Enjoying Hwang Jini 황진이on AZN right now! Almost over....

(photos-asianfanatics/hancinema/kbs)

Hwang Jini 황진이 thus far has been a great costume drama for me without having to watch it for a long time such as Dae Jang Geum (aka Jewel of the Palace) of the just finished Jumong. At only 24 episodes it is shorter. But the costumes of the kisaeng (beautiful, artists skilled in poems, dance and music) are similar to geishas in Japanese culture. These women though with these freedoms did not have an easy life. They were forbidden to marry into the "yangbon" or aristocratic class.

This current drama with KBS actress of 2006 Daesaeng winner Ha Ji Won is a wonderful drama. She invested so much to be in this role learning how to walk on tightrope, wearing a heavy wig (gache) and learning traditional dance and playing a traditional 12 string instrument. Ji Won richly deserves her award. Last month, Song Hye Gyo is in the current big screen adaptation. According to some Korean news websites I have glanced at, the majority of Koreans enjoy Ha Ji Won in the KBS Television production.

I really enjoy this costume drama alot. The emotions of Ha Ji Won are subtle but graceful. She emotes well using her eyes and every glance and gesture is intense and brimming with meaning. She learns that love is not easy and after losing her first love, she realizes the reality of her place in life makes it difficult to be with her true hearts love. I am constantly impressed by the acting by Korean actors/actresses which is part of the reason I enjoy watching them.

I loved and enjoyed the little girl Shim Eun Kyung as the michievous Jini as a child. She was wonderful in the first two episodes! Kim Jae Won is famous for his smile and it is weird seeing him with a beard in this drama. But when he does smile it is blinding! My mom says it is full of warmth and sunshine! Kye Soo played by Yoo Tae Joon is well done and his eyes are very expressive. Though he is in love with Myeongwol, he resorts to any means or ways he can to have her as he knows she is motivated by power or money and she does not return his affections.

The side stories as well were not distracting either but enjoyable with the competition between the two troupes, or the unrequited love of Byuk Kye-Soo (model turned actor Yoo Tae Joon) to Baek-mu's all consuming obssession to perfect the Crane dance.

I think it is interesting the lack of promotional photos with Kim Jae Won as Kim Jung-Han the Minister of Music who falls for Myeongwol. For his first costume drama, he did a great job! There are more photos of Eun-Ho and Kye-Soo instead. Jang Geun Suk as Eun Ho is very good! He is similar to his character's age and does a great job. The gorgeous settings, the bridge leading to the meeting place for Eun Ho and Jini to the lake where they practice their dance steps. The costumes and the hanboks are gorgeous with color and simple designs. A wonderful festival for the eyes with beautiful scenery and lovely acting!

Great job AZN for showing this drama! I am just sad it is coming to an end. The subtitles are top rate too!

Cast: (source KOREAWHIZ)

Hwang Jin-i (aka Myeongwol): Ha Ji Won 하지원 (Damo)

Hwang Jin-I (as a young girl) Shim Eun Kyung

Baek-mu(Troupe leader): Kim Young Ae 김영애(Love Letter)

Boo-yong: Wang Bit Na 왕빛나(My Love Fool)

Kim Jung-han: Kim Jae Won 김재원 (Wonderful Life/Romance)

**Byuk Kye-soo: Yoo Tae Joon 유태준/or Ryu Tae Joon (Crazy for Love/Really Like You)

Kim Eun-ho(nobleman's son and Jini's first love): Jang Geun Suk 장근석(Lovers in Prague)

Jin Hyun-geum (blind kiseang-Jini's mom): Jun Mi Sun

Eom-soo: Jo Sung HaMae-hyang: Kim Bo Yeon (Snow Flower)

Gae-ttong (aka Danshim): Lee In Hye (Golden Apple)

Geum-choon: Jung Kyung Soon

Aeng-mo: Song Yi Woo

Sum-sum: Yoo Yeon Ji

Gae-ttong maid: Kim Sun Hwa

Hyang-rim: Jo Ye

NaAeng-rang: Mi Se

Geum-hong: Lee Ji Eun

Chui-sun: Kim Young Ae

Wol-hyang: Hwang Eun Ha

Lee-saeng: Lee Si HwanSung

Ik-hwan: Hyun Suk (All About Eve)

