Dae Jang Geum watch: Lee Young-ae agrees, October goal set

82 March 29, 2014April 30, 2014

Dae Jang Geum watch: Lee Young-ae agrees, October goal set

by javabeans

So MBC has had a decade-long fixation—nay, obsession—with reviving its onetime smash hit drama Dae Jang Geum (aka Jewel in the Palace), which had monster ratings and got exported to something like 60+ foreign countries and was on the frontlines of promoting Hallyu 1.0. They have clung and clung and clung to the idea, and may perhaps finally be close to getting it realized. They’ve set October as their goal date and finally persuaded Lee Young-ae to reprise her role as Jang-geum, Joseon’s famed first woman royal doctor.

MBC’s Dae Jang Geum saga is a little bit on this side of crazy (or okay, a LOT on this side of crazy) not because Dae Jang Geum is unworthy of the praise, but because it is just one drama in a sea of thousands, and it’s always been quite curious how virulent their attachment to this one seemed to be. Not only has it bent over backwards (and around and sideways) to get it on the schedule (time and time again), it has torpedoed other promising projects to make room for it, which seems a bit self-destructive. But I can never profess to understand anything going on in the brains of MBC executives.

You can read some of the recent shake-ups in our recent posts about it, or you can skim the timeline below. Maybe this time the production will stick? Based on history, though, I’d say don’t hold your breath.

With that said, here’s the story thus far:

September 30, 2005, 9:10 a.m.

“They’re making Dae Jang Geum 2, to star Jung Yumi, China reports”

“It appears that Jung Yumi will confirm taking the leading role in Dae Jang Geum 2.”

[Source: My Daily]

September 30, 2005, 11:47 a.m.

“PD Lee Byung-hoon: ‘I’m directing Dae Jang Geum 2? That’s news to me!'”

“PD Lee Byung-hoon denied all production rumors made in the Chinese media on the 29th about a Dae Jang Geum 2.”

“Currently, there are no plans at all [to make a sequel].”

[Source: Star News]

November 15, 2005

“According to Chinese media, will push for Dae Jang Geum 2 as co-production”

“China’s Hunan Satellite TV will negotiate with MBC to co-produce Dae Jang Geum 2, a paper in Shanghai reported on the 13th.”

[Source: My Daily ]

January 29, 2009

“PD Lee Byung-hoon: ‘It will be difficult to make a Dae Jang Geum 2.'”

[Source: Herald Biz]

January 31, 2009

“Lee Young-ae’s manager enraged: ‘Dae Jang Geum investment scam? I’m the victim'”

“Lee Young-ae’s manager categorically denied suspicions that he was involved in an investment scam regarding Dae Jang Geum 2.”

“A media outlet reported that Mr. Lee dispersed false rumors of Dae Jang Geum 2 being produced in order to receive investment funds and received a summons from the Gangnam Police.”

[Source: E Daily]

February 5, 2009

“Lee Young-ae carefully considering offer of Dae Jang Geum 2 project”

“Lee’s reps said she received the offer, but has not decided anything.”

[Source: Newsen]

February 10, 2009

“PD Lee Byung-hoon: If Dae Jang Geum 2 gets made, I’d like to direct it”

“Personally, I’d like for Dae Jang Geum 2 to get made. … MBC, which holds the copyright, would absolutely need to get Lee Young-ae onboard. If MBC were to push ahead and Lee Young-ae promised to act, the production would move swiftly.”

“MBC says: Dae Jang Geum 2 production is only wishful thinking, nothing is decided. MBC’s drama department has not yet discussed it with PD Lee Byung-hoon.”

[Sources: Star News, My Daily]

June 3, 2009

“Lee Young-ae ultimately declines Dae Jang Geum 2.”

“With Lee’s decision, the project as a whole has fizzled.”

[Source: Mk.co.kr]

November 1, 2011

“‘Sageuk master’ PD Lee Byung-hoon makes comeback next year… will it be Dae Jang Geum 2?”

“The concrete details [of his comeback] have not been announced, but MBC is pushing for Dae Jang Geum 2 as ever, though it remains to be seen whether that will come to pass.”

