Sungkyunkwan Scandal - 2010 KBS2 Drama
Another one great Korean Drama I've watched. After finishing a long and
tiring MBC-Dong Yi, I landed on a Korean historical drama that I think
it's shorter and lighter than the previous. But it's really surprised
me, yes it's shorter, and lighter but not as light as I thought. It's
deep, entertaining, hilarious, yet fascinating historical drama I have
ever watched. With many beautiful and candy-eyes actors which
surprisingly have a great acting.
Sungkyunkwan Scandal, maybe
it's not the best drama of the year (2010), but I think it will be the
most memorable drama I've ever watched. There is only one that make me
disappointed, it's too short. Only 20 episodes and I feel it's not
enough, I can take another 10 or 15, or make it 20 more episodes :)
Directed
by Mr. Kim Won-seok, Screenplay by Ms. Kim Tae-heui and based on the
novel by Jung Eun-gwol "The Lives of Sungkyunkwan Confucian Scholars 1
& 2" a drama of love, dream and hope begins.
Related Links
Historical Background
During the reign of King Jeongjo the 22nd ruler of the Joseon dynasty
of Korea. About three years before Hwaseong Fortress was built. King
Jeongjo son of Crown Prince Sado, who was put to death by his own
father, King Yeongjo (21st Joseon ruler). Jeongjo wanted to find the
Geum Deung Ji Sa, a letter by King Yeongjo which stated his grief about
the death of Crown Prince Sado and people behind his death.
Sungkyunkwan
is a University in Korea that has a long history. Established in 1398
and had a motto : "Humanity, Righteousness, Propriety, and Wisdom"
which reflects the basic spirit of Confucianism. In that time,
Sungkyunkwan was more than a college, it's a site of political feuds
where only limited people could enjoy it. People who graduated from
Sungkyunkwan would become government officials and only men from noble
families allowed to study there.
Sungkyunkwan Scandal
A drama set in Sungkyunkwan University during the reign of King
Jeongjo. I think it's about the year 1791. These four young people met
each other and learned about friendship, love, dream, hope, and life
itself.
First, there is Kim Yoon Hee, a smart and brave girl
from a poor family. She has to pretend as a boy, yes it's another girl
in boy's disguise like Coffee Prince, You're Beautiful, and Painter of
the Wind. Yoon Hee did this to get a life. She lost her father when she
was only 12 years old, with sick younger brother who needs medication
and helpless mom, Yoon Hee is the only hope in the family. So she picks
up the transcription jobs from a book-store owner Mr. Hwang. Not only
transcribing, she sometimes also become a surrogate attendee in a civil
exam in Sungkyunkwan University. Yoon Hee did anything to maintain her
family. Even risk her own life.
And then, she met Lee Sun Joon,
the arrogant and upright man from the first class family, not just a
mere rich family, but the only son of the Left State Minister Lee. Who
intrigued with her boldness and her statement that challenged his mind.
One statement that Lee Sun Joon will never imagine before, when Yoon
Hee said : I don't think that Joseon is such a great nation. For Lee
Sun joon's point of view, Joseon is a great one. But from Yoon Hee's,
Joseon is a country which never treated its people fairly, not for a
woman and Namin (A weak political faction) like her. Lee Sun Joon
recognized her talent and made Yoon Hee enter the Sungkyunkwan
University as a student.
There, she met with another two leading
roles. Gu Yong Ha, the playboy and cynical student who always wears
fancy and lavish materials to cover his real background, and Moon Jae
Shin, the youngest son of Chief Inspector Moon who is a rebel but actually
it's just a mask behind his anger and hopeless heart.
Kim Yoon
Hee, disguised as a man under her brother's name Kim Yoon Shik and
start to venture the Sungkyunkwan and she could die if she is caught,
because at that time, there was a strict rule in society about man and
woman.
The casts
All of the casts in Sungkyunkwan Scandal are beautiful. Not just the
main casts, even the antagonist and supporting casts are beautiful too.
And each character seems to grow and develop throughout the drama. Not
a single character is put there for nothing.
Kim Yoon Hee (nickname : Daemul), played brilliantly by Park Min Young.
Lee Sun Joon (nickname : Garang), played by Micky Yoo Chun, he's a singer and this is his first drama and surprisingly, he's great in it.
Moon Jae Shin (nickname : Geol-oh), played by Yoo Ah In (He's so great and I believe he will be a first class Korean actor)
Gu
Yong Ha (nickname : Yeorim), played by Song Joong Ki (He played the most interesting
character in this drama, you have to see yourself. And Song Joong Ki
has done very well.)
And the evil student President Ha In soo, played by the rising star Jun Tae soo.
Supporting casts that really have big influences in the drama
King
Jeongjo, played by Cho Sung Ha who has talent to portray the fatherly
King and the King who trust and love his people. He's so charming.
Prof Jung Yak Yong, played by Ahn Nae Sang.
Jung
Yak Yong was a real person and the architect of Hwaseong fortress. He
adopted Silhak or western learning, that's why he defended Kim Yoon Hee
when she found out to be a girl. He believed that people are equal and
have the same right to pursue knowledge.
Left State Minister Lee, played by Kim Gab Soo
War Minister Ha, played by Lee Jae Yong
Chief Inspector Moon, played by Choi Dong Joon.
And Cho Sun, played by Kim Min Seo
Main Casts
Click thumbnail to view full-sizeSupporting Casts
Click thumbnail to view full-sizeWhat I love about the drama
1. The line
The script is awesome. For me, who just depend on the
English sub and not understand Korean, the lines are awesome. I can't
imagine how beautiful the real lines were in their own language.
