Princess Hours

Princess Hours
Promotional poster for Princess Hours
Also known as	궁 宫 Goong
Genre	Romance Comedy
Written by	In Eun-A
Directed by	Hwang In-Roi
Starring	Yoon Eun Hye Joo Ji Hoon Kim Jeong Hoon Song Ji-hyo
Opening theme	Traditional Theme
Ending theme	"Perhaps Love"
Country of origin	South Korea
Language(s)	Korean
No. of episodes	24
Production
Producer(s)	Eight Peaks
Running time	Wednesday & Thursday
Broadcast
Original channel	MBC
Original run	11 January 2006 (2006-01-11) – 30 March 2006 (2006-03-30)
Chronology
Related shows	Goong S (Spin-off)
External links
GTV homepage
Eight Peaks Production website

Princess Hours (Hangul:궁, Hanja: 宫, romanized as Gung) is a 2006 Korean drama starring Yoon Eun Hye, Joo Ji Hoon, Kim Jeong Hoon and Song Ji-hyo. It was based on manhwa Goong by Park So-Hee. It was broadcast from 11 January to 30 March 2006 on MBC.

Princess Hours was one of MBC's most popular dramas of 2006, second only to Jumong.^[1] Overall, the show was the tenth most popular drama of 2006, according to TNS Media. Due to the success of the first season, a second season was to be produced. However, it will no longer be produced due to the withdrawal of two main actors. A spin-off series, Goong S, was broadcast on 10 January 2007.

Synopsis

Set in an alternate 21st-century reality where Korea possesses a royal family, since 1945 to present, this show revolves around the lives of the Crown Prince Lee Shin, and his new bride, Chae-kyeong.

The series starts off with the news that the King, Shin's father, is very ill. With the grim outlook on the King's health, the royal family scrambles to find a wife for Shin, so as to allow him to take over the royal throne if the situation requires. Despite being in love with another girl, the ambitious and talented ballerina Hyo-rin whom Shin initially proposed to (she rejects him to pursue her ballet dreams), Shin eventually marries a commoner to whom he was betrothed by his late grandfather in an old agreement with the girl's grandfather. Shin marries the headstrong yet lovable Chae-kyeong after Hyo-rin's rejection. Despite initially feeling nothing for Chae-kyeong, love eventually blossoms between the couple as time passes.

In the meantime, however, matters are further complicated with the return of Lee Yul and his mother Lady Hwa-Young, who was once the Crown Princess before the death of her husband, the late Crown Prince, older brother of the current King. Yul and his mother were chased out of the palace some time after the death of his father, and it is later revealed that this was due to the King's discovery of an affair between Yul's mother and the current King who was his father's younger brother. Yul's mother had returned with a sinister motive in mind; to restore her son back to the throne, which would have been his eventually, if his father had not died. A series of events befall the palace with the schemes Yul's mother carries out, and is further intensified by the various scandals involving the royal family, which are inclusive of the Shin's continuing relationship with his old flame Hyo-rin, and the budding love Yul develops for Chae-kyeong, his cousin's new-found bride. Things get out of hand and many incidents happen.^[2]

Cast

• Yoon Eun Hye as Shin Chae-Kyung (신채경)

Shin Chae-kyeong is a very creative and outgoing, normal high school girl. She attends the same school as Lee Shin, the Crown Prince of Korea. Her grandfather was best friends with the former king. To honour his friend, the late king dictated that Chae-kyeong is to become the Crown Princess, meaning that she is to marry whoever is the Crown Prince at the designated time of the marriage (Lee Shin). Although she often seems immature and irritating, she is a kindhearted, innocent, honest person. Often called "pig" by her younger brother, Chae-kyeong marries the Prince because of the promised arrangement made between her and Shin's grandfather. Her initial reaction to Lee Shin is one of irritation but she falls in love with him in the earlier part of the series, not knowing that he, in turn, feels the same way, toward the end of the episodes. Although she sees Lee Yul only as a friend and cousin-in-law, he falls in love with her.^[2]

• Joo Ji Hoon as Crown Prince Lee Shin (이 신)

The future Crown Prince of Korea, Lee Shin, is seen as a smug, indifferent, insensitive young man. After getting rejected by his girlfriend when he proposes to her, he decides to go along with his elders' arranged marriage with Shin Chae-kyeong. At first, he is irritated by her naivete and enthusiasm, but as he recognises how genuinely sweet she is, he begins to open his heart to her, and falls in love. Throughout the series, it becomes obvious that he is just a lonely, sensitive, warm and kind young man. He also owns a teddy bear, Alfred, the only 'companion' that allows him to let his guard down, which serves as a focal point throughout the series. As his cousin re-enters the picture after being forced out of the country many years earlier, the Prince quickly butts head with him, as Lee Yul is a contender not only for the throne, but for the Crown Princess-to-be Chae-kyeong's affection. Chae-kyeong does not realise this until later on in the story.^[2]

• Kim Jeong Hoon (김정훈), as Eui-Sung Yul [Hwi-Sung Dae Goon]

Yul left Korea at the age of 5. He "was supposed to be the Crown Prince", but his father died in a car accident and he and his mother were kicked out of the palace. He was the one who was supposed to marry Chae-Kyeong, but because of this accident he is no longer able to. He has a crush on Chae-Kyeong and he tries to tell her that he is her fiancé, but she does not understand. His mother is trying to get justice and revenge for him. He is also best friends with Prince Willam; which makes them call each other "bros".^[2]

• Song Ji-hyo as Min Hyo-rin (민효린)