“One source with MBC said, ‘MBC wants Dae Jang Geum 2 to happen, but there are many obstacles to overcome, including problems with copyright. The probability does not seem very high.'”

[Source: Star News]

May 10, 2012

“Will Lee Young-ae come back with Dae Jang Geum 2? Casting rumors abound.”

“One source with the broadcaster said, ‘There’s a very high possibility that Lee Young-ae will take the title role in Dae Jang Geum 2, which is being planned for a broadcast next year [2013] around September or October.”

[Source: Newsen]

June 27, 2012

“MBC dismissed news of Dae Jang Geum 2 being produced, saying, ‘We have not even heard of that.'”

“Writer Kim Young-hyun says, ‘I have never agreed to the production of Dae Jang Geum 2.’”

“Copyright holder Kim Young-hyun stated that reports of Dae Jang Geum 2′s production were false.”

“Writer Kim said, ‘I don’t know why PD Lee Byung-hoon said what he said, but I think it may be because of investment matters and because there are many people who want for it to happen. I hold the copyright to Dae Jang Geum, but I have complained in the past about being excluded from discussions with MBC regarding Dae Jang Geum 2.”

[Sources: Naeil.com, Sports Seoul]

September 24, 2012

“MBC states, ‘We will make Dae Jang Geum 2 next year.’ Writer Kim Young-hyun says, ‘I have no plans to write it.'”

“Is a sequel impossible without the consent of the writer?”

“For the present, it does not appear that writer Kim intends to change her mind.”

[Source: Hani]

March 30, 2013

“Dae Jang Geum 2 production falls through, what could be more disappointing?”

“Lately word is that MBC has essentially given up on production for Dae Jang Geum 2. They took ambitious steps in the production and scheduling arenas, but realistically it was too difficult and in the end the show has failed to get scheduled.”

[Source: Mk.co.kr]

October 18, 2013

“President Kim of MBC stated on the 18th, ‘We are planning Dae Jang Geum Season 2 and will push for the early half of 2015.'”

October 19, 2013

“Of all the talk about Dae Jang Geum 2, not one has come true.”

“Articles about Lee Young-ae being cast were countered as false, and PD Lee Byung-hoon has never definitively confirmed taking on the project. We don’t even know if Dae Jang Geum 2 will be a remake or a sequel.”

“Despite all that, MBC continues to say this and that about Dae Jang Geum. They made a ten-year anniversary television broadcast, and even took steps toward planning a Dae Jang Geum 2. At this point, we could consider this to be an obsession with Dae Jang Geum. Why can MBC not let go of Dae Jang Geum?”

[Source: Oh My News]

December 30, 2013

“A source with MBC stated on the 30th, ‘We are currently in talks to produce Dae Jang Geum 2. It hasn’t yet been scheduled.”

“At the outset, MBC was in talks to schedule political action sageuk Unprecedented in the slot after Empress Ki. However, as talk of Dae Jang Geum 2 surfaced, it’s a point of interest to see which project will be scheduled first.”

“MBC stated that Unprecedented is currently in pre-production.”

[Source: E Today]

January 7, 2014

“MBC has postponed the production of Unprecedented indefinitely.”

“With Unprecedented being postponed, there is a blank slot in MBC’s Monday-Tuesday lineup in April. A rep stated, ‘We’re discussing what project to put there, but there’s no need to make it strictly a sageuk drama so we’re looking at a variety of genres.'”

“With MBC stating their intent to begin production on Dae Jang Geum 2 in the latter half of 2014, it’s unclear whether Unprecedented will be broadcast. Dae Jang Geum’s original writer Kim Young-hyun is currently writing Unprecedented. However, writer Kim cannot do both projects at the same time, so she has agreed to focus on Dae Jang Geum 2 instead of Unprecedented.”

“With KBS airing Jung Do-jeon, a traditional sageuk drama that deals with the same characters as Unprecedented, MBC has turned its attention to Dae Jang Geum 2.”

