''Hwang Jin Yi'' () is a 2007 South Korean

biographical A biography, or simply bio, is a detailed description of a person's life. It involves more than just the basic facts like education, work, relationships, and death; it portrays a person's experience of these life events. Unlike a profile or c ...

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super- ...

directed by

Chang Yoon-hyun Chang Yoon-hyun (born July 11, 1967) is a South Korean film director. Chang's directorial debut, the Romance film, romance film ''The Contact (1997 South Korean film), The Contact'' (1997), was the second best selling film of 1997. It also catap ...

. Based on

Hong Seok-jung Hong Sok-jung (), born in Seoul in 1941, is a North Korean writer. He is the grandson of novelist Hong Myong-hui. Sok-jung moved to North Korea with his family after the Second World War. He served in the Korean People's Navy, and obtained a d ...

's 2002 novel ''Hwangjini'' (which won the

Manhae Prize The Manhae Prize is a series of awards in the following categories: Peace, Social Service, Academic Excellence, Art, Literature, and Buddhist Missionary Work awarded by The Society for the Promotion and Practice of Manhae's Thoughts in memory of Bu ...

for Literature in 2004), the film is about the life of Hwang Jin-yi, the most famous courtesan (or "

gisaeng Kisaeng (Hangul: 기생, Hanja: 妓生, RR: ''Gisaeng''), also called ginyeo (Hangul: 기녀, Hanja: 妓女), were women from outcast or slave families who were trained to be courtesans, providing artistic entertainment and conversation to men ...

") in Korean history, starring

Song Hye-kyo Song Hye-kyo (; born November 22, 1981) is a South Korean actress. She gained international popularity through her leading roles in the television dramas ''Autumn in My Heart'' (2000), '' All In'' (2003), ''Full House'' (2004), ''That Winter, th ...

in the title role.

Plot

Raised as an aristocrat in 16th century

Joseon Joseon (; ; Middle Korean: 됴ᇢ〯션〮 Dyǒw syéon or 됴ᇢ〯션〯 Dyǒw syěon), officially the Great Joseon (; ), was the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, lasting just over 500 years. It was founded by Yi Seong-gye in July 1392 and re ...

, an era when class status dictated one's destiny, Hwang Jin-yi discovers a shocking secret about her birth: she was born illegitimate. She therefore belongs to the lower class, and has no recourse but to give up her aristocratic status. Before embarking on the life of a

, she decides to give up her virginity to a man of her own choosing, and spends her first night with Nomi, a long-time family servant, whom she is aware loves her deeply. As a gisaeng, Jin-yi becomes celebrated for her legendary beauty, wit, and talents in singing, dancing and poetry. But although she is surrounded by an entourage of noblemen showering her with gifts and admiration, she lives a solitary life of tragic isolation. Jin-yi's only solace is the game she and the local governor play on her noble clients, tricking them into exposing their hypocrisies. But when a bandit leader matching Nomi's description is spotted in the region, Jin-yi begins to question the life she endures.

Cast

- Hwang Jin-yi **

Kim Yoo-jung Kim Yoo-jung (; born September 22, 1999) is a South Korean actress. She debuted as a model for a confectionery brand at the age of four. After her acting debut in 2003, she became one of the best known child actresses in Korea since then, aft ...

- young Hwang Jin-yi *

Yoo Ji-tae Yoo Ji-tae (born April 13, 1976) is a South Korean actor, film director and screenwriter. After a stint as a fashion model, Yoo launched his acting career in 1998 then rose to fame through the films '' Attack the Gas Station'' (1999) and '' Ditt ...

- Nomi ** Lee Hyun-woo - young Nomi *

Ryu Seung-ryong Ryu Seung-ryong (born November 29, 1970) is a South Korean actor. Ryu began his acting career in theater, subsequently becoming one of the most versatile supporting actors in Korean film and television. In 2013, he headlined '' Miracle in Cell N ...