Jung Ga-eun: Suh Hyun

Jin Jang Soo-man: Kim Seung Wook

Joo-ji: Lee Dae Ro (On the Green Prairie)

Jang-i: Jo Jae Wan

Kim Cham-pan (Eun-ho's dad): Lee Hee Do (Dae Jang-geum)

Ms. Cha (Eun-ho's mom): Ahn Hae Sook

Duk-pal (Eun-ho's slave): Moon Chun Sik (Oh! Pil-seung)

Sang-soo (Eun-ho's friend): Jung Sang Hoon

Jung-chook: Choi Sang Hoon

Yeon-heung (Ga-eun's younger sibling): Yoon Jae Ryang

King: Park Chan Hwan (Dae Jang-geum/Palace)

Jini's dad: Oh Dae Gyu (Love & Hate)

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(below---source--KBS)

http://contents.kbs.co.kr/program/program_dview.php?contentsUid=88

This story sheds new light on the life of Joseon-era dancer, musician and poet Hwangjini, who made her art blossom even when her love was put to test. The series also depicts the tragic life of a woman who faces hardships due to her social status. The drama drew the spotlight even before its premiere because Hwangjini is portrayed by top actress Ha Ji-won. Meanwhile, Wang Bit-na portrays another prominent dancer of the same era who is jealous of Hwangjini’s artistic talent. The role of nobleman Kim Eun-ho, Hwangjini’s first love who dies because their love turns out unrealistic due to differences in their social status, is played by Chang Keun-seok, while king’s relative Byuk Kye-soo, who becomes addicted to Hwangjini but fails to win her heart, is played by Yoo Tae-jun. Actor Lee Shi-hwan portrays Yi Saeng, an ambivalent character who is neither Hwangjini’s lover nor friend. Kim Young-ae plays the role of dancing girls’ trainer, while Kim Bo-yeon portrays her rival, Mae-hyang. The role of dancer Heon-keum, Hwangjini’s mother who gave birth to her as a result of her belief that love only comes once in a lifetime, is portrayed by Chun Mi-seon.

Casting:
Ha Ji-won as Hwangjini: The best artist of the Joseon era, Hwangjini is a talented dancer, musician and poet. She was born to a nobleman and a court dancer, and is destined to live as a dancer. Despite her inborn talent, she works hard to hone her skills. She falls in love with a nobleman but her first love ends up tragically due to differences in their social status, and eventually the man she loves dies. She matures as a person when she meets king’s relative Byuk Kye-soo, Kim Jung-han and Yi-saeng. Her art blossoms even when she faces hardships brought by her tragic love.

Wang Bit-na as Bu-yong: A daughter of ordinary people, Bu-yong became a court dancer and ever since has devoted herself solely to dancing. She is jealous of Hwangjini because she recognizes her talent but she is not a genius. She agonizes over her inferiority to Hwangjini but stops hating her seeing how hard she works and what deep wounds she has in her heart.

Kim Young-ae as Yim Baek-mo:The chief dancer of the Joseon court, Baek-moo trains young dancers and has a stubborn personality. She takes pride in dancing and uses harsh training methods. But deep inside, she is torn by sadness.

Yoo Tae-jun as Byuk Kye-soo: A king’s relative, Kye-soo gives up entering government service for fear of being trapped in conspiracy, and lives an idyllic life. He falls in love with Hwangjini, but she doesn’t love him back, and neither money nor power can buy her feelings. He agonizes when Hwangjini turns him down and resorts to all kinds of cowardly means to win her heart.

Chang Keun-seok as Kim Eun-ho: Hwangjini’s first love and a nobleman, he has pure-hearted feelings for Hwangjini but their love is doomed because of differences in their social status. He succumbs to his mother’s rage and his father’s evil plot. Eventually, he dies failing to protect his feelings for Hwangjini.