“With MBC preparing Dae Jang Geum 2, reps for Lee Young-ae gave the cautious statement that as of yet she is not considering the project in earnest. Nothing has been determined.”

[Sources: Interview 365, Osen]

January 8, 2014

“According to MBC, ‘We have decided to produce Dae Jang Geum 2, but currently we have not decided on producers or concrete details.”

[Source: Newsis]

February 25, 2014

“Even if the MBC president changes, Dae Jang Geum 2 will continue.”

“Recently the Foundation for Broadcast Culture, a major stockholder in MBC, appointed former MBC Plus Media CEO Ahn Gwang-han as its new president, but MBC’s feeling is that this will have no large effect on the Dae Jang Geum 2 project.”

“Currently we are busily working with the goal of getting Lee Young-ae cast.”

[Source: No Cut News]

March 10, 2014

“Dae Jang Geum 2 will probably be broadcast by September at the earliest.”

“But more important than the scheduling, first Lee Young-ae must come on to play the lead role of Jang-geum, and writer Kim Young-hyun and PD Lee Byung-hoon must reteam.”

[Source: Hankooki]

March 21, 2014

“Lee Young-ae has decided to accept the role in Dae Jang Geum 2, marking her return to television for the first time in ten years.”

“Jang-geum will return, this time as the teacher.”

“Lee Young-ae reportedly met with writer Kim Young-hyun and received the synopsis of Dae Jang Geum 2, and was very pleased with it.”

“Dae Jang Geum 2 is aiming for an October broadcast, and plans to begin filming on location in China around July.”

[Source: News1]

March 26, 2014

“Ji Jin-hee: ‘I hear Dae Jang Geum 2 is being made? If I don’t get an offer to come back I’ll probably be sad, but if I do I’ll feel a lot of pressure too.'”

[Source: Sports Seoul]

March 28, 2014

“Regarding the much-talked-about and much-troubled Dae Jang Geum, MBC stated that they will push strongly to broadcast Season 2 in October.”

[Source: No Cut News]

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1 daktari34

March 29, 2014 at 9:14 AM

I wonder how much money they threw at her? ;)

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mary

March 29, 2014 at 9:20 AM

Haha that was my first thought too.

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Ivoire

March 29, 2014 at 10:40 AM

Excellent question...

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Aly

March 29, 2014 at 11:26 AM

LOL that was my first thought too.

They probably offered her a paycheck with a lot of zeros.

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birdscout

March 29, 2014 at 11:16 PM

Isn't she married to a very wealthy husband? I wonder if money was the motivator, or creative artistry?

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KDaddict

March 29, 2014 at 11:37 PM

Even if she is married to a 'wealthy' (not nece Very wealthy) husband, it's always good to have your own bank book w a lot of zeroes. With some husbands, their money is not nece her money.

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nifemi

March 30, 2014 at 12:18 PM

hmmnn, I was thinking more blackmail, it's the most plausible answer to me.

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thefunofit

April 1, 2014 at 6:04 AM

Blackmail - oar at least extortion - is what I suspect happened to writer Kim Young-Hyun. Note how Unprecedented got pushed back, and then she "agreed to focus on Dae Jang Geum 2".

I bet an Anthony and two President Ohs that they told her she'd find MBC difficult to work with henceforth if DJG2 didn't get her name on the dotted line soonish.

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2 Kiara

March 29, 2014 at 9:16 AM

WAE?

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3 Starrynights

March 29, 2014 at 9:18 AM

Well if they dooo happen to go through with this, I hope they recast JI Jin Hee as well :p

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4 lemondoodle

March 29, 2014 at 9:19 AM

I'll believe it when I see it. Still find it unnecessary since the ending was satisfying and the majority of the cast that made the show what it was obviously won't be back.

“Ji Jin-hee: ‘I hear Dae Jang Geum 2 is being made? If I don’t get an offer to come back I’ll probably be sad, but if I do I’ll feel a lot of pressure too.’”

