Historical dramas : King Sunjo and his son

[florel]

Recently, I came to notice that numerous Korean historical dramas are set in the reign of King Sunjo (1567-1608) and of his son Prince Gwanghae (1608-1623).

Cf. Historical info about Prince Gwanghae


I found eight historical dramas to have period set in this time. What I viewed and I can view are only three of them : "West Palace Majesty", "Imjin Waeran" and "The Immortal Yi Soon-Shin". It's also possible that I saw a few episodes of "Hoe-Chun Gate". I'm really sorry I missed the famous drama "Huh Jun".




This is the list of historical dramas with the reign of King Sunjo (1567-1608) and of his son Prince Gwanghae as their setting.


1. West Palace Majesty (Suh Gung Mama, MBC, 1982)

- in the series of "Women's History" of MBC in the early 80's.
- Biography drama about Queen In-Mok, second spouse of King Sunjo.

- I viewed this drama when I was very young. The only thing I remember yet is Queen In-Mok was always weeping and Lady Kim Gae-Shi (aka Kim Gae-Tong) and Prince Gwanghae were very evil persons.

- According to a data base of Korean dramas, Yi Duk-Hwa (Archfiend) was featured in this drama (perhaps as Prince Gwanghae ?) I don't remember him. lol

[florel]

2. Imjin Waeran (The Imjin War, MBC, 1985-1986)





- in the series of "500 years of Chosun Dynasty".
- It has about 50 episodes.

- Naval battles scenes are much less spectacular than those of IYSS. But as it is about the whole Imjin war, this drama depicts most important land battles and it is very faithful to historical facts. There are no fictional elements. Very good material to study the history of the Imjin War. But it's almost impossible to view it again now.


- Interesting feature : The naval battle scenes were filmed with miniatures by the Japanese technicians of NHK.
- An abbreviated version of this drama was also aired in Japan.

- This drama showed the first tentative to re-estimate Won Kyun. But it also showed the real relation between YSS and Won Kyun.
- I remember yet the scene in which small cute miniature ships were fighting and another scene in which Non-Gae plunged into the river with a Japanese officer after the fall of Chinju Castle. In IYSS, the 2nd Battle of Chinju is not depicted and there is no mention about Non-Gae.


- Chung Jin played the role of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Recently, he played the role of Chun-su's father in the Immortal Yi Soon-Shin. lol


Toyotomi Hideyoshi (Chung Jin)


- Kim Mu-Saeng played the role of Yi Soon-Shin. He is deceased recently on the 16th April 2005.



The late Kim Mu-Saeng



Kim Mu-Saeng in the Dawn of Empire

[florel]

3. Hoe-Chun Gate (Hoe Chun Mun, MBC, 1986)

- the following episode of "Imjin Waeran" in the series of "500 years of Chosun Dynasty".
- situated in the reign of Prince Gwanghae.
- It's possible that I viewed it occasionally. But I don't remember anything of this drama. lol Certainly it was not interesting historical drama.




4. West Palace (Suh Gung, KBS, 1995)

- It seems that the heroine of this drama is Lady Kim Gae-Shi while Queen In-Mok was the heroine of "West Palace Majesty" in 1982. I never viewed "West Palace".

- According to a Korean drama data base, Yi Young-Ae (DJG) was featured as Lady Kim Gae-Shi and Kim Kyu-Chul as Prince Gwanghae.
- Kim Kyu-Chul is actually playing the role of the evil merchant Im Chun-Su in IYSS.





Kim Kyu-Chul in "Suh Pyun Je (1993, Im Kwon-Taek's movie)"




Kim Kyu-Chul (Chun-Su) in The Immortal Yi Soon-Shin

[florel]

5. Huh Jun (MBC, 1999-2000)

- Biographical drama of Huh Jun (1546-1615), a royal physician in the reign of King Sunjo.

- In this drama, Pak Chan-Hwan played the role of King Sunjo. Curiously enough, he is actually playing the role of Kwon Jun, loyal subordinate of Admiral Yi Soon-Shin in IYSS.



