After two long decades, the iconic Dae Jang Geum is back! On January 30, entertainment company Fantagio confirmed that veteran actress Lee Young Ae will reprise her iconic role as Dae Jang Geum from the hit 2003 classic drama Jewel in the Palace.

According to Fantagio, the upcoming drama with the working title of  Uinyeo Dae Jang Geum, will follow the story of Jang Geum’s journey as the king’s first female physician. 

During the airing of Jewel in the Palace, the 54-part series became the top program and recorded a whopping average viewership rating of 45.8% in South Korea. Later, it was exported to 91 countries and became one of the primary components of the “Korean Wave”. 

After the drama ended, Young Ae won the Daesang grand prize at the 2003 MBC Drama Awards for her legendary performance as  Jang Geum.

Initially, many thought that the new drama would be a sequel to Jewel in the Palace. However, a few weeks after the project was first announced, it was clarified that the new drama is unrelated to the 2003 show. 

According to reports, Fantagio clarified that it is a “new fiction based on the historical figure Dae Jang Geum and her history.” Moreover, they noted that it “does not feature the return of the character from the previous drama.” 

Prior to this, scriptwriter Kim Young Hyun, the original creator of Jewel in the Palace, has clarified that she’s not involved in the new project. 

Nostalgic return of Jang Geum

With the confirmation of Jang Geum’s return, many K-drama fans who were avid watchers of Jewel in The Palace expressed their excitement for the new show.

On social media, fans said that the sequel will be a nostalgic treat and will bring old memories back. One even mentioned that “watching Dae Jang Geum as an adult is going to be emotional.”

Other fans are also thrilled to see Young Ae’s exceptional performance as an older version of Jang Geum. Some fans shared they are really looking forward to the sequel and will definitely tune in once it airs.

Aside from her role in Jewel in The Palace, Young Ae is also loved for her outstanding acting skills in the films One Fine Spring Day and Sympathy for Lady Vengeance. In 2023, her latest drama Maestra also achieved massive success.

According to the production crew, the series will begin filming in October 2024 and will air in the first half of 2025. Stay tuned for further details about the project! 

Featured image: Lee Young Ae stars in the 2003 hit drama ‘Jewel in the Palace.’ Credit: Twitter/Soompi