I'll be sad too. Sir Min! <3

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Kiara

March 29, 2014 at 9:37 AM

I'll believe it when I read a confirmation from writer Kim Young-hyun. She never sold the rights to MBC. I'm afraid that she may give in since Unprecedented fell through and she hasn't done a project in almost 3yrs.

Ji Jin-hee is hotter than ever. Too bad she wont even kiss him on-screen.

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sotongpok

March 29, 2014 at 10:02 AM

I'm feeling like they've bullied her into submission by refusing to let her make Unprecedented until after she delivers DJG2. ):

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Kiara

March 30, 2014 at 7:39 AM

I don't get why she went back to MBC. She wrote the amazing "Tree With Deep Roots" for SBS and it did well in ratings.

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JO

April 3, 2014 at 6:22 PM

Aw, I hope Ji Jin Hee will return. Also, I'm tired of modern stuff in sageuks. I like mine without frivolity.

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Kiara

March 29, 2014 at 9:41 AM

Ji Jin-hee is hotter than ever. Too bad she wont kiss him even when its written on the script.

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hohliu

March 29, 2014 at 12:01 PM

Times was different then. Actress do not kiss as easily as they do now. I hope Ji Jin-hee is the main lead again. It will be very sad if the couple is no longer together.

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Kiara

March 30, 2014 at 7:44 AM

True, she thought it was inappropriate but chaste kiss in sageuks has been around way before DJG.

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aX

March 29, 2014 at 1:30 PM

Ji Jin Hee was one of the weakest point for me in the drama. In fact, I loved romantic storylines but I just dreaded theirs...

And I don't know how they can continue with DJG 2. Maybe cast her in another historical drama but a sequel? How? I was pretty content with it...

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lemondoodle

March 29, 2014 at 9:25 PM

Whaaat. He was the perfect man from the first moment he showed up. The "nice guy" who was always there who actually got rewarded in the end. I don't think they had sizzling chemistry (tho it's not really necessary for that type of drama), but I enjoyed their relationship.

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Tha

March 31, 2014 at 1:45 PM

I thought he was the "perfect" hero too. I loved their relationship. True Love should be like theirs. Looking forward to the original OTP once again:) Please be as special as the first!!! One of my favorite k drama of all times:)

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5 kooriyuki

March 29, 2014 at 9:21 AM

Um, wut?

Kudos to javabeans for the effort of digging up all the ancient news regarding Dae Jang Geum 2!

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6 Rachel

March 29, 2014 at 9:21 AM

NOOO.

On a separate note, I do get the feeling that the people involved were as confused as the headlines make all of us feel about the status of a sequel.

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Ivoire

March 29, 2014 at 10:36 AM

About your 2nd comment, you can say that again...

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7 Elianne

March 29, 2014 at 9:27 AM

*sings* ~ "Let it go, let it go!"

Sorry I had to. But even the Frozen craze has nothing on MBC's (some would say insane) fervour for DJG2.

But seriously MBC, stop trying to make DJG2 happen. It's not going to happen.

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windsun33

March 29, 2014 at 11:38 AM

Or even worse - if it does happen, it be an epic fail. Only about 2% of sequels like this ever do nearly as well as the original.

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Chesquared

March 29, 2014 at 5:55 PM

I'm guessing this will be an epic fail indeed. Sagueks aren't as popular as there were back in the day. I'm just hoping that MBC doesn't invest too much money into this that IF it does fail the poor cast & crew are left with scars and empty pockets.

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Shelly

January 16, 2015 at 8:22 AM

Not with Jang Geum. Im sure those who religiously watched it before will come again to support it. And I think its fanbase has multiplied during more than a decade. I watched it before on tv every night and just this month, I watched it from episode 1 until the final one. And Im dying to see its sequel.

To those who say Lee Young Ae and Ji Jin Hee don't have chemistry, curse you, man! Don't you have a heart? Even the most insensitive person will feel his heart pound when he encounters this beautiful, perfectly-matched loveteam.

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AnneAkemi

March 30, 2014 at 12:36 AM

I have to agree... will this type of storyline be as popular now as it was back when it first aired? Since then, there have been so many other sagueks with similar storylines and now DJG isn't as original as it was before. I think people's expectations will be so high...

