Dae Jang Geum

With thirteen more episodes to go as of writing time, “Jewel in the Palace” is indeed taking the country by storm. I am no television soap opera addict, much more the kinds where the lips of the actors and actresses don’t quite follow the proper movement of the dialogue you hear. I never expected I would be hooked by this jewel from Korea.

About three or four months ago, my friend Marcel insisted that I watch this Korean telenovela. I refused, but one evening while I was moping around the house looking for something better to do, I flicked on the television and was hooked since then. I even gave up my gimmick nights for the show because it started at ten in the evening and after it aired there was nothing else to do but to hit the sacks. Anyway, what is it with this TV hit that stole the nation’s heart away? Hmmmm esep-esep.

Well, for one, the heroine, Jang Geum is played by a very pretty Korean actress who happens to be thirty-five years old already. She has managed to maintain her youthful and supple appearance that looking at her, one would definitely say that she could have discovered the fountain of youth or the philosopher’s stone or whatever else we might call it. Aside from Jang Geum other characters also played it well. Lady Hann who is the mentor of Jang Geum in Korean cuisine (because they were cooks in the palace of the king) had the sympathy of the audience especially when the villainess, Lady Choi, subjected her to one of her vengeful and very schemy tricks. The actress who played Lady Choi also did a sterling performance although we all know that playing the “kontrabida” is leaps and bounds much easier than playing a “sympatico” down to earth character like Jang Geum or Lady Hann. The actors and actresses all played their parts well giving the show its inherent charm.

Aside from just the actors and actresses, what got me into this Korean telenovela was the fact that it had a very cultural theme. I am very curious about the culture of our Asian neighbors and “Jewel in the Palace” offered me an authentic glimpse of this culture. The costuming was superb. I loved how they recreated the native costumes of the period. Knowing that the story of Jang Geum is based on an actual historical person also added to my interest in the show. Here is a chance for me to see how ancient Korean women were treated during their time and how one rose to the opportunity of changing all that. I am reminded of our very own historical heroines namely Gabriella Silang, Melchora Aquino, and many others who have changed the course of Philippine History by utilizing girl power. “Jewel in the Palace” is in itself a work of art. The culinary theme of the show is also a come on for me because aside from my love and passion for food and cooking, I find the cuisine in the show very authentic to the last and final detail; this is despite their not really showing how the food is cooked to the minutest detail. One very interesting feature of the culinary theme of the show is the philosophical significance of food. I noticed that every time something is cooked for the monarch in the show, the chefs/cooks explain to the monarch the reasons why such an item is cooked and the effects of the various ingredients put into the recipe. All throughout the show, the culinary philosophy being repeated again and again is the belief that when one cooks he/she should cook with the welfare and benefit of the recipient of the food in mind. If this philosophy is not exercised then there is no use in cooking any kind of food in the first place.

Now, aside from the food-chat, there is also one very striking feature that I noticed about the show, the beautiful cinematography. Every scene in the show is a picture-perfect post card in itself. Actors and actresses are seamlessly united with the scenery that the entire show becomes a feast for the eyes. The colors are not too harsh in that one does not tire when watching how the actors and actresses interact with themselves and with the setting. In its entirety, the show is a beautiful cultural masterpiece. Although it has not ended yet, I am looking forward to how the screenplay writer would wrap together wonderful ribbons around the wonderful cultural material of Jewel in the Palace and in its final episode, present the show as a worthwhile gift not only to the Filipino audience but to the Filipino television and movie industry as well.

Source: News Today 29 May 06

On June 13, the gates to the Royal Palace will close as Jang Geum (Lee Young Ae) bids farewell to the countless viewers who have been moved by and grown to love her in Jewel in the Palace, GMA Network’s consistently top-rating Koreanovela since it premiered in the country in November last year.

Jewel in the Palace fans will finally witness the grand conclusion to the compelling true story of a court lady in the Royal Kitchen who rose above conspiracies and intrigues and turned out to be the first female physician in the Royal Palace of Korea.

This would be the last chance for Jang Geum’s countless admirers to see the woman who made them laugh and cry and inspired them to fulfill their dreams.

In the days to come, it would also be revealed whether Jung Ho Min (Ji Jin Hee) or King Jungjong (Im Ho) would finally win the heart of the one and only Jewel in the Palace.

Jung Ho and King Jungjong finally got the chance to talk about Jang Geum. Jung Ho admitted that the reason he and Jang Geum returned after they tried to escape before was so she could fulfill her dreams.

Jung Ho asked the King to allow Jang Geum to become a doctor, even at the cost of his own life. The King, on the other hand, would finally confess his love to Jang Geum. The Queen was supposed to release a decree that Jang Geum is officially a concubine of the King. Would Jang Geum and the King accept and allow this decree to become official?

The King would proclaim Jang Geum as his personal physician. She is tasked to attend to the King alone and was given the title “The Great Jang Geum.”

However, the King’s condition would worsen, and Jang Geum would be held responsible for it. She intends to perform an operation on the King, but a lot of people are against it, including the Queen (Park Jung Sook). What would Jang Geum do to cure the King? Would she succeed in doing so?

Meanwhile, the palace officials look down on Jung Ho and decide to punish him by throwing him into exile.

The King would give them permission to do so. What will Jang Geum do when she finds out about Jung Ho’s misfortune? Would their love stand a chance now that Jang Geum is a key person in the palace as the King’s personal physician?

Prepare for the grand conclusion of Korea’s No. 1 drama for 2004, which made waves all over Asia and even the US and has swept the Philippines in a Jewel fever since it began. Jewel in the Palace airs weeknights after Love of the Condor Heroes on GMA-7.

Source: Sun.Star 8 June 06