anyong haseyo!

Been too busy to come online nowadays because ah haha my dear mummy has borrowed "jewel in the palace"(大长今） from her colleague...



For those of you idiots who still don't know what the hell is "jewel in the palace"... Well its the very very famous Korean drama serial that has taken not just Korea, but also Asia by storm. It chronicles the life of a palace maiden, Chamgun(roughly that pronunciation). hasta la vista winter sonata(ah ha that rhymes)

Why is it worth watching? Sure it doesn't have supposed hunks like Bae Yongjun or plastic babes like what'shername, it is definitely more worth watching than winter sonata... "Jewel" portrays life in the palace and the shows us the trials that Chamgun faces in her journey towards becoming the chief cook in the palace kitchen. Along her way, jealous rivals and dark conspiracies lay in ambush at every step of her path, hoping to entrap her and prevent her from fulfilling her ambition. One minute her life is in peril and the next she stands victorious over her rivals' underhanded schemes. To enhance the flavour of "jewel", unfulfilled romance between Chamgun and a palace official peppers the show throughout, adding poignancy into the simmering hotpot that is "jewel". One thing I like about "jewel" is that romance is never the focus of the story, but rather a minor subplot to add some spice, which takes out the unneccessary melodrama we find in many sappy(even cheesy) Korean drama serials nowadays.

Life in the palace is never simple. "皇宫是孤独的" Amidst the scheming, we get to learn more about ancient Korea, look at mouth-watering delicacies served to the Emperor that us commoners can only dream about. 望梅止渴。 Indeed, "jewel" isn't merely another long-winded, drawn-out Korean drama serial but a historical epic in its own right. Even its soundtrack isn't just a compilation of some run of the mill pop songs but traditional Korean folk songs and instrumental interludes to add to its authenticity.

"Jewel" has entrapped me, sucked me into the vortex of Chamgun's daily tribulations and every tear she cries is fully resonated by the audience. We egg her on, boo her detractors and pray for fruition of her dearest dream. Hearing the tinkling lilt of the Korean language(I watch it in Korean with Chinese subtitles) has transported me straight to ancient Korea and where women walk the streets in colourful hanboks. Watch "Jewel in the Palace" and get an intoxicating whiff of Korea.

Haha maybe I should abandon Japanese for Korean...

"所谓宫女就是皇上的女人"