And lately, I feel the writing in MBC sageuks has been disappointing. In both Empress Ki and The King's Daughter, both dramas seemed have bad pacing and the storylines tended to lag in the middle and then go too fast at the end. In addition, Jung Yi Goddess of Fire and even Horse Doctor were not as strong in their storylines either (despite having a talented cast).

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gg

March 29, 2014 at 11:22 PM

Seriously MBC, it's time to let go and move on. Most sequels end up being a flop, and it's no good trying to copy and paste a once successful model from the past.. they need to move on and experiment with new things.

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8 PeepsLeAwesomePotato

March 29, 2014 at 9:30 AM

Only after reading that long list of Dae Jang Geum related headlines do I finally comprehend the extent of MBC's obsession.

I've never even watched Dae Jang Geum 1 before (only heard of kids calling the drama ' big toilet paper' because it's chinese title sounds similar to it ). A Mo Il Hwa facepalm gif would be appropriate... Right about now.

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sotongpok

March 29, 2014 at 10:07 AM

My dad used to call it "Big Long Today", which is what you get if you transliterate its Chinese title. xD

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ilikehim

March 29, 2014 at 3:11 PM

In our family, we called it "Big Long Needle" in Cantonese. xD

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echo

March 30, 2014 at 2:30 PM

wasn't Big Long Needle the name used for the spoofs they made to poke fun at the show in skits they do at least for tvb the tv station.

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9 moondust

March 29, 2014 at 9:43 AM

Wow. Thanks for consolidating such a lengthy timeline!

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10 Coolrepublica

March 29, 2014 at 9:45 AM

I tries to watch this drama on 3 different occasions over three years and each time I stop at episode 2 and couldn't make it further. So people who have seen it can you tell me the best part to start watching. I do t want to do 1 and 2 again and I am afraid episode 3 will be as boring.

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lemondoodle

March 29, 2014 at 9:58 AM

Well, I liked the whole drama , but the adult story starts at episode 5 or 6. Maybe try there.

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KDaddict

March 29, 2014 at 11:43 PM

I liked the show well enough, but I think it'd have been a better series if they cut out about 1/3 of the eps in the middle. They just dragged it out cos it had monster ratings, adding one hoop after another for the lead char to jump thru. After a while it got really tiresome. But then if you can get thru ep 2, then this probably isn't your bag of chips.

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11 saranga

March 29, 2014 at 9:49 AM

kind of makes you wonder if this sequel truly has the potential, if lee young-ae has agreed to sign on. i don't think she'd need the (presumably obscene) amount of money they're offering her, but i should think if this goes badly, it'd only tarnish the uber-burnished image she currently has due to the original DJG.

the only way she could win, in my opinion, is if the sequel does even better than the original. and given how sequels have performed in the past, it seems risky. sequels tend to flounder, but then again, i can't seem to recall a case where the original star was brought back for a true sequel. kim nam-joo did queen of reversals, but that wasn't a real sequel.

but really, they should let sleeping dogs lie, for all parties involved.

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lemondoodle

March 29, 2014 at 10:09 AM

Maybe she just finally gave in because they won't leave her alone. :D Even if this drama does really well, it's impossible for it to do better than the original.

Seriously wonder why they don't just write a new sageuk drama for Lee Young Ae to star in. People would watch it for sure and it wouldn't be compared it to a classic.

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arzu

March 29, 2014 at 10:56 AM

I think that , too. I hope it won't ruin her image.

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12 sotongpok

March 29, 2014 at 10:00 AM

MBC and Dae Jang Geum 2's relationship status: It's complicated

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13 rainerust

March 29, 2014 at 10:02 AM

I dunno. I think it seems really risky? And given its track record I'd be really surprised if MBC manages to get DJG up and running. I've never been able to get through any drama series beyond 30 plus episodes (not even Jumong which I freaking loved, or Smile, You!) so never watched the original DJG despite hearing how awesome it was. If a sequel happens though I'd be interested in seeing how it turns out.

