Special Message

Alice Bennell to visit South Korea in November

Ever since I first watched Korean historical drama Dae Jang Geum back in 2006, I began to to develop a strong interest in Korean culture. With encouragement from several DJG fans, I set up an online campaign to get Dae Jang Geum shown here in the UK.
And so the 'Show Dae Jang Geum on BBC' Campaign was formed, this website created, and an online petition set up. The campaign soon caught the attention of the Korean media; in particular a news report by Korean channel YTN News, which attracted 16,000 visitors to this site within a 24-hour period.

It was in 2006 that I first discovered Korean culture. Fast forward 4 years - I find myself the 3rd place winner in a worldwide Korean Literature Essay Contest, and preparing for my first ever trip to the capital of South Korea. So much has happened so quickly...

Since 2005, the Korean Literature Translation Institute in Seoul has held an annual 'Korean Literature Essay Competition' to promote Korean literature throughout the world. Through each country's Korean Embassy and Cultural Centre, the competition is held in 16 countries worldwide.
2009 was the first year the competition was open to UK entrants, so I decided to enter. The rules were simple - read the set text of a Korean masterpiece and write a 2,000 word critical essay.

And so I spent the summer reading Ch'oe Yun's 'There a Petal Silently Falls', a complex story told in a polyphonic narrative. Many found the story difficult to understand, and I was perplexed. Eventually I decided to just write my own thoughts and feelings about the book. Luckily, the judge (a Korean professor at Oxford University) really liked my essay, and awarded my essay 1st place in the UK's first 'Korean Literature Essay Competition'. At the award ceremony in December 2009 (held in London's Korean Cultural Centre), I was presented with my prize - a beautiful hand-painted scroll, and a Samsung laptop.

As the UK winner of last year's essay competition, I was put forward for the international competition (along with essay winners from 15 other countries - America, Canada, Mexico, Peru, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Russia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Vietnam, Indonesia, China and Japan).

I am very honoured to be named as the 3rd place essay winner worldwide! The Korean Literature Translation Institute have invited me to Seoul for an award ceremony, along with the other 'top 5' winners. I am very excited, this will be my first time visiting South Korea. I look forward to visiting the museums and palaces in Seoul, experiencing Korean cuisine (잘먹겠습니다!), and of course shopping in one of the many Dae-mun markets!

My dream to 'visit Korea one day' has come true! I will be arriving in Seoul (from London) on Wednesday 17th November, and will be spending 5 days in the city.

Shortlist of the 2009 UK Essay Contest finalists

DJG Around the World
Spanish TV channel to broadcast 'Dae Jang Geum'

MBC (Munwha Broadcasting Corporation) have announced that Dae Jang Geum will be dubbed into Spanish and shown on Spain's channel TVE from Saturday 6th November.

Dae Jang Geum was first introduced to Europe when Hungarian TV channel MTV first aired the Korean drama in January 2008. Since then, Dae Jang Geum has also been shown in Romania, but this is the first time Dae Jang Geum has reached a Western European country.

For more information please visit Han Cinema

Dae Jang Geum vs BBC Masterchef

Much of the appeal of Korean historical drama Dae Jang Geum's is the vivid portrayal of traditional Korean culture and cuisine. In fact, MBC invested five years of research into the pre-production of Dae Jang Geum to ensure historical accuracy.

The strongest argument used by the BBC (on why they will not broadcast Dae Jang Geum) was that it would be too unfamiliar to a UK audience (that, and I suppose it is far easier to spoon-feed audiences what they think they want, rather than enrich their minds).
So, perhaps one way to introduce Dae Jang Geum to a UK audience would be to compare elements from the drama to existing 'familiar' programming.

In the following extract from Dae Jang Geum, a 'Masterchef' competition is held at the Imperial Palace on the Queen's birthday, to determine the next Head Chef of the Royal Kitchens. Unfortunately though, our heroine Jang Geum is left to compete alone when her teacher (Lady Han) has been kidnapped...
Compare this to the second video - an extract from BBC Masterchef. What do you think?

Dae Jang Geum Campaign Update
New Direction for 'Show DJG on BBC'

- Focus of Campaign to shift to UK's Channel 4 -

"The South Korean film industry has become increasingly dynamic and well known in the West in the early 21st century" writes Daniel Etherington on the Channel 4 website.
After 2½ years of campaigning to 'Show Dae Jang Geum' on the BBC, I think the time has come to approach Channel 4, the UK's "significant contributor to film culture through its policy of regular screenings of minority-interest films" (Source: Screenonline)

A New Year, A New Direction for the 'Show DJG on BBC' Campaign
My efforts to get Dae Jang Geum shown on BBC have fallen on deaf ears. The BBC are simply not interested. "We do not have the capacity for DJG" claims BBC's Sue Deeks. I suppose they are too busy showing repeats of Eastenders.
In 2009, I intend to switch the focus of my Dae Jang Geum campaign from the BBC and turn my efforts to Channel 4.
In October 2006, Channel 4's film channel, Film4, showed 'Lady Vengence' as part of their Korean film season 'Brilliant Korea'. Having already shown a Lee Young Ae film, Channel 4 may just be interested in showing such a successful Korean drama as Dae Jang Geum.

Dae Jang Geum - A Story of Friendship, Love and Courage
The real Jang Geum (as mentionned in the Annals of Joseon Dynasty) would have been amazed to see her life story dramatised and watched by millions of viewers in the 21st century.

Dae Jang Geum is often referred to as the story of a little girl growing up in 15th century Korea, who eventually became the country's first female Royal Physician. That is certainly Jang Geum's ultimate achievement. The drama's rich and accurate representation of Korean Culture & Royal Cuisine is a visual delight, and has been applauded by critics. But, the true beauty of this 50-hour drama lies in the many layers of friendship and love woven throughout, and can only be appreciated by watching Dae Jang Geum yourself.

It does not seem to matter if we are in 15th century Korea, or 21st century Britain. We all love Jang Geum as if we really knew her. We follow her plights, share her joys, inspired by her will to 'never give up'. We identify ourselves with the characters from the drama, and that is when we realise the Universal appeal that has made Dae Jang Geum such a success.


The true meaning of the 'Show DJG on BBC' Campaign
On the surface, the 'Show DJG on BBC' Campaign is "one girl's plight to have Dae Jang Geum shown in the UK" (as someone once put it). But 'Show DJG on BBC' has shown itself to be much more.
With over 56,600 visitors to this website since April 2006, and 719 signatures on the 'Show DJG on BBC' petition, the Campaign has united Dae Jang Geum fans from around the World. It is thanks to supporters like you, that has kept the spirit of Dae Jang Geum alive.

Happy New Year, and a very big 'kamsahamnida' to you all.

Visit the Channel 4 Website

Return to the Royal Kitchens

Actress Lee Young Ae returns to the set of 'Dae Jang Geum'

Five years after filming Dae Jang Geum, Korean actress Lee Young Ae (Jang Geum) returns to the set of the drama. Produced by Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) in 2008 as part of a special documentary series, 'I am Lee Young Ae':


Visit Lee Young Ae's Offical Website