Dae Jang Geum

Just as Jang-Geum arrives in front of the king and the lady to decline the position of the king’s main physician, the head guard arrives with news that the prince is ill. The king and the lady queen leave the court to visit their son and find out from Doctor Jung that the prince has a strong fever, cough and perpectual fainting. Lady queen is extremely worried and asks Doctor Jung to heal her son immediately. The doctor states he needs more time to diagnose the illness. The lady queen is upset and the king calms her down.

Privately, the king suggest to lady queen that they should assign jang-geum to treat the prince. Lady queen is upset and complains to the king that he doesn’t care about this son, only the other king-to-be son. Lady queen tells the king she told Jang-Geum to give up on king-to-be son because the king is not protecting her position and her son’s position in the palace. The lady queen complains if the king had cared about their son more she would’t have to go in such measures. The lady queen states she is merely a mother who’s trying to protect her son.

Jang-Geum runs into Min Jung Ho who asks her why she is giving up on being the king’s physician since it’s a prestigious and hard-fought reward. Jang-Geum answers she doesn’t want to cause her teacher to leave the palace. Jang-Geum packs a bag and leaves the royal court. The king sees her and flags her down to talk with her. The king tells Jang-Geum when she begged him to take her into the palace as a child, he was wondering what person would want to go to the palace, since he was resentful that he had to go. Then he got drunk over the wine she brought and next thing he knows he is the king. Jang-Geum smiles. The king smiles back and tells Jang-Geum she needs to be responsible. Jang-Geum is surprised and asks what for. The king replies she must be responsible for him being inside the palace, therefore she cannot desert him and leave by herself. The king laughs and Jang-Geum smiles at the king’s teasing.

The head guard tells the king Min Jung-Ho is the only one who supports the king’s decision to make Jang Geum his physician. The king asks the guard to bring Min Jung Ho. King remembers Min as an excellent child scholar from a long time ago. Min Jung Ho arrives. The king asks why he supports Jang-Geum becoming a physician. Min Jung-Ho replies though Jang-Geum is a woman, she is skilled and posesses strong integrity and confidence as evident through the Oh and Lady Choi scandal. The king states Min Jung Ho is right. The most important quality of a doctor is personal skills and integrity, not their gender. Min asks the king to make Jang-Geum his physician despite opposition from everyone else.

The other generals find out Min Jung Ho met with the king to give his support and become angry. The generals plan to get rid of Min Jung Ho from the court.

Jang-Geum and another nurse go outside the palace to heal the locals ill and they find that there’s a contagious fever disease going around. Jang-Geum is treating a sick boy without worrying about getting sick herself. Lady queen and the king are notified that the prince is suffering from the contagious disease. The lady queen is upset and she wants to see her son immediately but the maids stop her so she won’t get sick too. The king and the mother queen witness the lady queen yelling at the maids saying she has to see her son and the mother queen tells her to pull herself together.

The lady queen kneels before the temple and begs the gods to take her life instead of her son’s. Jang-Duk tells Kang’s wife to help her prepare the herb needed to fight the disease. Kang’s wife is teary because she is reminded that her two sons both died from the disease. The nae-ee-ohn doctors and nurses wonder where Jang-Geum is since she’s missing. The scholar brings them to town. Outside the palace, they see Kang Duk-Goo putting on a skit to teach the poors and beggars how to fight the disease. The scholar and the doctors ask the beggars why they’re cleaning. The beggars reply ‘our nurse’ instructed them to do so. The nae-ee-ohn staff ask who the nurse is. A beggar brings them to a hut where Jang-Geum is.

Shin-Bi speaks to Jang-Geum from outside the hut. Shin-Bi asks to go in and talk to her but Jang-Geum replies she can’t because she is surrounded by diseases and she’s still trying to find a cure for the disease. Shin-Bi states the prince is also suffering from the disease and asks Jang-Geum to help. Jang-Geum replies she still doesn’t have a cure and sends all them away. Lady queen begs the king to save her son. The prince passes out and things don’t look good. Lady queen continues to beg the king and the doctors to save her son. The king instructs his generals to do whatever they can to save the prince. Doctor Shin goes to visit Jang-Geum who is alone in the hut with many sick youngsters. Doctor Shin watches as Jang-Geum comforts the crying children who ask Jang-Geum if they’re dying. Jang-Geum replies no because she’s gonna heal them. Then Doctor Shin leaves quietly.

