Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Bae Yong Jun -- The Legend

I would like to share with you all a historical Korean TV drama. It is "The Legend" and it is the Korean blockbuster. The production cost of this drama was estimated 45 billion won and the drama production was lasted for 1 year and 9 months. This TV drama is from the year 2007 with 24 episodes, with the leading role of Bae Yong Jun and co-starring with Lee Ji-ah (from Beethoven's Virus and IRIS), Moon So-ri, and Choi Min-soo.

The story is loosely based on the legend of Dangun and Gwanggaeto the Great of Goguryeo. The story also adds mythical elements of the Four Symbols depicted in fantasy form as the four guardians who serve the king of Jyushin. The addition of fantasy to a Korean historical drama (사극) makes this series unique and distinguishes itself from its predecessors in Korean television series. The characters also speak in a modernized Korean language which marks a departure from a typical historical drama.


Title        : The Legend / 태왕사신기 / 太王四神記 / The Story of the First King's Four Gods
Genre      : Drama, Historical / Fantasy / Romance
Episodes : 24
Story       :
This drama portrays the life of the 19th king of Goguryeo. Jumong, the founder of Goguryeo, establish Goguryeo with his Four Gods: Cheong-ryong (Blue Dragon), Baek-ho (White Tiger), Joo-jak (Phoenix), Hyeon-mu (symbolized as a turtle). The Japanese may know them as Seiryuu, Byakko, Suzaku, and Genbu. Jumong marries Soseono, who had a big part in the founding of Goguryeo. They have two sons, Onjo and Biryu. When the son of Jumong’s first wife came to Goguryeo in search of his father, and is named Crown Prince, Soseono takes her sons, Onjo and Biryu, South and establishs Baekje. This is how Baekje and Goguryeo were known as “brother countries”.
As time passed, the Four Gods secluded themselves from society and watched as Baekje and Goguryeo’s relationship worsened (worsened more mainly because Goguryeo’s king was killed in a battle between Baekje and Goguryeo).
One day, Ju-ahn, “Hyeon-mu” of the Four Gods, sees two stars sour up into the sky. Since one came from the palace in Baekje, it predicted the birth of “Su”, later known as King Ah-shin. The other star came from Goguryeo, prophesizing the birth of Dam-deok, later known as Gwang Gae Toh Dae Wang.
Realizing that his new master has come to the world, Ju-ahn awaits in the vast Manchuria with a young girl, Sujini, to see which of the two will be his master. Sujini was picked up as an orphan by Ju-ahn and considers Ju-ahn as her father.
Therefore, the story is on the Four Gods looking for their master, Gwang Gae Toh Dae Wang, who was an expert in tactics, the woman he loved (Sujini), who was also loved by the coldhearted King Ah-shin.
Who was Dam-deok (Gwang Gae Toh Dae Wang)?: He was the 19th king of Goguryeo (lasted from 37 B.C. to 668 A.D.). During the time of Dam-deok, Goguryeo was the most powerful nation in East Asia (yes, even the Chinese dynasty couldn’t defeat Goguryeo). At age 11, he was made the Crown Prince and became King when he was 16. In 396, he attacked Baekje (a nation Southwest of Goguryeo) and took over the northern area above the Han River. He defeated the many invasions made by the Yeon Dynasty (China) after 400 A.D. During his reign, the number of castles he took over numbered in the hundreds and villages numbered in the thousands. However, he died at an untimely age of 39.


Cast:

Bae Yong Jun as Damdeok / Hwanwoong
Yoo Seung Ho as young Damdeok
Lee Ji Ah as Sujini / Saeoh
Shim Eun Kyung as young Sujini
Moon So Ri as Seo Ki Ha / Kajin
Oh Kwang Rok as Hyeonko (Sujini's master)
Choi Min Soo as Daejangro (Hwacheon leader)
Yoon Tae Young as Yeon Ho Gae

"The Legend"had many recognitions too. There are many awards and nominations for such drama.
  • MBC Won, Best Drama
  • MBC Won, Highest Award 대상 (Bae Yong Jun)
  • MBC Won, Popularity Award (Bae Yong Jun)
  • MBC Won, Popularity Award (Lee Ji Ah)
  • MBC Won, Best New Actress (Lee Ji Ah)
  • MBC Won, Best Couple Award (Lee Ji Ah and Bae Yong Jun)
  • MBC Nominated, Top Excellence in Acting 최우수상 (Choi Min-soo)
  • MBC Nominated, Best New Actor (Lee Philip)
  • MBC Nominated, Popularity Award (Choi Min-soo)
The visual effects in this drama is very powerful too, especially for the battles between the dragon, tiger.  I was fascinated by the visual effects of this drama. The actor, Bae Yong Joon was acted as a teenager to old man. I even bought the DVD set of this drama.

OK, let us take a peek of the scenes of "The Legend".















So, if you are interested to catch "The Legend", please click here.

Enjoy watching! ^.^

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