The Electric New Paper :
The 10 o'clock addiction
Jewel in The Palace has everyone from toddlers to aunties to
grandmas hooked
NE Singaporean toddler jiggles her butt to it.
Actress Kym Ng cries her heart out over it.
By Chang May Choon
28 May 2006
NE Singaporean toddler jiggles her butt to it.
Actress Kym Ng cries her heart out over it.
A 12-year-old girl and a 42-year-old woman love it so much, they've
seen it at least five times.
The object of their obsession? Jewel In The Palace, a 70-episode
Korean historical drama series showing on Channel U at 10pm on
weekdays.
It tells of how a palace maid becomes the first female imperial
physician.
The serial has captured the hearts of over 1.8 million viewers aged
15 and above, says TNS Media research firm.
This means every two in five Singaporeans rush home before 10pm to
see it.
With an average rating of 13, Jewel is the most watched weekday
drama in the time slot to date, beating Hong Kong serials such as
Take My Word For It.
The serial has attracted not just women but a large number of men,
too. (See report below.)
So, what is it about this serial that appeals to so many?
For 15-month-old Swen Teo, it is the chirpy melody of the theme
song.
She can barely stand but jiggles her diaper-clad bottom to the
music.
Mum Neo Lay Yiing, 30, a civil servant, said Swen watches the show
with her every day.
'Sometimes she lies on her stomach, cups her face and watches
transfixed. Sometimes she smiles at the screen.'
Older viewers are drawn to the gripping and well-knit plot, lush
backdrop and excellent acting.
Fans told The New Paper that it was 'the best Korean drama' they
had seen.
They love the detailed portrayal of Korea's history and palace
culture and insights into royal cuisine and medicine - a refreshing
change from the usual mushy Korean love stories.
In particular, they love the show's protagonist, Jang Geum (Lee
Young Ae). With her heart of gold, never-say-die attitude and
passion, she has become the epitome of female perfection and a role
model to fans.
Management executive Phua Ping Ping, 43, who doesn't normally watch
Korean serials, said: 'Jang Geum inspires by the way she faces
difficulties with courage and optimism.
'Her parents died a wrongful death but she never resorts to
underhanded methods. She is forgiving and has a magnanimous
heart.'
Pri 6 student Lianne Ng, who has watched it five times - twice on
DVD, twice on cable and now on Channel U - said: 'I find it very
inspiring and touching that Jang Geum never gives up and helps
others.'
Last year the Raffles Girls' Primary School student visited the
places in Korea where the drama was filmed.
The never-ending power struggle between the righteous Jang Geum and
the evil Lady Choi and her minions also makes for riveting
viewing.
Cleaner Anna Tan, who is in her 40s, said she was hooked from the
day the young Jang Geum was instructed to deliver all sorts of
water - hot, cold, salty, sweet - to her mentor until she learnt to
fulfil unspoken needs.
'Jang Geum is so pitiful. Someone is always trying to harm her and
I've been watching to see what will happen in the end. Lady Choi is
so devious I feel like whacking her!'
Property agent Noorine Ahmad, 42, who has watched the series five
times on DVD, said: 'The writer is so imaginative! There are so
many unexpected twists.
'On the Internet, people were discussing who was the most evil
character, and someone said it was Jang Geum because she let us
sleep only two or three hours (a day) because we're hooked on the
drama.'
Housewife Chua Khah Ching, 65, who is watching Jewel for the second
time on Channel U, loves the drama's heart-rending scenes.
'Some scenes can really make you cry, like when little Jang Geum
feeds her dead mum berries.'
Then there is the romance between Jang Geum and an imperial guard,
Min Jeong Ho (Ji Jin Hee).
Tour executive Zhong Tingting, 25, who has seen Jewel three times,
said: 'Their love is so pure, they don't need mushy words to convey
their feelings. Just one glance speaks volumes.'
Even MediaCorp actress Kym Ng is hooked. She watches and cries
'until I get cramps'.
Kym, who watched the entire DVD set in just three weeks, said:
'It's so touching to have somebody love you so much. Like when Jang
Geum is exiled to Jeju and he goes to save her. He asks her to wait
and he'll seek redress for her. It's sooo touching!'
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Men love it for the story, the history
TEACHER Tan Guan Heng, 28, rushes home before 10pm to watch his
favourite TV show, Jewel In The Palace.
'Every night I follow it diligently. I saw the first three episodes
and I've been watching it since,' he said.
Mr Tan is not alone. Of the 1.8 million Singaporeans who tune in,
almost half (44.2 per cent or 795,600 viewers) are men, according
to TNS Media.
The biggest group is men aged 45 years and above (39.8 per cent).
The 15-24 age group makes up 20 per cent.
But, why are the men glued to a drama aimed primarily at
housewives?
Fans say the captivating story line and insight into Korean
history.
Mr Tan said that he was able to relate to the drama as he finds
Korea's ancient culture similiar to Chinese culture.
'Jang Geum gives people hope that if you persist, you will succeed.
It reminds us of the Japanese drama Oshin, that you must persevere
to the end and not be afraid of hardship.'
For retiree Wong Tat Meng, 67, it was the plot that was so
absorbing.
'There's not a dull moment! It's a lively story with sadness,
happiness, comedy and some romance. But the most important part is
that it exposes Korea's palace politics.'
Senior tour officer Johnston Loh, 34 and his wife also tune in
every night, despite having seen it on DVD.
He said: 'This is the best Korean drama I've watched so far. It's
not just a love story, it also deals with Korean cuisine and
medicine.'
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Once I mocked, now I am hooked
By Lee Xin En
I USED to mock my friend, a Korean drama junkie, after she put a
picture of Ji Jin Hee (who plays royal guard Min Jeong Ho in Jewel
In The Palace) on her MSN profile.
It seems that karma really exists because recently, I have been
searching frantically for pictures of Jin Hee with his dorky, I
mean dashing, Korean headgear.
He has been the apple of my eye ever since I started watching the
drama - initially to see what the fuss was all about, only to
become a devout fan myself.
Before I get mocked, let me explain the allure of Jeong Ho.
Chivalry doesn't seem to exist in this era - which is why I love
him for doing the craziest things such as moving hundreds of
kilometers to Jeju island to be near the object of his affections -
palace cook Jang Geum (Lee Young Ae)
He also has this subtle look that says 'I'm repressing my feelings
for you' whenever he is near Jang Geum. Very cute.
Best of all, the couple doesn't kiss or get up to any hanky-panky,
which is rare in dramas these days. I'm bred on MTV's sexual
innuendos but the overwhelming flood of sex on primetime serials is
getting to me.
Hunk aside, I'm sure most people wouldn't link an 18-year-old like
me to a Korean weepie.
But teenagers (and everyone else) love a kind-hearted underdog,
which is essentially what Jewel is all about.
Sure, it can get weary watching Jang Geum getting into trouble in
every episode - like getting on the wrong side of the devious Lady
Choi or being maligned for poisoning the emperor's food.
But when I see her getting out of each mess, it makes me feel like
there is an answer to all problems. And everyone likes
answers.
In some ways, Jewel is like an episode of Oprah - it inspires me to
get to work every day, ready for all the challenges ahead of
me.
