Seo Jang Geum
Encyclopedia
For the historical figure that this character is based on, see Jang Geum
Seo Jang Geum(서장금 (徐長今)) is the main character of the Korean television series Dae Jang Geum
. Based on the historical figure Jang Geum
, possibly the first and only female physician of the King in all of Korean history. She is the daughter of the middle class(chungin
) military officer Seo Cheon-soo
and Park Myeong-yi
, the yangban
granddaughter of a former court official. In the beginning of the series, Seo saved Myeong-yi (then Park Na-in) when she was to be executed by the Choi family. Myeong-yi then married him and gave birth to Jang Geum. However, Jang Geum accidentally reveals her father's past identity, which leads to his arrest, and the murder of Myeong-yi. Jang Geum, however, survives and makes it into the palace.
. However, on Jeju she meets Jang-deok
, who teaches her the art of medicine. With her help she is able to become a physician lady (Eun-yo) and reenter the palace. When she returns she successfully overcomes the Choi family's desperate and aggressive attempts to get her out of the palace with the help of her lover, Min Jung ho. With her skill and diligence, she becomes a royal physician and attains the title Dae Jang Geum (the Great Jang Geum). Many other people opposed this, and the only supporter, Min, is exiled. However, the king is so worried about Jang Geum that he secretly sends Jang Geum away, allowing her to reunite with Min and flee to Ming China. Jang Geum and Min decide to marry live in hiding as fugitives in the outskirts of Joseon Korea. She also raises a daughter, Min So-hyun. Eventually Jang Geum is brought back to the palace with her family, but chooses to live with the common people, but close to the palace. The series ends as Jang Geum successfully performs the first Caesarean section
surgery ever.
Her best friends are Lee Yeon-saeng
, the royal concubine of King Jungjong of Joseon
, and a physician lady in the palace named Shin-bi. Throughout much of the series, Jang Geum has an increasingly close relationship with Min Jung-ho.
documented in the Annals of Joseon Dynasty
. Jang Geum was the first and only female physician of the King or ruler in all of ancient Korean history.
. The role made Lee Young-ae famous worldwide.
Jang Geum
Jang Geum was reputedly the only female Royal Physician in Korean history. She was mentioned about seven times in the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, albeit with very vague and sketchy details. It is known, however, that King Jungjong was pleased with Jang Geum's medical knowledge and trusted her...
Seo Jang Geum(서장금 (徐長今)) is the main character of the Korean television series Dae Jang Geum
Dae Jang Geum
Dae Jang Geum is a 2003 epic South Korean television series directed by Lee Byung Hoon and produced by MBC. Starring Lee Young Ae, it tells the tale of an orphaned kitchen cook who went on to become the king's first female physician...
. Based on the historical figure Jang Geum
Jang Geum
Jang Geum was reputedly the only female Royal Physician in Korean history. She was mentioned about seven times in the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, albeit with very vague and sketchy details. It is known, however, that King Jungjong was pleased with Jang Geum's medical knowledge and trusted her...
, possibly the first and only female physician of the King in all of Korean history. She is the daughter of the middle class(chungin
Chungin
The chungin also jungin, were the petite bourgeoisie of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. The name "chungin" literally means "middle people". This privileged class of commoners consisted of a small group of petty bureaucrats and other skilled workers whose technical and administrative skills enabled the...
) military officer Seo Cheon-soo
Seo Cheon-Soo
Seo Cheon-soo is a minor character in Dae Jang Geum. He is the father of Seo Jang Geum and a military guard from the middle class. He is the first of all the characters to appear in the series. The series begins as he is practicing for an archery tournament...
and Park Myeong-yi
Park Myeong-yi
Park Myeong-yi is a minor character in Dae Jang Geum. She is Seo Jang Geum's mother. Myeong-yi is from the upper class yangban. Her grandfather was a court official who lost favor with the court. Myeong-yi was sent to the palace in hopes she could gain rank and salary and raise her family. She...
, the yangban
Yangban
The yangban were part of the traditional ruling class or nobles of dynastic Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. The yangban were either landed or unlanded aristocracy who comprised the Korean Confucian idea of a "scholarly official." In reality, they were basically administrators and bureaucrats who...
granddaughter of a former court official. In the beginning of the series, Seo saved Myeong-yi (then Park Na-in) when she was to be executed by the Choi family. Myeong-yi then married him and gave birth to Jang Geum. However, Jang Geum accidentally reveals her father's past identity, which leads to his arrest, and the murder of Myeong-yi. Jang Geum, however, survives and makes it into the palace.
