Yoon Seon-joo (윤선주)

Epic Dramas Continues to Boom This Year

Source | 2008/01/01 | Permalink |

By Kwon Mee-yoo
Staff Reporter

KBS starts the New Year with two new epic dramas, "Hong Gil Dong", a Korean Robin Hood story and "The Great King Sejong", another drama portraying the king of Joseon.

Both dramas are set back in the time of the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910). "Hong Gil Dong" is a comical remake of novel of the same name written by Heo Gyun under King Gwanghaegun's reign (1575-1641).

The rather young director Lee Jung-sub, 36, defines the soap opera as being a "totally new epic drama". He prepared for this drama for about a year with writers Hong Jeong-eun and Hong Mi-ran, also known as the "Hong Sisters" of "Sassy Girl, Chun-hyang" (2005) and "Fantastic Couple" (2006).

Scenes from the preview were rather shocking. The protagonist, Hong Gil-dong (played by actor Kang Ji-hwan) has curly hair and wears sunglasses while Heo I-nok (Seong Yoo-ri), the heroine, looks like Chun-li, the tomboy character from the popular game "Street Fighter".

Lee Chang-hui (Jang Geun-s...| More

Epic Drama Boom to Continue This Year

Source | 2007/01/07 | Permalink |

By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter


Broadcaster reach deep into history this year. From left, portrait of Tangun, Korea's mythical founding father, portrait of King Chongjo (1777-1800) and portrait of King Sejong (1418-1450), who will be depicted in epic dramas at three major networks.
The boom in Korean epic dramas that captured viewers' hearts last year is not likely to let up.

Major broadcasters have casted big-name stars, including hallyu star Bae Yong-joon, known in Japan as Yonsama, Kim Hee-seon and film actress Moon So-ri.

The new epic dramas explore more diverse themes than in the past and are set in a variety of eras, ranging from Kojoson (2333 B.C. - 108 B.C.) to the Koguryo Kingdom (37 B.C. - A.D. 668) and the Choson Kingdom (1392-1910).

KBS is expected to air its flagship epic drama, "Sejong the Great", in July. The story is written by Yoon Seon-joo, who also wrote "Hwang Jin-i", the recent hit epic drama about "kisaeng", courtesans often likened to Japanese ge...| More

Hwangjin drama exported to four countries, including China

Source | 2006/11/20 | Permalink |

Hwangjin-i (written by Yoon Seon-Joo and directed by Kim Cheol-gyoo), KBS 2TV's drama that has captured 20% of the viewing audience and is still growing in popularity, has recently been exported to four Asian countries, including China.

"We have signed a contract to export Hwangjin to China, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam", said KBS Media on November 17. "It is uncommon for dramas to become the subject of an export deal even before they end".

"Although we cannot reveal the exact figures involved in the export deal, we can say that it is the most expensive KBS drama ever sold to these countries", KBS Media added. "We are getting many calls still from Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, and other countries. We thus expect to close more export deals soon".

Hwangjin-i, starred in by Ha Ji-Won, tells of the dynamic life of Hwangjin, a legendary kisaeng in the Joseon period. Stunning and elegant traditional Korean costumes, including Hanbok, and the beautiful sceneries in Korea, are attracti...| More

New drama Hwangjin-i demonstrates impact of 'Cultural Archetype Syndrome'

Source | 2006/09/28 | Permalink |

Making full use of the 'Kisaeng culture in the Joseon period', 'traditional accessories', and the 'drinking culture'

KBS's new Wednesday and Thursday drama, "Hwangjin-i" (written by Yoon Seon-joo and directed by Kim Cheol-gyoo), hosted by Ha Ji-Won, which is scheduled to be broadcast starting Oct. 11, will use the outcome of the 'Cultural Archetype Digital Contents Program' (hereinafter referred to as 'Cultural Archetype Contents'), which is being implemented by the Korea Culture and Content Agency (KOCCA, CEO: Suh-Byung-Moon).

Hwangjin sheds light on Hwangjin, a famous kisaeng (a barmaid in the Joseon period), as a woman. The drama is already attracting many people's attention due to Ha's splendid costumes and accessories.

Olive Nine, the drama's production company, announced that it is using for its references cultural archetype contents such as Digital Content Development of the Kisaeng Culture in the Joseon Period (Korea National Open University), Korean Traditional Access...| More