Lady queen refuses to eat. Lady Min begs her to eat but lady queen replies her body useless since she is unable to do anything about her son’s condition. Lady Min states she cannot be the first to give up. Lady queen asks if that’s something Jang-Geum said. Lady Min replies yes. The lady queen suddenly remembers Jang-Geum giving her the same advice when the king was ill.

Jang-Geum successfully finds the way to heal the children. The beggars kneel before her with tears for saving their children. Jang-Duk arrives and praises Jang-Geum and asks if she’s found the cure. Jang-Geum replies no but she found a way to fight the symptoms. The beggars are celebrating their joy. Just then soilders from the palace arrive. The beggars are scared and beg the soilders not to take their children away since they’re not sick anymore.

The lady queen appears from behind the soilders and asks if the children are really healed. The beggars reply yes, that their nurse Jang-Geum healed them. The lady queen goes to see Jang-Geum in the hut. The head guard calls Jang-Geum to come out and greet the lady queen. Jang-Geum appears and the lady queen begs Jang-Geum to heal her son. Jang-Geum returns to the palace and takes over the treatment from Doctor Jung. Shin-Bi tells the other nurses to rest since they’ve been helping Jang-Geum with the prince. The other nurses state they’re starting to like Jang-Geum and Shin-Bi. Even nurse Eun-Bi who used to detest Jang-Geum comes to help Jang-Geum. Min Jung Ho reports to the king the news about Jang-Geum saving the beggars, and the head guard arrives to tell the king the lady queen brought Jang-Geum back to the palace to treat her son.

Jang-Geum, Doctor Jung, Shin-Bi, Eun-Bi, and another medicine women work on treating the prince day and night. Finally the prince is recovering. The lady queen and the king are informed of the king’s condition. The lady queen and the king arrive to see the prince. The lady queen tells Jang-Geum she is speechless in front of Jang-Geum, for asking her to use another child’s illness as an opportunity, not knowing her own son could be in the same state. The lady queen apologizes to Jang-Geum and tells her she will from now on be her strength. The king tells his generals he wants to reward Jang-Geum by awarding her with gifts and in addition, by making her a high-ranked general. All the generals protest except for Min Jung Ho who replies he will carry out the king’s decision. The generals meet and agree that they cannot let the king go ahead with it and they complain the king again in court.

Then, the head doctor from nae-ee-ohn, Doctor Shin arrives telling the king and the court that they supports the king’s decision and all of nae-ee-ohn is behind his decision. The king asks why and Doctor Shin replies Jang-Geum treats her patients like a mother treats her child, with self-sacrifice and hope, an attitude and skill other doctors and medicine women do not have.

The king declares he will make Jang-Geum his personal medicine general during court. Min Jung-Ho overhears the statement as he approaches the court from outside.

Jang-Geum packs her stuff and leaves a letter for the kang’s. Min Jung-Ho leaves his resignation letter for his superior. Jang-Geum and Min Jung-Ho leave Hanyang city by boat. Min’s superior finds out and sends his men to look for them immediately. The lady queen hears about the king’s declaration and is shocked that a nurse will be in that position.

Jang Geum and Min Jung Ho are riding on the boat. Min Jung Ho asks Jang-Geum if she’s fearful but Jang-Geum replies she’s happy. Min Jung Ho states he’s fearful that it all might be just a dream and he’ll wake up. Kang Tuk-Goo looks for Jang-Geum. The general who heads the medicine house is angry that a nurse is called to be the king’s personal general. He promises to stop such unprecedented event. The mother queen tells the lady queen she needs to stop the king from such unruly behavior. The palace officers discuss the king’s decision. Some say that a woman cannot be in such high position while some state they must honor the king’s request. Min Jung Ho’s superior is worried that Min Jung Ho and Jang-Geum will be severly punished for running away. Shin-Bi tells Na Ju Deuk about the king’s decision.

