This historical drama is one of the pioneering works that initiated the "Korean Wave." While other dramas, such as Winter Sonata and Boys Over Flowers, are no longer featured on the MDL Top 100 Korean Dramas list, Jewel in the Palace (JITP) still holds the No. 86 spot; however, it is gradually falling off the list.
Twenty years ago, YouTube was just beginning to gain popularity, and our internet speeds were too slow, suitable only for reading articles. As a result, we relied on terrestrial television to watch Korean dramas. We were captivated by the JITP theme song, "Onara," to the extent that we even purchased a VCD of it at the night market, albeit a pirated copy.
To this day, I still remember the child actress who portrayed the younger FL; she was incredibly adorable and made us cry when her character was bullied. Her role in JITP left the most significant impression on me, which is why I recently rewatched the first few episodes for the sake of nostalgia. Each episode concluded with a cliffhanger, and before I knew it, I had binge-watched the entire series.
The JITP storyline progressed from (1) Little Bride Lady to (2) Kitchen Court Lady, and finally to (3) Physician Lady.
**Warning: Spoilers Ahead**
As is common in historical dramas, the palace is rife with betrayals. When FL was a kitchen court lady, she and her superior were framed and sentenced to exile on Jeju Island as maids. Unfortunately, her superior died during the journey. While on the island, she studied under the guidance of a doctor. However, when she was forced to treat an enemy leader, she was accused of collusion and sent back to the palace for trial. Fortunately, ML testified that it was she who ensnared the enemy, enabling the government soldiers to achieve victory. Upon learning that a new group of physician ladies was being selected, she attended the interview and successfully passed.
In the Chosun Dynasty, female physicians held a very low social status. Her medical instructor noted that when a male physician achieves commendable results, he is rewarded with gifts and promotions. In contrast, a female physician who attains the same level of success is often rewarded with a night spent with a senior officer.
When all the senior doctors failed to treat the king's illness, officials, scholars, and even the female physicians objected when the king wanted her to try. They protested, claiming that a female physician could not treat the king because it was against tradition. It is inspiring to see how she treated diseases while the senior male physicians were only concerned with concealing their misdiagnoses. As expected, she emerges stronger each time she faces a setback.
Besides time travel, the supernatural, and kissing, it encompasses most other genres. Credit must also go to her adoptive parents, who lighten the mood with humorous scenes.
JITP is a classic; don't miss it.
Twenty years ago, YouTube was just beginning to gain popularity, and our internet speeds were too slow, suitable only for reading articles. As a result, we relied on terrestrial television to watch Korean dramas. We were captivated by the JITP theme song, "Onara," to the extent that we even purchased a VCD of it at the night market, albeit a pirated copy.
To this day, I still remember the child actress who portrayed the younger FL; she was incredibly adorable and made us cry when her character was bullied. Her role in JITP left the most significant impression on me, which is why I recently rewatched the first few episodes for the sake of nostalgia. Each episode concluded with a cliffhanger, and before I knew it, I had binge-watched the entire series.
The JITP storyline progressed from (1) Little Bride Lady to (2) Kitchen Court Lady, and finally to (3) Physician Lady.
**Warning: Spoilers Ahead**
As is common in historical dramas, the palace is rife with betrayals. When FL was a kitchen court lady, she and her superior were framed and sentenced to exile on Jeju Island as maids. Unfortunately, her superior died during the journey. While on the island, she studied under the guidance of a doctor. However, when she was forced to treat an enemy leader, she was accused of collusion and sent back to the palace for trial. Fortunately, ML testified that it was she who ensnared the enemy, enabling the government soldiers to achieve victory. Upon learning that a new group of physician ladies was being selected, she attended the interview and successfully passed.
In the Chosun Dynasty, female physicians held a very low social status. Her medical instructor noted that when a male physician achieves commendable results, he is rewarded with gifts and promotions. In contrast, a female physician who attains the same level of success is often rewarded with a night spent with a senior officer.
When all the senior doctors failed to treat the king's illness, officials, scholars, and even the female physicians objected when the king wanted her to try. They protested, claiming that a female physician could not treat the king because it was against tradition. It is inspiring to see how she treated diseases while the senior male physicians were only concerned with concealing their misdiagnoses. As expected, she emerges stronger each time she faces a setback.
Besides time travel, the supernatural, and kissing, it encompasses most other genres. Credit must also go to her adoptive parents, who lighten the mood with humorous scenes.
JITP is a classic; don't miss it.
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