King Sunjo (Pak Chan-Hwan)

- I guess Pak Chan-Hwan took this picture when he was playing the role of King Sunjo in "Huh Jun".




Huh Jun (King's physician)






6. Thunder Sound (Chundung Sori, KBS, 2000)

- The biographical drama of Huh Kyun (1569-1618), famous reformer and novelist under the reign of Prince Gwanghae.
- It's said that this drama stimulated debates because it was considered as a plagiary of "Huh Kyun, the last nineteen days", the novel of of Kim Tak-Hwan, author of "The Immortal Yi Soon-Shin".

- Choe Jae-Sung was featured as the title role Huh Kyun. He is now playing the role of Won Kyun in The Immortal Yi Soon-Shin. lol

[florel]

7. King's Woman (Wang Ui Nyoja, SBS, 2003)

- Official Homepage : tv.sbs.co.kr/kingswoman/

- Period : between 1591-1623

- Lady Kim Gae-Shi is heroine. It seems that Prince Imhae, delinquent brother of Prince Gwanghae, is an important character in this drama and that the dramatists offer a positive image of Prince Gwanghae. The IYSS also shows good Prince Gwanghae. But Prince Imhae is absent in IYSS except a scene played by an extra actor.

- Initially, this drama was planned with 80 episodes but reduced into 42 episodes. Because it was aired unfortunately at the same moment with DJG, this drama failed to draw the attention of public. It's inevitable that this kind of savage forced reduction of episodes makes a drama incomplete one.


* Important characters


King Sunjo



Prince Imhae - elder brother of Prince Gwanghae




Prince Gwanghae




Lady Kim Gae-Shi (King's woman)



Queen Ui-In, spouse of King Sunjo




Lady In-Bin, Concubine of King Sunjo




Queen In-Mok, second spouse of King Sunjo




Great Prince Young-Chang
: legitimate son of King Sunjo and Queen In-Mok

[florel]

8. The Immortal Yi Soon-Shin (KBS, 2004-2005)

- No need to explain.



King Sunjo




Prince Gwanghae




Queen Ui-In




Lady In-bin




Yi Soon-Shin and Kwon Jun (Kim Myung-Min and Pak Chan-Hwan)



= Fine =

[TheBo]

Oh, Florel, I loved your pics and extra info.

And I got a little laugh at the end, because "fine" also means "extremely good looking" as originally from African-American vernacular, and the term has gained widespread usage.

Those guys are "fine" indeed! LOL.

Bo

[florel]

thebo said:

Oh, Florel, I loved your pics and extra info.

And I got a little laugh at the end, because "fine" also means "extremely good looking" as originally from African-American vernacular, and the term has gained widespread usage.

Those guys are "fine" indeed! LOL.

Bo

Hahaha... amusing.
I unintentionally made you laugh. I think I'm a good joker. hmm hmm... ;D




I found a hilarious photo on SBS official site of "King's Woman".


King Sunjo and Queen In-Mok

58 years old king and 16 years old queen.
Hahaha... What a comedy !


About the second marriage of King Sunjo, I reproduce what I wrote on IYSS board a few months ago.

- After the death of Queen Ui-In (1555-1600), whom we are seeing in IYSS drama, king Sunjo took a new 16-years-old spouse in 1602. At that time, he was 58 years old ! He finally got a legitimate son (Great Prince Young-Chang) in 1606 from this second marriage but the old king died two years later. The birth of the legitimate prince imposed a heavy political burden to Prince Gwanghae and it became a reason of his downfall.

[TheBo]

Well, I don't know about the silly old man part, Florel, but I love his little chapeau...

Bo

[moreshige]

Queen In-mok is just fine!

Florel, I can still rent any of the series you mentioned. Apparently my video store rental place holds drama series dating all the way back to the 80's. I notice too, that they record their dramas from DVD copies onto video tape!

I'm going to look for that drama, "Imjin Waeran". Thanks!

[bear]

prince gwang hae looks cute in every shows... hmm.. ;D