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14 Aida

March 29, 2014 at 10:32 AM

I remember watching an episode when it aired in the Middle East but back then I was too young to pay attention to a sageuk so I never really watched it...but now that a season 2 is going to air I kinda have an urge to watch them back to back...but is it worth it?

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15 Mandy

March 29, 2014 at 10:37 AM

Instead of a sequel, I vote for MBC to do a drama that reveals the behind the scene drama while they try to pursue the sequel to this drama over the past decade. I would watch that, and it wouldn't even be compared to the original.

Plus... Everyone would be far more interested in seeing how far they went and still haven't got this underway.

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Shadow-chan

March 29, 2014 at 11:47 AM

That's an awesome idea!

Unfortunately very unrealistic, but awesome! :D

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john

March 29, 2014 at 12:59 PM

Do it either as a documentary or a mockumentary , as The Rutles was done as a spoof on The Beatles.

Either format would be interesting.

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thursdaynexxt

March 30, 2014 at 1:23 AM

Yes, or like Johnny Depp's Lost in La Mancha, where they started filming but couldn't finish it, so they decided to use the bits and bobs and BTS to make a doco.

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John

March 30, 2014 at 3:49 AM

Kim Myung-min as Anthony Kim in: (Dramatic music ) The Making of Dae Jang Geum Part II.

Tonight we take you behind the scenes..

16 windsun33

March 29, 2014 at 11:44 AM

While it may have had huge ratings then, that was then - this is now. Times change and people move on to new stuff. All except MBC apparently.

It was new and fresh back then - but now, well.. not so much.

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17 Stephanie

March 29, 2014 at 11:50 AM

MBC's ten year obsession will go down in history. And javabeans just collated everything IN ENGLISH for the younger gen to see.

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18 fab

March 29, 2014 at 11:57 AM

ARGH, my heart bleeds for DJG and LYA! WTH MBC, get over it, it was one of a kind gem, don't ruin it.
It was one of the dramas that made me fall for kdrama, I have only watched it(twice) in my native language and and not in Korean LOL, and I like it to stay that way...

It seems that LYA wants to make a comeback but MBC is holding her back. I mean she is not obligated to participate in a DJG sequel or whatever. Right??

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Kiara

March 29, 2014 at 12:29 PM

I found it flipping through cable channels and it became a must watch for my whole family. Every night we would watch it together but I'd cheat and watch it ahead online lol. So many good memories and that was the drama that got me addicted to K-dramas, especially sageuks. Thanks to DJG I also found Dramabeans <3.
A gem yes :). Best sageuk I've ever seen? no. For me its not going to be the same, original casts or not so I prefer if they leave it alone.

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19 mudaepo

March 29, 2014 at 12:11 PM

I knew Dae Jang Geum had a lot of success outside Korea but was it that much of a big deal domestically? I don't get MBC's obsession: I seem to remember Huh Joon having similar ratings and when they decided to remake it last year it wasn't such a triumph.

Story wise, there isn't anything left to be told, the original already had a nice ending that showed Jan Geum's progress as a doctor. Nobody is going to turn on their tvs just to see Lee Young Ae perform surgeries during 50 episodes.

By the way, my favourite character was actually the "villain" Geum Yong. I didn't see the actress playing her in any drama since Dae Jang Geum, anyone know what happened to her? She had such a sad storyline, I remember crying so badly when she was finally exiled. :'(

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Kiara

March 29, 2014 at 12:54 PM

Nope, Heo Joon was much bigger domestically (HJ 63% and DJG 57%). Time has changed, we have the internet now and that doesn't count for any of the ratings.
I watched the latest Heo Joon remake and it was surprising good imo but not as good as the 2000 version.

Lol my favorite was Lady Choi, one of the most hated villain in the history of K-drama. I thought Kyun Mi Ri was amazing, more than the angelic Lee Young-ae.

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Kiara

March 29, 2014 at 1:11 PM

Sorry I meant yes it was a success domestically but it wasn't the highest rating drama of all time.