Overview
Jang Geum was a bright and curious girl from her childhood. However, her curiosity led to her mischief many times. When she enters the palace, she becomes the student of Han Baek-young, who turns out to be Myeong-yi's best friend. Jang Geum successfully becomes a Na-in (palace maid), but a plot by the Choi family causes her to be exiled to Jeju IslandJeju-do
Jeju-do is the only special autonomous province of South Korea, situated on and coterminous with the country's largest island. Jeju-do lies in the Korea Strait, southwest of Jeollanam-do Province, of which it was a part before it became a separate province in 1946...
. However, on Jeju she meets Jang-deok
Jang-deok
Jang-deok is a major character in Dae Jang Geum, a 2003 TV series produced by South Korean TV channel MBC and set in fifteenth century Korea.She is the daughter of a chungin family that lost favor with the government due to the suicide of her mother during the reign of Yeonsangun...
, who teaches her the art of medicine. With her help she is able to become a physician lady (Eun-yo) and reenter the palace. When she returns she successfully overcomes the Choi family's desperate and aggressive attempts to get her out of the palace with the help of her lover, Min Jung ho. With her skill and diligence, she becomes a royal physician and attains the title Dae Jang Geum (the Great Jang Geum). Many other people opposed this, and the only supporter, Min, is exiled. However, the king is so worried about Jang Geum that he secretly sends Jang Geum away, allowing her to reunite with Min and flee to Ming China. Jang Geum and Min decide to marry live in hiding as fugitives in the outskirts of Joseon Korea. She also raises a daughter, Min So-hyun. Eventually Jang Geum is brought back to the palace with her family, but chooses to live with the common people, but close to the palace. The series ends as Jang Geum successfully performs the first Caesarean section
Caesarean section
A Caesarean section, is a surgical procedure in which one or more incisions are made through a mother's abdomen and uterus to deliver one or more babies, or, rarely, to remove a dead fetus...
surgery ever.
Her best friends are Lee Yeon-saeng
Lee Yeon-saeng
Lee Yeon-saeng is a major character in Dae Jang Geum. She is the best friend of Seo Jang Geum. Since the first day they entered the palace as children, the two have always been there for each other. When Jang Geum is exiled to Jeju, Yeon-saeng weeps so much King Jungjong sees her and she doesn't...
, the royal concubine of King Jungjong of Joseon
Jungjong of Joseon
Jungjong of Joseon , born Yi Yeok, ruled during the 16th century in what is now Korea. He succeeded his half-brother, Yeonsangun, because of the latter's tyranical misrule, which culminated in a coup placing Jungjong on the throne.-Jo Gwang-jo's reforms:On the day Yeonsangun was deposed, soldiers...
, and a physician lady in the palace named Shin-bi. Throughout much of the series, Jang Geum has an increasingly close relationship with Min Jung-ho.
Historical connection
Seo Jang Geum is based loosely on the figure Jang GeumJang Geum
Jang Geum was reputedly the only female Royal Physician in Korean history. She was mentioned about seven times in the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, albeit with very vague and sketchy details. It is known, however, that King Jungjong was pleased with Jang Geum's medical knowledge and trusted her...
documented in the Annals of Joseon Dynasty
Annals of Joseon Dynasty
The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty are the annual records of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea, which were kept from 1413 to 1865. The annals, or sillok, comprise 1,893 volumes and are thought to cover the longest continual period of a single dynasty in the world...
. Jang Geum was the first and only female physician of the King or ruler in all of ancient Korean history.
Trivia
The role of Seo Jang Geum is played by Lee Young-ae (이영애 (李英愛)), who was originally supposed to play the role Lee Yeon-saengLee Yeon-saeng
Lee Yeon-saeng is a major character in Dae Jang Geum. She is the best friend of Seo Jang Geum. Since the first day they entered the palace as children, the two have always been there for each other. When Jang Geum is exiled to Jeju, Yeon-saeng weeps so much King Jungjong sees her and she doesn't...
. The role made Lee Young-ae famous worldwide.