About 500 years ago during the time of Chosun Dynasty, Korea boasted a rigidly hierarchical and male dominated social structure. Set in this period, "Jewel in the Palace" is based on a true story about a legendary girl named Jang-Geum who became the first woman to be the supreme royal physician of her times.
Despite her poor condition as a low class girl in the male dominated society, Jang-Geum overcame a series of social discrimination and landed herself as a royal cook, later becoming the royal physician, then ultimately the physician in charge of the king.
She was even given by the king the title "The Great Jang-Geum"
AWARDS
Year | Award | Category | Recipient |
2003 | MBC Drama Awards | Grand Prize/Daesang | Lee Young-ae |
2003 | MBC Drama Awards | Top Excellence Award, Actress | Lee Young-ae |
2003 | MBC Drama Awards | Special Acting Award | Yang Mi-kyung |
2003 | MBC Drama Awards | Special Acting Award | Lim Hyun-sik |
2003 | MBC Drama Awards | Best Screenplay | Kim Young-hyun |
2004 | Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Director (TV) | Lee Byung-hoon |
2004 | Baeksang Arts Awards | Most Popular Actress (TV) | Yang Mi-kyung |