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lemondoodle

March 29, 2014 at 1:24 PM

Kyun Mi Ri was amazing! I always cursed Lady Choi, but when she died late the the show I thought it lost it's spark. Just wasn't the same without her hateful complicated self. I was actually upset once their story was over with we never got to hear about what happened to Guem Young and the final episodes were about the stupid king. That's why I have no interest in a sequel. It peaked a few episodes before the ending already. No reason for more tbh.

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windsun33

March 29, 2014 at 1:26 PM

I once made the mistake myself of comparing "old" ratings with what is here now, when I stated that drama-xx had huge ratings. It was pointed out to me that the drama I referred to was from 2005, and there was very little competition, and that it was pretty common for dramas to be in the 40-60% range at that time. Not always because they were good, but because there was not much choice.

As a popular country song from a few years back said.. ".. here I go down that wrong road again..."

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Hagar

March 29, 2014 at 7:41 PM

Kyun Mi Ri was one of the reasons I got addicted to the show. and Now I'm a huge fan of her daughter Lee Yoobi

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Kiara

March 29, 2014 at 8:05 PM

Same :).

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20 maknaee

March 29, 2014 at 12:20 PM

If DJG2 will truly come true, I wish it'll turn out to be great - have a good story, plot, cast, ending, ratings, etc.

I'm just afraid that this sequel, this years obsession, turn out to be a flop drama. Such a waste. Heee

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21 msbing

March 29, 2014 at 4:00 PM

I can see some reason behind the obsession of MBC. Dae jang geum was the first South Korean drama that was aired on Hungarian television, about 7 years ago, and since then only Dong Yi and The Great Queen Seondeok made it to Hungarian airwaves ... oh, and Pasta last year (don't ask me why that...).

Dae Jang Geum was such a success, that it was always on air since then... seriously, we have max. 5 national channells and for years there was no week when you couldn't watch it (or Dong Yi) on one of them.

So I would say (considering the distance in both culture and history between Korea and Hungary), if it was such a tremendous success here, the profit it has made for MBC must be beyond our immagination...

Unfortunatelly the last run of any of the three mentioned above was in December... now commenters are entertaining each other with 5 line recaps of Lady Ki on the DJG page forum of the Hungarian film database and uploading random screencaps of hands in saeguks (and you have to guess who's hand it is...) some people became seriously addicted to saeguk here...

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risa

March 29, 2014 at 11:07 PM

Dae Jang Geum was such a success, that it was always on air since then… seriously, we have max. 5 national channells and for years there was no week when you couldn’t watch it (or Dong Yi) on one of them.

Wow-- that's kinda mind-blowing. And it's amazing that other dramas weren't added to the mix apart from Pasta.

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22 Kit

March 29, 2014 at 4:11 PM

If DJG is truly happening, I want it to be loyal to what has already been set in the previous drama ........... aka if there's no Sir Min I'm going to be super disappointed. Not just because of the romance angle either, but because the last ten episodes or so really showed how they worked as a team to really brighten the futures of people together. As a married couple, they should be running the show together, even if like in the prequel he was in the background as her most loyal supporter.

Okay maybe I just really shipped them. Fine.

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23 woolieeelaala

March 29, 2014 at 5:08 PM

omg no. just leave the masterpiece at it is.

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24 spazzy06

March 29, 2014 at 5:51 PM

I can't believe Lee Young Ae finally agree to this.

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25 emma

March 29, 2014 at 6:03 PM

i am horridly afraid of sequels bcos i hardly see any sequels surpassing the predecessor.

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windsun33

March 29, 2014 at 7:42 PM

And not just that often the sequels just are not as good, but peoples tastes have changed, there is a lot more competition, and a lot more saeguks have come and gone.

But mostly, the story was pretty much wrapped up in the original - I really don't see what they could add to make it better or even worth watching. This may be MBC's "Red Dawn" if it goes through.

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26 Hagar

March 29, 2014 at 7:36 PM

I loved Dae Jang Geum so much and I got even my parents addicted to it when it was airing in Egypt but I don't understand them wanting a sequel so bad. Like, Why???

