Lee San, Wind of the Palace

Lee San, Wind of the Palace
Promotional poster
Also known asYi San
GenreHistorical
Written byKim Yi-young
Directed by
Starring
Country of originSouth Korea
Original languageKorean
No. of episodes77
Production
Executive producerJo Joo
ProducerPark Chang-shik
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time70 minutes
Production companyKim Jong-hak Production
Original release
NetworkMBC TV
ReleaseSeptember 16, 2007 (2007-09-16) –
July 2, 2008 (2008-07-02)
Korean name
Hangul
이산
Hanja
Revised RomanizationYi San
McCune–ReischauerI San

Yi San (Korean이산; Hanja李祘), also known as Lee San, Wind of the Palace,[1] is a 2007 South Korean historical drama, starring Lee Seo-jin and Han Ji-min.[2] It aired on MBC from September 17, 2007 to June 16, 2008 on Mondays and Tuesdays at 21:55.[3] The series was directed by Lee Byung-hoon, who also created the award-winning television series Dae Jang Geum.[4]

Lee Seo-jin and Han Ji-min received recognition for their performances at the MBC Drama Awards.

Synopsis

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The series dramatizes the life of Korea's King Jeongjo, the 22nd ruler of the Joseon Dynasty. Jeongjo is remembered in Korean history for his sympathy with the plight of the common man, in spite of his own pampered upbringing as royalty.

The drama begins with the King's early years, during which he befriends two children working in the Palace who are later expelled. King Yeongjo (Yi San's grandfather) seals San's father, Crown Prince Sado, in a rice chest with no food or water because he fears that the Crown Prince is planning a coup. San wants to save his father, and with the help of his friends Seong Song-yeon and Park Dae-su, begs King Yeongjo to forgive the Crown Prince.

The drama then skips forward to Jeongjo's adult years when he and his friends re-establish contact with each other. Throughout, his position as heir is threatened by palace intrigues.

Yi San begins to fall in love with one of his childhood friends, Seong Song-yeon, whose father, a palace artist, died when she was young. The story then follows his rise to power, his assumption of the kingship, and the labyrinthine palace intrigues that he must constantly guard against from the Noron Faction.

While the show does deviate from the historical record in a number of ways, its representation of court life during the Joseon Dynasty appears to be based on contemporary sources.

Cast

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Main

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The main protagonist in the series. He is the only son of Crown Prince Sado and Lady Hyegyeong.
King Jeongjo's love interest. She is the daughter of a skilled palace artist and thus has a fondness for art.
King Jeongjo's favorite military officer.
Jeongjo's mother.
King Jeongjo's primary wife, born into the Cheongpung Kim clan.
Jeongjo's grandfather. He was the 21st King of Joseon before San took over.
King Yeongjo's second wife.
Yeongjo's beloved daughter.
Princess Hwawan's adoptive son.
King Jeongjo's right-hand man, as well as distant cousin to his mother, Lady Hyegyeong.
A scholar from the Confucian Academy and a member of the Namin Faction.
  • Lee Ip-sae as Yang Cho-bi
A damo at the Bureau of Painting.
Queen Jeongsun's older brother and a member of the Noron Faction.
San's chief eunuch.
San's administrative assistant and Minister of the Tribunal.
A Royal Artist at the Bureau of Painting.
  • Yoo Min-hyuk as Tak Ji-soo
Another Royal Artist at the Bureau of Painting.
The infant son of King Jeongjo and Ui-bin Seong who died at the age of four.

Supporting

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Others (fictional characters)

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  • Yoo Jung-suk as Seong Song-wook
Song-yeon's little brother
  • Jung Ho-keun as Min Joo-shik
  • Son Il-kwon as Oh Jung-ho
  • Gyeong In-seon as Mak-seon
  • Lee Jung-young as Shin-geom
  • Baek Min as Eo-ui
  • Hwang Il-chung
  • Maeng Bong-hak
  • Jo Jae-yoon as Kkak Jung-yi
  • Lee Jung-sung

Special appearance

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King Jeongjo's father and Yeongjo's son

Episode Ratings

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Yi San was popular and recorded a solid viewership rate (average) of 26.4% (Nationwide) and 28.6% (Seoul) and a peak of 35.3% (Nationwide) and 38.6% (Seoul)

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Recipient Result Ref.
2007 2007 MBC Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actor Lee Seo-jin Won [9][10]
Excellence Award, Actress Han Ji-min Won
Best Teen Actor Park Ji-bin Won
Best Writer Kim Yi-young Won
Viewer's Favorite Drama of the Year Lee San, Wind of the Palace Nominated
Popularity Award, Actor Lee Seo-jin Nominated
Popularity Award, Actress Han Ji-min Nominated
Best Couple Award Lee Seo-jin and Han Ji-min Nominated
2008 2008 Baeksang Arts Awards Best Director (TV) Lee Byung-hoon Won [11][12]
Best Actor (TV) Lee Seo-jin Nominated
Best New Actor (TV) Han Sang-jin Nominated

International Broadcast

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In Sri Lanka, the drama aired on Rupavahini dubbed in Sinhala from 7 July 2014 to 9 February 2015. Under the title, යහපත් මහරජ - Yahapath Maharaja

Notes

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  1. ^ Credited as Ji Sung-won

References

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  1. ^ "Lee San, Wind of the Palace". MBC Global Media. Archived from the original on August 20, 2023. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  2. ^ Kim Hee-eun (May 14, 2014). "King Jeongjo an idol of Korean modern media". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on March 11, 2016. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
  3. ^ Lee Hyo-won (September 18, 2007). "TV Falls in Love with Epic Dramas". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on March 24, 2014. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
  4. ^ Jeon Su-mi (March 8, 2013). "′Horse Doctor′ to Air in Japan and Other Asian Countries". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Archived from the original on March 24, 2014. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
  5. ^ "이서진 "'이산'의 이산은 나니까 어깨 무거워"". November 19, 2007. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  6. ^ "드라마 '이산' 히로인 한지민". December 7, 2007. Archived from the original on March 6, 2021. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  7. ^ "이종수, 드라마 '이산'서 부상투혼". November 19, 2007.
  8. ^ "견미리, '이서진이 엄마래요'". September 8, 2007.
  9. ^ "'이산' 팀의 뜨거운 동료애로 'MBC 연기대상' 웃음 작렬". December 31, 2007.
  10. ^ "'이산' 이서진 "키스신만 없었으면 좋겠다"". December 31, 2007.
  11. ^ "Baeksang Arts Awards 2008".
  12. ^ "Winners of the 44th Baeksang Art Awards (제44회 백상예술대상, 4/24/2008)". April 25, 2008. Archived from the original on March 10, 2023. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
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