Title: Dong Yi, also known as “Dong Yi: Jewel In the Crown”
Directed by: Kim Sang-hyeob, Lee Byeong-hoon
Screenplay by: Kim I-yeong
Starring: Han Hyo-joo, Ji Jin-hee, Lee So-yeon, Bae Soo-bin
Buy links: Astore
Amazon: Dong Yi – Korean Drama with English Subtitle – Complete Series (15 DVDs Box Set) NTSC All Region
Summary from HanCinema: This TV biopic traces the tumultuous life of Lady Choi Sook-bin, who was born as a lowly commoner but entered the royal palace to become a royal concubine where she shone ever so brilliantly. The life of her son, who is fathered by King Sook-jong, is also depicted as he transforms into the next king.
Lady Choi Sook-bin gingerly and wisely maneuvers through the deadly political infighting in the royal courts in order to survive and protect her son, who was fathered by the king. She raises her son into a well-balanced and educated person through strict discipline.
Dong Yi on Wikipedia.
This historical drama set during the Joseon dynasty in Korea is a retelling of the story of King Sukjong and Choi Suk-bin, mother of King Yeongjo.
Dong Yi is the young daughter of a corpse handler that is accused of being a traitor and killed. Dong Yi becomes a slave working in the Bureau of Music and manages to find a place in the palace where she hopes to find her father’s betrayer. The only clue she has is the beautiful palace woman she saw before her father and his followers were killed.
This is one of my favorite kdramas. I’ve watched it half a dozen times already, which is a lot considering the series is sixty episodes long. There’s sadness for the plight of the Korean peasants as they are abused by the nobles, romance as Dong Yi finds love with her friend (who introduces himself as a court judge), and intrigue as the king’s concubine and mother plot and scheme against his queen.
The costumes are beautiful, the story is touching, and Dong Yi is a plucky heroine you can’t help rooting for. This series offers a look behind the palace walls, where even as they are not allowed to leave, the world is changed by the whims of the women inside. As they fight amongst themselves to secure their position and power, their followers outside do whatever they need to do to keep their ladies in the king’s favor, because as a lady is favored, her followers are favored too.
The palace is a wheel, and at its center is the dowager queen, the queen, and the concubines. As they turn, the wheel turns, and the country turns with it.
I give this series 5-stars.
Places to watch: DramaFever, Viki.
