Jejungwon (TV series)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jejungwon
Promotional poster
Also known as
  • Jejoongwon
  • Jejungwon The Hospital
Genre
Written byLee Ki-won
Directed byHong Chang-wook
Starring
Country of originSouth Korea
Original languageKorean
No. of episodes36
Production
Executive producerKim Young Sub
Running time60 minutes
Production companiesKim Jong-hak Production
My Name Is Entertainment
Original release
NetworkSeoul Broadcasting System
Release4 January (2010-01-04) –
4 May 2010 (2010-05-04)

Jejungwon (Korean: 제중원; Hanja: 濟眾院) is a 2010 South Korean period medical drama television series about the founding and early years of Jejungwon, the first modern Western hospital in the Joseon Dynasty.[1] The hospital was founded in 1885 and began accepting a small class of students for training in Western medicine.

Starring Park Yong-woo, Han Hye-jin and Yeon Jung-hoon, the series aired on SBS from January 4 to May 4, 2010 on Mondays and Tuesdays at 21:55 for 36 episodes.[2][3][4]

Plot[edit]

Jejungwon (originally known as Gwanghyewon, or "House of Extended Grace"; the name was later changed to Jejungwon and then Severance Hospital after a major donor) was established in 1885 by Emperor Gojong at the suggestion of Horace Newton Allen, one of the newly arrived American medical missionaries. The first modern Western hospital in the Kingdom of Joseon, Jejungwon is documented as treating sick people regardless of their economic status, despite the hierarchical society of the era.[5]

With Allen as its first hospital director, Jejungwon accepted 16 students for medical training. The series follows their training and careers.

Characters[edit]

  • Hwang Jung was born to a family of butchers. Considered the lowest social rank in Joseon, along with gravediggers and executioners, butchers were not allowed to have family names. Hwang Jung is initially called "Little Dog."[6] Expected to become a butcher like his father before him, Hwang Jung is intelligent and literate, and dreams of becoming something more. The death of his mother, who was unable to get treatment because of her low social status, drives him to pursue Western medicine. He worked first as a groundskeeper at the hospital before becoming a student there. He works his way up to become Joseon's first surgeon and one of the country's premier doctors. He later joined the independence movement, while continuing work as a physician. (Hwang Jung is based on real-life historical figure Park Seo-yang.[7])
  • Baek Do-yang is a bright and ambitious nobleman, the only son of the Minister of Justice. His father is adamant that he enter the civil service, and he performs as the top student at the royal academy. But Do-yang is fascinated by Western medicine, and secretly reads all the medical books he can. He decides to give up his enviable social status and studies medicine at Jejungwon, where he enters into an intense rivalry with Hwang Jung.
  • Yoo Seok-ran is a modern woman in her era. She was born to wealthy parents (her father is a court interpreter and merchant) who permitted her to be educated, unlike most young women of her class. She becomes fluent in English and dresses in Western clothing. While working at Jejungwon as Allen's interpreter, she is drawn to Hwang Jung. But she is engaged to Baek Do-yangm whom she's known since childhood. Under Lilias Horton's mentorship, Seok-ran studies to become Joseon's first female doctor in Western medicine.

As modern medical science clashes with old practices in turn of the century Korea, the personal and professional challenges of Jejungwon's doctors take place against the historical and social turbulence of the times.

Cast[edit]

International broadcast[edit]

It aired in Thailand on Channel 3 beginning May 20, 2012, dubbed as Jejungwon Tảnān phæthy̒ h̄æ̀ng Joseon. ("เจจุงวอน ตำนานแพทย์แห่งโชซอน", literally: Jejungwon: Legendary Doctor of Joseon).[12]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Kang, Hye-ran (14 January 2010). "Historical drama concocts formula for success". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  2. ^ Oh, Jean (4 January 2010). "Six dramas revamping 2010 lineup". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  3. ^ Park, Sun-young (7 January 2010). "Korean networks serve up a smorgasbord of dramas". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  4. ^ Kang, Myoung-seok (6 January 2010). "Actors save lives on set of TV series Jejungwon". 10Asia. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  5. ^ Han, Sang-hee (29 December 2009). "TV Dramas to Look Forward to in 2010". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  6. ^ "Jejoongwon (Part 1): The history". Thundie's Prattle. 26 May 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  7. ^ "A tribute to Jejoongwon". Electric Ground. 15 March 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  8. ^ "Han Hye-jin Embraces Challenge of Historical Role". The Chosun Ilbo. 6 February 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  9. ^ Han, Sang-hee (5 January 2010). "Heroines Line Up for Dramas in 2010". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  10. ^ Kim, Hee-sung (18 March 2010). "New faces to widen the scope of Hallyu dramas". Korea.net. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  11. ^ Han, Sang-hee (13 April 2010). "Korean-American Actor Ricky Kim Follows His Heart". The Korea Times. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  12. ^ "ซีรีส์ช่อง3เก่า เจจุงวอน ตำนานแพทย์แห่งโชซอน (รีรัน)". Channel 3. 14 November 2015. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Thai: ภาษาไทย

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jejungwon_(TV_series)&oldid=1219010288"