Jang-Geum goes on and on about whether Min Jung Ho minds that she has nothing and will have to live a humble life starting life again. Min Jung Ho interrupts saying everything is okay with him. Jang-Geum smiles and reaches her hand out to Min Jung Ho. The two hold hands as they walk in the snow. Then Min Jung Ho tells Jang-Geum to ride on his back since it’s hard to walk in the snow. Jang-Geum starts to laugh on his back since it reminds her of her childhood.

They arrive by the river with a boat waiting pre-arranged by Min Jung Ho. But soldiers sent by Min’s superior arrive to tell him to return to the palace. Min raises his sword to tell the soldiers to return since he is no longer a king’s servant, but Min’s superior arrives and orders him to return with him at once. Superior tells Min it’s not late to go back. If they don’t go back they will be considered fugitives disobeying the king’s order. Min Jung Ho tells the superior to give him more time then gets up to leave. The superior tells his men not to stop Min Jung Ho since he believes he will return soon.

Min Jung Ho tells Jang-Geum to follow him and he brings her to a house in the mountains. He shows the house to Jang-Geum as a possible place for her pharmacy. Jang-Geum is worried about Min Jung Ho’s fate and tells him she cannot be the one to ruin his path. Min Jung Ho ignores her and begins to talk about her childhood. Jang-Geum smiles as she remembers where she grew up but her smile fades as she thinks about the reality again. Min Jung Ho senses her emotion and reaches out his hand.

Min Jung Ho: (reaching out hand) If not now then we will never be able to realize our dream.
Jang Geum: (reaches out her hand to his, then cries) I cannot go…. I cannot go….

They return to see his superior. The superior gives instructions on how they should go back separately once they’re in Hanyang. Min Jung Ho tells Jang-Geum there was never a female medicine general in the past and there will never be another one but there is a reason.

Shin-Bi and the Kangs are worried about Jang-Geum but Jang-Geum returns without saying a word to them. Jang-Duk tells Jang-Geum she should accept the position. Jang-Duk tells jang-geum she should be a general even for a day to show people that a woman can do the same as what men can. The nurses and the doctors at the medicine house tell Jang-Geum she must decline such order. Lady queen tells Jang-Geum to be her maid instead and if she insists the king will agree. The king is advised against the decision by his generals but the king states Jang-Geum saved his life and there is no reason why she can’t be promoted to the status of a general. The king tells Jang-Geum he believes in her and asks her to be her general. Jang-Geum replies she accepts.

The mother queen and the lady queen visit the king. The mother queen tells the king to retract his decision since no matter how good Jang-Geum is she is still a woman. Privately, the lady queen tells the mother queen she doesn’t think the king will change his mind. The mother queen replies the problem lies in Jang-Geum who accepted the offer. The queen’s assistant tell the queen that lady sook-won (Yun-Saeng) is a childhood friend of Jang-Geum’s and she arranged for the king to meet with jang-geum privately on a previous occasion.

Everyone in the court objects to the king’s order and they draw up a signature list to submit to the king to ask the king to re-consider. Min Jung Ho’s superior tells Min to talk to Jang-Geum to change her mind but Min replies there is no reason a woman cannot do their job. Doctor Shin submits his resignation letter because he doesn’t want to take sides.

The mother queen calls Yun-Saeng for meeting and scolds her for getting involved between the king and Jang-Geum. Afterwards, Yun-Saeng faints outside. Jang-Geum is called to her side. Jang-Geum orders Shin-Bi to prepare for baby labor immediately. Chan-Ee and Lady Min tell Jang-Geum that Yun-Saeng was called by mother queen about Jang-Geum’s meeting with the king.