- Hee-yeol * Youn Yuh-jung - old woman * Oh Tae-kyung - Gwiddongi * Jeong Yu-mi - Yi-geum * Ye Soo-jung - Hwang Jin-yi's mother * Jo Seung-yeon - Byeok Kye-soo *

Kim Eung-soo Kim Eung-soo (; born February 12, 1961) is a South Korean actor. Kim lived in Japan for seven years, where he studied filmmaking at the Japan Institute of the Moving Image The , formerly known as the Yokohama Broadcasting Technical School, is a ...

- Seo Gyung-deok * Kim Boo-seon - Jang-deok * Song Min-ji - Mae-hyang * Park Cheol-ho - nobleman Hwang * Lee Kwang-hee - servant of nobleman Hwang * Kim Hyun-ah - gisaeng * Tae-won - nobleman Kim * Park No-shik - Choi Joo-boo * Jo Kyung-hoon - public officer *

Choi Ji-na Choi Ji-na (born May 17, 1975) is a South Korean actress. She made her acting debut in 1995, and became best known as a supporting actress in television dramas, notably ''My Rosy Life'' (2005), ''A Happy Woman'' (2008), and ''My Too Perfect So ...

- Hyun-geum * Bae Yong-geun - nobleman * Min Bok-gi - Ho-jang * Lee Mi-so - Hwang Jin-yi's female servant

Box office

''Hwang Jin Yi'' was highly anticipated due to the star power of

, and many expected the film to be a box office hit. It received 1,270,644 admissions nationwide; however, due to its budget, it was not enough for the producers to turn a profit.

Awards and nominations

;2007

Chunsa Film Art Awards The Chunsa Film Art Awards (also known as the Icheon Chunsa Film Festival) have been presented in South Korea since the founding of the prize by the Korea Film Directors' Society in 1990. The awards take their name from the pen name of the early ...

* Best Lighting - Im Jae-young * Technical Award - Jung Ku-ho ;

2007 File:2007 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Steve Jobs unveils Apple Inc., Apple's first iPhone (1st generation), iPhone; TAM Airlines Flight 3054 overruns a runway and crashes into a gas station, killing almost 200 people; Former Pakis ...

Blue Dragon Film Awards The Blue Dragon Film Awards () is an annual awards ceremony that is presented by '' Sports Chosun'' (a sister brand of the ''Chosun Ilbo'') for excellence in film in South Korea. The Blue Dragon Film Awards considers only blockbusters and popu ...

"Hwang Jin-Yi - Awards"
''Cinemasie''. Retrieved 2013-07-22. * Best Lighting - Im Jae-young * Nomination - Best Actress -

* Nomination - Best Cinematography - Choi Young-taek * Nomination - Best Art Direction - Kim Jin-cheol, Jung Ku-ho * Nomination - Technical Award - Jung Ku-ho, Jeong Jeong-eun (Costume Design) ;2007

Korean Film Awards The Korean Film Awards was a South Korean film awards ceremony hosted by the broadcasting network MBC from 2002 to 2010. History Originally named the MBC Film Awards, the ceremony was first established in 2002. It was renamed the Korean Film Aw ...

* Best New Actress -

* Nomination - Best New Actor -

* Nomination - Best Cinematography - Choi Young-taek * Nomination - Best Art Direction - Kim Jin-cheol, Jung Ku-ho * Nomination - Best Music - Won Il ;2008

Grand Bell Awards The Grand Bell Awards (), also known as the Daejong Film Awards, is an awards ceremony presented annually by The Motion Pictures Association of Korea for excellence in film in South Korea. The Grand Bell Awards retains prestige as the oldest co ...

* Best Costume Design - Jeong Jeong-eun * Best Music - Won Il * Nomination - Best Art Direction - Kim Jin-cheol, Jung Ku-ho * Nomination - Best Lighting - Im Jae-young

References

External links