Hyo-rin is a talented and gifted ballet dancer. She is beautiful, intelligent, accomplished—basically, perfect in every way possible, but she is also poor. Prince Shin and her ballet instructor paid for her tuition fees at school. In the beginning, she is Shin's girlfriend, and he proposes to her. However, she rejects him, not only because she thinks he is joking, but also because she does not wish to give up her dreams of becoming a star ballerina. When she sees Chae-kyeong and Shin's wedding and how much Chae-kyeong is loved by the people (similar to Diana, Princess of Wales), she regrets her hasty decision, and does everything she can to oust Chae-kyeong from her position. Hyo-rin finds ways to draw Shin back to her, including a "chance" meeting in Thailand, but simply ends up hurting herself, resulting in attempted suicide by pill overdose. Later, however, she recognises that Shin does truly love Chae-Kyung. She ultimately gives up on him and instead decides to pursue and concentrate on her career as a ballerina.^[2]

• Shim Hye-jin (심혜진), as Lady Hwa-Yong (Yul's mother)

After being kicked out of the palace. she and her son Yul go to England. Years later she returns with a sinister plan to get back the throne. She uses Hyo-Rin to get prince Shin and Chae-Kyeoung to divorce. She causes chaos by releasing photos to the press of Hyo-rin and Shin in Thailand on a date. She also tells the press that Shin assaulted Yul, so people will start to doubt him of being a suitable Crown Prince and a heir to the throne.

Extended cast

• Lee Yoon Ji (이윤지) as Hye-Myung
• Jeon Ji Ae as Lee Kang-hyun
• Nah Eun-kyeong (나은경), as Kim Soon-young
• Dan Ji (단지) as Yoon Hee-soong
• Kang Nam Gil (강남길) as Chae-kyeong's father
• Im Ye Jin (임예진) as Chae-kyeong's mother
• Kim Suk as Shin Chae-joon (Chae-kyeong's younger brother)
• Kim Sang-joong (김상중), as Lee Soo (Yool's deceased father)
• Park Chan-hwan (박찬환), as Lee Hyeon (Shin's father)
• Kim Hye-ja (김혜자), as HM Queen Mother/Tae Hoo Mama (Yool and Shin's grandmother)
• Shim Hye-jin (심혜진), as Lady Hwa-Yong (Yul's mother)
• Yoon Yoo-seon (윤유선), as the Empress Queen/KWang Hoo mama(Yi Shin's mother)
• Choi Seong-joon (최성준), as Kang-in (강인)
• Lee Yong-joo (이용주), as Jang-kyung (장경)
• Uhm Seong-mo (엄성모), as Ryu-hwan (류환)
• Choi Bool-am (최불암), as Emperor Seongjo (성조 황제) (Shin and Yool's grandfather) (deceased)
• Lee Ho-jae (이호재), as Gong Nae-kwan (공 내관)
• Jeon Su-yeon (전수연), as Choi Sang Gung (최 상궁)

Awards and nominations

• 2006 Seoul Drama Awards: Best Art Director (Min Uhn Ok)^[3]
• 2006 MBC Acting Awards: Best New Actor (Joo Ji Hoon)
• 2006 MBC Acting Awards: Best New Actress (Yoon Eun Hye)
• 2007 MBC Acting Awards: Best New Artist (Joo Ji Hoon)

Spin-off and sequel

Season 2

The plot of the sequel would have closely followed the plot of the remaining volumes of the manhwa. The production company, Eight Peaks was aiming to re-sign the entire original cast for the sequel Goong 2.

Eight Peaks stated that they would aim to film Goong 2 in late 2007 or early 2008.^[4] However, Yoon Eun Hye and Kim Jeong Hoon have stated their wishes to withdraw from Eight Peaks due to conflicting problems with the company. Yoon Eun Hye, one of the main character, has already ended her contract with Eight Peaks and has moved onto Kraze Entertainment.^[5] Without the complete main characters of the first season, it is most likely there will be no sequel of Goong.

Goong S

A Spin-off series, Goong S, revolves around a young worker at a Chinese restaurant who suddenly discovers that he is a member of the royal family and subsequently enters the palace. Hwang mentioned that he would be looking for Yoon Eun Hye's male counterpart, of sorts. This spinoff has no relation to the first season since there is a new cast and plot.

In October 2006, Korean pop star Se7en was chosen to play the leading role in the spinoff. He will play the character of "Yi Hoo", while others in the drama's second season include Heo Yi Jae (who plays Yang Soon-Ae), Kang Doo (who plays Yi Joon), and Park Shin-hye (who plays Shin Sae-Ryung). Many of the supporting cast, including those who played the royal family, are expected to join Goong S. Filming started in November 2006.

The name for the spin-off changed from Goong 2 to Goong S – Prince Hours (궁 S) due to copyright infringement problems. Filming continued despite Group 8 facing lawsuits due to the unlawful use of Goong in the title.^[6] However, MBC has looked into this issue with Eight Peaks and have stated that the channel station and original production company both own the rights of the name.^[7] Goong S will still be used for this season, with the subtitle of "Prince Who". Goong S was broadcasted from January 10 to March 15, 2007, with only a few minor characters returning for this spinoff.

Goong: Musical

Goong: Musical (Hangul: 뮤지컬 궁) is a theatrical musical spin-off of the television drama. It debuted in 2010 as South Korea's first original musical, and is continuing its run in Seoul as of February 2010. It starred U-Know Yunho of TVXQ, then Kim Kyu Jong of SS501 as male lead Lee Shin, where he also performed in Kyoto from 11 June to 1 July^[8]

International

DVD release

The US DVD release by YA Entertainment uses the title Palace.^[9]

Broadcast

See also

• Korean royalty

References

External links

• (Korean) Official Website
• (English) MBC Global Media
• (Korean) Goong: Muiscal official homepage
• Entry in the Encyclopedia of Science Fiction