Yun-Saeng goes in complicated labor. During the labor Yun-Saeng loses consciousness. Jang-Geum begins needle treatment. Yun-Saeng regains consciousness barely and Jang-Geum tells her she must stay awake. The head guard reports to the king lady sook-won is in early labor and she and the child are both in danger. The king asks how it happened and the guard reports the mother queen summoned her about Jang-Geum meeting the king. Lady queen and mother queen are notified about lady sook-won’s condition. Yun-Saeng gives birth finally and the newborn’s cry is heard, but Yun-Saeng is unconscious. Yun-Saeng stops breathing and Jang-Geum cries as she blows air into Yun-Saeng’s nose and performs chest press on Yun-Saeng, saying she cannot die like this.
Yun-Saeng opens her eyes and Jang-Geum weeps with overwhelmed emotions.

Jang-Geum is shaken by the event even though Yun-Saeng is safe and so is her daughter. Min Jung-Ho comes to see her. Jang-Geum tells him she will decline the king’s order. Min Jung Ho replies she can’t but Jang-Geum states she wants to be a medicine person who saves lives. The king and the queens are notified of the birth of a new princess and lady sook-won’s condition. Jang-Geum stays by Yun-Saeng’s bed side. Yun-Saeng wakes up and tells Jang-Geum if it wasn’t for Jang-Geum she would’ve died.

Jang-Geum goes to see the king and kneels before him to tell him she cannot be his general. Then the head guard arrives with news that lady queen’s son is in danger.

The king remembers when he was still a prince a little girl delivered wine to him and bow to beg him fulfil her wish of becoming a royal kitchen maid inside the palace. The king asks Jang-Geum if she is that little girl back then. Jang-Geum returns his smile and replies yes. Jang-Geum thanks the king for fulfilling her childhood wish.
The king states he often wondered about what happened to that little fearless girl and is amazed that the girl ended up saving his life as a medicine maid. The king is extremely happy and tells Jang-Geum to ask for anything and he’ll grant her wish. Jang-Geum asks for permission to visit outside the palace to practice medicine.

During the nae-ee-ohn meeting, Jang-Geum tells her colleagues and supervisors she asked the king for permission to go outside the palace to learn more about medicine treatment. Jang-Geum tells the doctors that Lady Han left her medicinal recipes and she wants to study them. Yun-Saeng is upset that Jang-Geum might not be around to deliver her baby. Jang-Geum assures her that Shin-Bi will do a great job and there is nothing to worry about.

Kangs scold Jang-Geum for her constant curiosity and tells her she should just tell the king she has no wishes next time the king asks her or else she will end up getting herself into more trouble each time. But Jang-Duk compliments Jang-Geum for her desire to improve herself.

Jang-Geum arrives at the town and finds Min Jung-Ho there already, making kites and teaching calligraphy to the local kids. Jang-Geum asks Min Jung Ho what brings him to this remote town, but Min replies in a professional tone of voice he had business to take care of. When Jang-Geum teasingly asks if he’s there for any other reason, Min doesn’t smile back and states, “what other reason?” Then Min leaves after saving goodbye. Jang-Geum is disappointed at his response but goes back to tending the ill.

At night, Jang-Geum goes to see Min Jung-Ho and when he arrives she puts on a big smile, but Min Jung Ho coldly asks why she’s doing there and sends her away. After Min leaves, Jang-Geum mumbles, “actually i missed you… so…”, then leaves.

Jang-Geum goes back to the treatment house. Next day, Jang-Geum watches Min Jung Ho teach poetry to the children. Afterwards, Jang-Geum speaks with Min Jung Ho.

Jang Geum: I wish to see you everyday.
Min Jung Ho: Because of the kids?
Jang Geum: No…
Min Jung Ho: (raises voice) Then you should’ve said so from the beginning. You should know the pain i suffered through too.
Jang Geum: (surprised) Then were you just teasing me?
Min Jung Ho: No, why would i? (acts angry and turns to leave)
Jang Geum: … (speechless)
Min Jung Ho: (turns back and laughs) Hahaha.

Jang-Geum smiles realizing Min Jung Ho is playing with her.

