Tuesday, October 20, 2015

K-Drama : GOONG (PRINCESS HOURS)


Profile :

Drama: Princess Hours
Revised romanization: Goong
Hangul:
Writer: In Eun-A, Park So-Hee (comic)
Network: MBC
Episodes: 24
Release Date: January 11 - March 30, 2006
Runtime: Wed. & Thurs. 21:55
Language: Korean
Country: South Korea


Plot :

The show is set in an alternate, 21st-century Korea which has retained its monarchy and imperial family since 1945. The series focuses on the lives of Crown Prince Lee Shin of Korea, and his new bride, Chae-kyeong.
The series starts off with the news that Shin's father, Emperor Lee Hyeon of Korea, is seriously ill. There is a grim outlook on the King's health, driving the imperial family to find Shin a suitable consort that will allow him to ascend to the throne if the situation requires. Despite being in love with the ambitious and talented ballerina Hyo-rin (whom he initially proposed to and was rejected), Prince Shin eventually marries a commoner to whom he was betrothed by his grandfather, the late Emperor Seongjo, in an agreement with the girl's grandfather. His new wife is the headstrong yet lovable Chae-kyeong, and despite initially feeling nothing for each other, love eventually blossoms between the couple.
Matters are further complicated with the return of Lee Yul and his mother, Lady Hwa-young, who was once Crown Princess before the death of her husband, the late Crown Prince Lee Soo, and older brother of the reigning King. Yul and his mother were driven out of the palace some time after the death of his father, and it is revealed that this was because the King discovered an affair between Lady Hwa-Young and the current King, who is his father's younger brother. Lady Hwa-Young has returned to restore her son's place in the line of succession to the throne, which she believes remains rightfully his. A series of events befalls the palace with the schemes Yul's mother carries out, and these are further intensified by the various scandals involving the royal family. Shin maintains an extramarital affair with his old flame, Hyo-rin, while Yul himself developing feelings for Chae-kyeong. Things get out of hand and the royal family takes matters into their own hands.

Character Relationship Chart :

Main Cast :

Yoon Eun-Hye 
as 
Crown Princess Shin Chae-Kyung

Shin Chae-kyung is a very creative and outgoing, normal high school girl. Although she often seems immature and irritating, she is a kindhearted, innocent, honest person, who is often called "pig" by her younger brother. She attends the same school as Crown Prince Lee Shin of Korea, whose grandfather, the late Emperor Seongjo of Korea, was best friends with her grandfather, To honour their friendship, the King had commanded that Chae-kyung is to become Crown Princess by marrying the incumbent Crown Prince at the designated time of marriage. Chae-kyung eventually marries Prince Lee Shin to fulfil the agreement, and she is initially irritated at her young seemingly unemotional new husband. She gradually falls in love with him in the early on of the series, not knowing that he harbours similar feelings, which are revealed towards the end of the series. Although she sees Lee Yul only as a close friend and cousin-in-law, he falls in love with her. At the end of the series, Chae-kyung is revealed to be pregnant with Lee Shin's heir.

Ju Ji-Hoon 
as 
Crown Prince Lee Shin

Crown Prince Lee Shin of Korea is seen as a smug, indifferent, and insensitive young man. After getting rejected by his girlfriend Hyo Rin, when he proposes to her, he decides to proceed with his arranged marriage to Shin Chae-kyung. At first, he is irritated by her  naïveté and enthusiasm, but he begins to open his heart to her and fall in love as he recognises how genuinely sweet she is. Throughout the series, it becomes apparent that he is in fact lonely, sensitive, yet warm and kind. He also owns a teddy bear called Alfred, the only 'companion' that allows him to let his guard down, and which serves as a focal point throughout the series. He quickly becomes rivals with Prince Lee Yul, who returns to Korea after years of exile in the United Kingdom, because Yul is a contender not only for the throne but also for Chae-kyeong's affections.

Kim Jeong-Hoon (John-Hoon) 
as  
Prince Lee Yul

Prince Yul left Korea at the age of five. He was supposed to succeed his father, Lee Soo, as Crown Prince but he was prevented from doing so when the latter was killed in a car accident. Yul and his mother, Lady Hwa-young were forced into exile in the England. He falls in love with Chae-kyung and tells her that he is her true betrothed, but was only prevented by his father's death. His mother constantly schemes to get revenge for their eviction and secure the throne for him. Towards the end of the series, he tells his mother to stop because he feels tired. He is also best friends with Prince William of Wales; which makes them call each other "hyung".

Song Ji-Hyo 
as 
Min Hyo-Rin

Hyo-rin is a talented and gifted ballet dancer. She is beautiful, intelligent, accomplished—basically, perfect in every way possible, but she is also poor. Prince Shin and her ballet instructor paid for her tuition fees at school. In the beginning, she is Shin's girlfriend, and he proposes to her. She rejects him, because she does not wish to give up her dreams of becoming a star ballerina. When she sees Chae-kyeong and Shin's wedding and how much Chae-kyeong is loved by the people (similar to the rapport of Diana, Princess of Wales), she regrets her hasty decision, and does everything to win Shin back, including engineering a "chance" meeting in Thailand. She simply ends up hurting herself, driving her to attempted suicide by overdosing on pills. She later recognises that Shin does truly love Chae-kyeong, being the first one to know so. Hyo-rin ultimately concedes and instead decides to concentrate on her career as a ballerina.



Additional Character Members :

Crown Prince Lee Shin Family Members

Kim Hye-Ja as Queen Mother Park
Park Chan-Hwan as King
Yun Yoo-Sun as Queen Min
Lee Yoon-Ji as Princess Hye-Myung
Kim Sang-Joong as Lee Soo
Shim Hye-Jin as Lady Hwa-Yong
Choi Bul-Am as Emperor Seong-Jo

Crown Princess Chae-Kyung Family Members

Kang Nam-Kil as Chae-kyung's Dad
Lim Ye-Jin as Chae-kyung's Mom
Kim Seok as Chae-kyung’s Younger Brother

Others

Jeon Ji Ae as Lee Kang-hyun (Chae-Kyung’s best friend)
Nah Eun-kyeong as Kim Soon-young (Chae-Kyung’s best friend)
Dan Ji as Yoon Hee-soong (Chae-Kyung’s best friend)
Choi Seong-joon as Kang-in (Shin’s best friend)
Lee Yong-joo as Jang-kyung (Shin’s best friend)
Uhm Seong-mo as Ryu-hwan (Shin’s best friend)
Song Seung-Hwan as Emperor
Lee Ho-jae as Gong Nae-kwan (Shin’s Butler)
Jeon Su-yeon as Choi Sang Gung (Chae-Kyung’s Maid)

Drama Posters :

Character Posters :

Goong Episode List :

Goong Ep.01
Goong Ep.02
Goong Ep.03
Goong Ep.04
Goong Ep.05
Goong Ep.06
Goong Ep.07
Goong Ep.08
Goong Ep.09
Goong Ep.10
Goong Ep.11
Goong Ep.12
Goong Ep.13
Goong Ep.14
Goong Ep.15
Goong Ep.16
Goong Ep.17
Goong Ep.18
Goong Ep.19
Goong Ep.20
Goong Ep.21
Goong Ep.22
Goong Ep.23
Goong Ep.24

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