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27 Kim Yoonmi

March 29, 2014 at 7:54 PM

Dae Jang Geum. May turn out to be Jakeun Geum... I already made that joke before...

But seriously. I will watch, but the Historical accuracy will be questionable...

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Kiara

March 30, 2014 at 7:51 AM

The original was far from historically accurate to begin with.

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28 byuldreamer

March 29, 2014 at 10:58 PM

Why not make a fresh story instead of drawing out the same old?? too much stretching is NOT good..when will they get it?

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29 Viki

March 30, 2014 at 12:32 AM

This makes YG's delays look like nothing...

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30 Starstruck.

March 30, 2014 at 2:18 AM

Hmm...if they're going to have a Dae Jang Geum, then can we have a Goong 2 please? (No, I do not count Goong S as a sequel to Goong)

Realistically speaking, Goong 2 actually has more story to flesh out as compared to DJG. I mean c'mon, we can see Lee Yoon Ji rule as Queen, Yoon Eun Hye and Joo Ji Hoon raising their kid while he/she breaks all the palace rules. And then maybe we can throw in a loveline for Lady Choi...

Ok sorry, despite the messy palace politics, I really loved Goong as much as i loved DJG. I do remember Goong being quite 'big' across Asia too, but prolly not as big as DJG.

On the bright side, even if DJG does not do as well, we get to see the lovely Lee Young Ae on screen again! She ages so well, just like fine wine.

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Kim Yoonmi

March 30, 2014 at 12:01 PM

Goong also deviated a lot from its manhwa story... but I think it did it in a better way since Goong manhwa had the traditional Korean ending which leaves a sour taste in Westerner's mouths...

Anyway, if they were to continue with a true Goong 2, which they probably won't because of JJH... it's likely they would find a way to make the manhwa ending true, in which case everyone would hate the story.

So, uhh... I'd vote no.

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31 niKai

March 30, 2014 at 4:33 AM

I actually anticipate this one. If only to satisfy my curiosity. If it's awesome, even better. I hope it gets through.

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32 korfan

March 30, 2014 at 7:08 AM

Oh, this is interesting news.

I fondly remember this drama as it was the first sageuk to capture my attention.

I'm unsure about a sequel though. ...... I'm wondering what the story's focus would be. ...... I'm the first to admit my knowledge of Korean history is limited but I wonder if something new in her story (after she became the royal doctor) has been discovered by historians/researchers and this is what this new drama will focus on.

Who knows, maybe we'll be pleasantly surprised.

I have to say though, if Lee Young-ae is going to reprise her role, you have to have Ji Jin-hee reprise his.

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Kim Yoonmi

March 30, 2014 at 12:04 PM

No. That was the true end of the story.

The original history says that the drama probably combined three women to make the story possible in the first place.

Second, we know for a fact that after a palace maid lost her virginity, she would not have been pardoned at all. She's likely to die. She's married to the King no matter what. her having a child would seriously ruin that.

I outlined a bit more on why the previous post DB did on this show.

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Kiara

March 30, 2014 at 4:37 PM

There wasn't much written in history about Dae Jang Geum. The king and most of the high rank officials and court ladies existed in history. Ji Jin-hee's character did not have a romantic relation with Dae Jang Geum nor did they ever marry. That was pretty much a fan service by the writer. Like Kim Yoonmi mentioned, she was a palace maid/doctor and therefore she was the king's woman.

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korfan

March 30, 2014 at 9:09 PM

Kim Yoonmi & Kiara -

Exactly. ....... While I haven't personally consulted credible sources on the matter, from what I have heard and learned over time, it was always my impression that what we saw was the end.

As for the artistic liberties that are taken at the expense of historical accuracy, well, it's almost a given nowadays. Understandable.

Thanks for responding! Much appreciated.

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33 Seohaseurri22

March 30, 2014 at 6:52 PM

Tell me, will they gonna retell the original story, or will they create another story plot after the original drama? Whatever the means, it's still a nay decision.

Come on, the original drama has already ended enough and...that's it. We have now already moved on for ten years. What additional story plot should they need to introduce for the sequel, ha??