For
instance, What Sun Joon's told Yoon Hee : "If it is a miracle you need,
then I will make one." It's a promise from Lee Sun Joon that there is
hope for her.
Sun joon's line in Ep 18 when he asked forgiveness
from Yoon Hee : "I wanted your forgiveness. In order to buy medicine
for your sick brother, you dressed up as a male to find work in the
marketplace in place of your father. I wanted to beg forgiveness for
those cold and hungry and lonely times. Oblivious to your hard times, I
was reading in a warm room, and I cannot forgive myself for that. I
want to say I’m sorry. If I could, I would turn back time and give you
everything that I had. So I wanted to ask you to forgive me."
Sun
joon's line in Ep 19 when he answered his dad : "I'm just taking the
path you taught me Father. Seek not of personal gain, but pursue
justice. Gain friends through loyalty. Do not hesitate to sacrifice
even one's own life, for righteousness' sake. This is the mark of a
great and noble man."
Moon Jae shin's line when he advised Bok
Soo (a petty thief) : "Eavesdropping can become a habit, as can running
away. Little brothers watch their older brothers from behind and follow
in their ways. Do you want your little brother become a petty thief
too? You still has the chance to live as a decent human being."
And
Gu Yong Ha's line when he complained about the student President who
broke Sungkyunkwan's law by brought soldiers inside the campus and his
confession that he's not a real nobleman : "I am not a noble. My family
came from a long line of merchants. I never had a grandfather who
served as an official of the Ministry of Justice and Punishment. My
father wanted to give his son a noble family’s privileges and bought a
noble’s genealogy. To be precise, he bought the pretense of a noble.
The person you see before your eyes is that person. The reason why we
are here is to set up a student protest for the offense of the Ministry
of War and clear Lee Sun Joon. I’m going to pass on the work I was
going to do to Kim Yoon Shik. The reason why I don’t have the right
isn’t because I’m not a noble, but because I am ashamed of myself. So
from now on, I don’t want to live like that. I'm telling you now that
your threats won't work on me anymore, Ha In soo. This is Sungkyunkwan,
and I am Gu Yong Ha."
and so many other poignant and brilliant
lines. I know, you perhaps don't understand what's all about, so just
watch the episode and you'll know.
2. The friendship and understanding among friends.
All
the main four characters are very different. They are divided by
political factions, family backgrounds, and mindsets. Sun Joon is from
Noron Byeokpa family, Yoon Hee from Namin faction family, Moon Jae Shin
is a son of Soron and worse, whose big-brother was killed by the Noron
and Gu Yong Ha who is not belong to any faction.
But they are
develop their friendship throughout the drama. How Sun Joon defends Kim
Yoon Shik and Jae Shin, how Jae Shin begs his father to save Sun Joon,
how Yong Ha defend Sun Joon, and how Sun Joon begs his father to save
Kim Yoon Shik. It's very touching. All of them portray a loyal and
trust to their buddy.
3. Father and child relationship.
Most of the characters had a
misunderstanding time with their fathers, but they're all had their
reconciliation. I think the relation between father and son or daughter
is become the main-theme of this drama.
Like one in Ep. 18, when
Yoon Hee told her brother Yoon shik that whenever Father taught you, my
place was always outside (in their cold porch). And her brother said :
"But, sister, do you not know? Father always read in the loudest voice
he could, right in front of the door. I never understood a word of the
difficult texts he read to me, because Father, he was really reading to
you."
And Yoon Hee's dad voice over : "It pains me to see my
daughter’s knowledge flourish. As a teacher, the child’s talent should
fill my heart with joy. But for a daughter who has no possibility of
progressing in this world, is it right to teach her such ambition and
passion? As the helpless father who is unable to give his prodigious
child that opportunity, holding my breath as I listen to the voice of
my daughter reading, I can only weep silently in my heart" That scene
and the revelation that unfold is the essence of this drama, how a
woman in that time has to struggle in a society for recognition.
4. The humor
I
really love how Korean put the humors in this drama. All the bed-scenes
humors are the best. Not that kind of "bed-scene", but the scenes are
like these :
a. It's Yoon hee's first night in the dormitory full of
men and she found out that she had to share her bedroom with two other
guys, Sun Joon and Jae shin. So, Yoon Hee had to sleep with her dagger
in her hand :)
b. The first time when Jae shin realized that Kim
Yoon Shik was a girl. He got his hiccup-panic attack (His hiccup is
really uncontrollable, cute guy.).
c. Jae Shin tried so hard to put Yoon Hee away from Sun Joon.
d.
Both men finally knew the real gender of Kim Yoon Shik and engaged in a
bed-fight for Kim Yoon Shik and interrupted or saved by Gu Yong Ha (ep
16). It's hilarious.
5. The dream and hope
First, it's the late Crown Prince Sado's dream and soon become King
Jeongjo's dream. And the King passed his dream to the four youngmen,
who were idealistic, smart, loyal, and brave to start a new Joseon, a
place of hope for his people. Because the King was so in love with his
people, including the Noron. A dream about a place that won't divided
his people by nobility, by political background, by their wealth, etc A
place of harmony like what Sungkyunkwan literally means "an institution
for building a harmonious society of perfected human beings".
It's a worth drama to watch, beside their story, their breathtaking
cinematography, and their music scores, this is really unforgettable
drama.
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