One heck of a woman

Dae Jang Geum
Originally uploaded by saisai.

For the last few days, my mom and I were on this korean drama marathon, it runs for 45-plus episodes, and it made us cry almost every episode. Yeah, it is that good, says someone who used to loathe korean drama. It was based on a true story about this legendary figure in Korean history, Dae Jang Geum, who was the first woman that became the King's personal physician in the men-dominated 1400s. Jang Geum lost her Mom when she was very little, in order to fullfill her mom's death wish, she enrolled in the royal kitchen as a young apprentice. In the treacherous water of the Royal Palace, Jang Geum's diligence and tenacity soon earned her recognition but also caused jealousy and resentment. To make a long story short, after a series of hardships, she finally stepped up as the first female personal doctor for the king, hense her honorable title "Dae Jang Geum" (Dae means great). Well, the drama might stretch it a little, but this tenaciousness, hardworking spirit, and braveness almost become the the identity of Korean women.