Dong Yi is a 2010 South Korean historical
television drama series, starring Han Hyo-joo, Ji Jin-hee, Lee
So-yeon and Bae Su-bin. It is about the love story between King
Sukjong and Choi Suk-Bin, also known as Dong Yi. It is produced by Lee
Byung-hoon who directed Jewel in the Palace in 2003. It aired
on Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) from March 22 to October 12,
2010 for 60 episodes.
The first episode received an average viewership of 11.4 percent
according to TNS Korea and 11.6 percent by ABG Nielsen Media Research.
Story
The Joseon history was stir in
turbulence prior to Sukjong reign. Hideyoshi 1st invasion of Korea 1592-1593
then the 2nd invasion in 1597-1598. Then subsequently Joseon Manchu’s Wars 1627
& 1636 that ended up in humiliation. Joseon throughout the established of
the Joseon dynasty has form factions or Bungdang of various names that support
or against the ruling Joseon monarchy therefore political powers are field
through the Yanban ruling class bureaucrats that often eclipse the power of the
monarch. Struggles among faction are plenty & purges are certain to
happened, thus ensures constants Yanban vs. the monarchy. It was Sukjong then
later Yeongjo who tries to appease these faction by resolving issues &
consolidate their political power back to the monarch. Yeongjo in the drama Yi
San portrays a Monarch who could read every move of the political faction &
sometimes manipulate their intelligence to his own benefits with his wits &
able to assess his own Ministers thus gaining an upper hand, in which this wits
are set to be inherited from his mother Choi Suk Bin. Jeongjo did it better by
keeping the faction at bay by assume military power over the literary Yanban.
Sukjong reign during 1674-1720. China was rule by Emperor Kangxi (1662-1722).
Japan was rule by the Tokugawa Shogunate. Set during the reign of King Sukjong
in the 19th ruler Joseon dynasty, the story focuses on Dong Yi, a water maid
who gains the trust of Queen Inhyeon and later the favour of the king when he
is moved by her prayers for the health of the Queen during the court disputes
caused by Jang Hee Bin. Dong Yi becomes a concubine with the rank of Sook-bin
and bears a son who will later become the 21st king of Joseon, Yeongjo. The
political faction of Sukjong was the Namin (Southerners) & Seoin
(Westerners)
In the drama Yi San, Yeongjo fought
very hard to get his birth mother Choi Suk Bin enshrine into the Royal
Ancestral tablet & the grievances he has experience due to the court
opposition, it was Queen Jeongseong, the 1st Queen of Yeongjo who did her
utmost effort & succeeds to have her mother in law enshrined & has the
gratitude of Yeongjo
Choi Suk Bin must be a great mother
in educating her son to survive those political turmoils & the constant
attack over his birth & background that her mother is from a lowly class,
in which he was scrutinize but he managed to overcome by able to manipulate the
faction. Yeongjo revered his mother that he carried his mother’s rings in
memory of her & in turn he bestow to Song Seon Yeon his most dear
possession as a gift of being Yi San’s friend