Jewel in the Palace
Jewel in the Palace (Korean: 대장금; RR: Dae Jang-geum) is a 2003 South Korean historical drama television series directed by Lee Byung-hoon. It first aired on MBC from September 15, 2003, to March 23, 2004, where it was the top program with an average viewership rating of 45.8% and a peak of 57.1% (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, being known as one of the primary proponents of the Korean Wave by heightening the spread of Korean culture abroad.
| Jewel in the Palace | |
|---|---|
Promotional poster | |
| Also known as | Dae Jang Geum |
| Hangul | 대장금 |
| Hanja | 大長今 |
| Literal meaning | The Great Jang-geum |
| Revised Romanization | Dae Jang-geum |
| McCune–Reischauer | Tae Changkŭm |
| Genre | Historical Medicine |
| Written by | Kim Young-hyun |
| Directed by | Lee Byung-hoon |
| Starring |
|
| Opening theme | "Changryong" |
| Ending theme | "Onara" |
| Country of origin | South Korea |
| Original language | Korean |
| No. of episodes | 54 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Jo Joong-hyun |
| Camera setup | Multi-camera |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Production company | MBC self-production |
| Budget | US$15 million |
| Original release | |
| Network | Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation |
| Release | September 15, 2003 – March 23, 2004 |
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 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.