Back at the palace the kitchen staff are wondering who the king will name as the next kitchen head. Lady Min jokes to Chan-Ee that she should go for that title. Lady Min prepares food for the king during the palace festival and the king enjoys her food. Lady Min is declared the next kitchen head. Lady Min is shocked and feels stressed about the title. Lady Min goes to see Jang-Geum. When she sees her, Lady Min calls out Jang-Geum’s name and embraces her. Jang-Geum gives Lady Min a recipe book Lady Han and Jung left to encourage Lady Min. Lady Min thanks Jang-Geum but tells Jang-Geum she’s scared. Jang-Geum gives Lady Min encouraging words of advice and assures Lady Min she will do well in the new job. Lady Min goes back and prepares her first meal as kitchen head. She serves the food to the king and before he can say anything, she begins to ramble on about how bad her skills are, but the king replies saying the food is great.

Jang-Geum is called to a secret meeting with the lady queen. Lady queen confides in Jang-Geum that her position in the palace is not secure due to a prince who is older than her son. The older prince is in line to be the king’s heir, but the prince has a perpectual illness that he will eventually die from but no one knows when for sure. The lady queen’s assitant tells Jang-Geum to return the lady queen’s favor, by helping the lady queen. The assistant tells the lady queen will arrange for Jang-Geum to treat the sick prince, and Jang-Geum is to secretly kill the prince, since he’s already living a life of hell on earth. Jang-Geum is shocked and distraught. Then she agrees to visit the ill prince. After examing him, Jang-Geum goes home and worries about what she should do.

Jang-Geum visits Min Jung-Ho and the two go around town shopping. Min Jung-Ho tells Jang-Geum he wants to buy her a gift so she can’t look. Later, Min Jung Ho puts an accessory on Jang-Geum and Jang-Geum smiles saying she loves it. Then Jang-Geum gives him the pen brush set her father gave her. Jang-Geum tells Min Jung Ho it’s the most valuable item she owns and she wants to give it to him. Min Jung-Ho tells Jang-Geum he likes the life outside palace and asks her to live with him outside the palace, with him mending a book shop, and her mending a small pharmacy. Jang-Geum gets upset, since she thinks she won’t have a life with Min after what the lady queen asked her to do, and Jang-Geum says she doesn’t want a small pharamacy. Min Jung-Ho is taken back but replies then she won’t have a small one. She’ll have a pharamacy that’s bigger than his shop. Jang-Geum looks at him with tears in her eyes.

Jang-Geum worries about what the lady queen said to her all night. The next day she tells the lady queen she can’t do what she asked, because her mother and Lady Han always said to her a cook’s hands cannot harm a person, and she is a nurse, her job is to heal people not to harm them. The lady queen replies this is the only way to secure her position and her son’s future and asks Jang-Geum to do it for her since she saved her life. Jang-Geum states she wants to return her life back to the lady queen instead. The king overhears the conversation outside but goes inside to pretend he didn’t hear anything. The lady queen reports to the king she wants to keep Jang-Geum near her as a sang-goong. The king replies it’s a good idea.

The king asks Jang-Geum what the lady queen asked her to do. Jang-Geum refuses to say anything. The king says it’s the king’s order but Jang-Geum replies she can’t say a word. The king tells his head guard to investigate the matter.

Jang-Geum is going crazy with the secret buried inside her and she runs to look for Min Jung-Ho but she has a difficult time finding him. Everywhere she looks for him, he’s not there. Meanwhile, Min Jun Ho hears Jang-Geum is looking for her but everywhere he goes Jang-Geum had already left. Finally at night they run into each other.

Jang-Geum, with tears, complains to him:

Jang Geum: (crying) You said you’d be there for me wherever i need you but how can u be there if i can’t find you?
Min Jung Ho: (surprised) ….
Jang Geum: You said to runaway with you before. So please take me away from here. Take me to runaway from here.

Min Jung-Ho makes plans to leave the palace with Jang-Geum. Jang-Geum writes her resignation letter and packs her belongings.