servant he's known for years. Other than chronicling Ju Mong's slow coming-of-age path, the first part of Jumong also deals with the touchy relationship between Buyeo and the Han, with King Geum Wa (Chun Kwang-ryul - Hur Jun) torn between loyalty to his rebel friend Hae Mo Su (Hur Jun-ho - Silmido) and the fate of his nation.
Seodongyo:
Seodongyo (aka: Seo Dong Yo, aka: Sodong’s Song) is another SBS (Seoul Broadcasting System) HDTV Drama in WS format. It is broadcasted from 05.09.2005-27.03.2006 in 54 episodes. Korean DVD Release contains 54 episodes (with english subtitles).
Description:
Seodongyo is set in Paekche Kingdom (18 B.C. – 660 A.D.) and depicts the relationship and romance between a princess and a commoner. An interesting part of this TV Drama focus also on a fierce technology war nearly 1500 years ago.
Sodong, a commoner and unaware of his royal birth becomes a top technician of his time. Later, Sodong succeeds as the 30th King of the Paekche Kingdom the throne as King Mu.
At this time, Taehaksa is the most remarkable institute of technical science. Known for their knowledge and his scientists, Taehaksa was always in threat of industrial espionage from other countries like the Goguryeo Kingdom and the Shilla Kingdom. Another part of Seodongyo is the role of the monk’s mobility to pass information to others because they were allowed to travel around the country. Monks at this time also used to be industrial spies. Seodongyo also features a character whose origin is in Shilla Kingdom (57 B.C. – 935 A.D.). This character went as child to Paekche Kingdom, smuggled to Taehaksa by himself, grown up and transferred secretly information about technical science over a long time outside the city wall.
Some of the technological achievements, such as Ondol (hot floor) to decrease the humidity of agriculture land, or releasing earthworms to solving the problem of excessive dryness of the land in several years, is picked up in some episodes.
Seodongyo (Sodong’s Song) is said to be one of the oldest Korean songs. According to Samgukyusa (the Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms) from Shilla Kingdom, this song was written by a commoner called Sodong from Paekche Kingdom. He has written this song in mind of the beauty of princess Son-hwa, a daughter of King Chin-pyong. The song contents that princess Son-hwa visits Seodongyo’s room every night. After Son-hwa’s father heard about this song, he condemned his daughter to exile. Seodongyo and Son-hwa went to Paekche, where they became the royal couple of the country.
Synopsis for Seo Dong Yo here.
Director:
Lee Byung-hoon
Cast:
Cho Hyung-jae
Han Bo-bae
Han In-soo
Im Hyeon-sik
Jeon Jae-gon
Jeong Wook
Jeong Seon-kyeong
Jo Hyeon-jae
Joo Min-soo
Kim Yeong-ho
Kim Tae-hyeon
Koo Hye-seon
Lee Bo-young
Lee Chang-hoon
Lee Hee-do
Ryoo Jin
Yoo Hyeon-ji
Directed:
Lee Byung-hoon
Cast:
Cho Hyung-jae
Han Bo-bae
Han In-soo
Im Hyeon-sik
Jeon Jae-gon
Jeong Wook
Jeong Seon-kyeong
Jo Hyeon-jae
Joo Min-soo
Kim Yeong-ho
Kim Tae-hyeon
Koo Hye-seon
Lee Bo-young
Lee Chang-hoon
Lee Hee-do
Ryoo Jin
Yoo Hyeon-ji
Taewangsasingi:
In 2007, another historical TV Drama by MBC found its way to the public: Taewangsasingi (aka: Tae Wang Sa Shin Gi, aka: Four Guardian Gods Of The King Taewangsasingi). The story depicts the beginning of Goguryeo through its heydays, emphasizing the reign of King Gwanggaeto. In this 24-episode TV Drama plays none other after six years of absence Bae Yong-joon King Gwanggaeto. It is King Gwanggaeto’s achievement to expand Goguryeo as far as Manchuria.
Synopsis for Taewangsasingi here.
This TV-Series is released under "The Legend" (aka Story Of The First King's Four Gods).
Original Soundtrack for this TV Drama: Legend, The (aka Taewangsasingi).
Directed:
Kim Jong-hak
Bae Yong-joon as Tae Wang Sa Shin Gi
Yeongaesomun:
Yeongaesomun is another big-budget SBS (Seoul Broadcasting System) TV Drama set in the latter Goguryeo peri Castle.
With the first of 100 episodes a dramatized historical SBS TV Series takes place in the latter period of Goguryeo, which was the first to be established and developed into the largest of Korea’s three ancient kingdoms. Yeongaesomun combines historical facts and its figures with fictional plots. This might result in biased understanding of Korean history, especially when not much historical documents or records of Goguryeo are available nowadays. Though there are not much historical facts about its hero “Yeongaesomun”, this TV Drama is declared to be more closer to Korean history as their MBC rival Jumong (aired in 2006).
Yeongaesomun depicts the heroic side of Yeongaesomun (played by Yoo Dong-geun) who was more known for his aggressive nature. It is said, he seized power through a coup - not as the general he was, who waged seven battles successfully against invaders of the Tang Dynasty.
Enhanced by computer graphics, the spectacular grand battle scene at Ansi Castle are presented with kind subtitles on historical, military glossaries, but stirred up controversy among viewers. The fact, why general Yang Man-chun’s part for Yeongaesomun was reduced to a supporting role, though the historical records said Yang Man-chun headed the battle into a victory – shooting the emperor of Tang an arrow in his eyes.
Writer Lee Hwan-kyong said, that the meaning of Yeongaesomun is restoring the lost history. The famous battles scenes at An Shi Fort in 644 A.D. in which Goguryeo beats the 300.000 troops strong Chinese army led by Tai Zong (King of the Tang Dynasty) features both TV Drama, Yeongaesomun and Daejoyoung.
While the fantasy-oriented historical dramas Taewangsasingi and Jumong portray the kingdom based on imagination combined with basic historical research, Yeongaesomun and Daejoyoung aim to recreate the Goguryeo Kingdom as realistically as possible, based on thorough historical research.