A NEW ADDICTION

I have been sidelined for weeks from watching any new movies except JUST LIKE HEAVEN (Rob's Place Manila) because of, uhm, a Korean soap entitled JEWEL IN THE PALACE. Because I can't stay until 9:30 PM every night just to watch the series, I availed myself of a 19-set DVD box courtesy of my favorite suki in RFC Mall just 4 blocks from my house. I have been hooked ever since. I'm currently on the 6th CD yet.

No, it's not the interminable plotting between warring families inside the royal court of the Chosung (or Joseon) dynasty that got my attention (it was pretty much becoming irritating already) and neither was it the lead character Jang Geum's underdog status. It was the food. Yes, the food preparation which is central to the story of this real-life Korean saga. The focus on food, its preparation, and its relation to health maintenance is just amazing. An interesting insight is also given to the apparent power of the Chinese court and Korea's relations to China during this particular period. The arrival of the Chinese Ambassador is always a cause of great consternation among the kitchen staff as he is known to be so picky with his food that heads are known to have been lost if he was displeased.

The TV miniseries Daejanggeum, or Jewel in the Palace, which first aired on MBC from September 15, 2003 to March 23, 2004, set many new records. The miniseries, whose viewer rate averaged 47%, and even reached a high of 57.8%, is based on the story of a real historical figure (Jang-geum) who was the first and only woman to serve as head physician to the King in the rigidly hierarchical and male-dominated social structure of the Joseon Dynasty.

Daejanggeum, in English, “the Great Jang-geum,” caught the attention of Korean TV viewers with its unique combination of two themes: the successful rise of a female, which is rarely covered in historical genre, and the elements of traditional food and medicine. Now that it is here in the Philippines, I hope Filipinos will find time to watch it and learn more about our neighbor in the north. Read more about it here.