JAPANESE FOOD

Agedashi Tofu
Fried tofu served with light soy sauce.

Bentos
A Japanese lunch box that may contain a variety of different foods.

Chankonabe
This is famous as a sumo wrestler's dish. A variety of ingredients such as meat, fish and vegetables are cooked at the table in a large pot.

Chawanmushi
Cup-steamed egg custard with chicken, shrimp and vegetables. Trefoil leaves are often put on top as a garnish.

Chirashi-zushi
A dish of sliced raw fish, vegetables and pickles on sushi rice (vinegared rice) served in a layered lacquer box.

Curry Rice
Japanese-style mild curry on rice.

Daifuku
A bun stuffed with sweet red bean paste.

Donburi
Is the bowl served with a dish such as Katsudon.

Dorayaki
A pancake with sweet red bean paste inside.

Fugu
Japanese puffer fish, a highly toxic fish eaten in Japan from approved restaurants.

Gyoza
Fried dumplings with pork and leek.

Gyudon
A bowl of rice topped with thinly sliced beef and onions which have been cooked together in a soy-flavoured sauce.

Gyu Tataki
Raw beef slices served with garlic, spring onion and soy-flavoured sauce.

Inari-zushi
A kind of sushi wrapped with sweet bean curd.

Ishiyaki Imo
Sweet potatoes baked over hot stones. Selling from a cart equipped with such an oven, the vendor calls out a chant-like "ishi-yaki-imo" to attract customers.

Katsudon
A bowl of rice topped with deep fried crumbed pork and egg.

Kitsune Udon
A bowl of white thick noodles and soup topped by sweet bean curd.

Maki-zushi
Vinegared rice rolled in a sheet of seaweed usually with egg, vegetables or dried gourd in the center. It is served in bite-sized pieces.

Makunouchi Bento
A box lunch usually consists of small rice balls sprinkled with black sesame seeds and an assortment of broiled fish or fish cakes, rolled omelettes, vegetables and pickles.

Miso Shiru
Fermented soybean paste soup with some fish or vegetables served in a layered lacquer bowl.

Nabeyaki Udon
A pan of white thick noodles and soup served with deep fried prawn and vegetables.

Nasu Dengaku
Grilled eggplant with sweet soy bean paste.

Nigiri-zushi
A kind of sushi consisting of a slice of raw fish on a small oval-shaped ball of vinegared rice.

Ochazuke
A large bowl of rice with hot water or green tea poured over it. Broiled salted salmon, cod roe, dried laver or pickles are usually put on top. A little wasabi (Japanese horseradish) may be added.

Oden
A stew in which a variety of ingredients such as tofu, eggs, white radish, fried fish paste and potatoes boiled together in a large pot of seasoned fish broth. Hot mustard is served as a condiment.

Ohagi
An oval-shaped sweet made from sticky rice coated with sweet red bean paste.

Okonomiyaki
A Japanese-style pancake usually grilled on an iron plate. It is made from batter with bits of meat, seafood, egg and chopped cabbage.

Osuimono
Clear soy base soup with some fish or vegetables served in a layered lacquer bowl.

Oyakodon
A bowl of rice topped with chicken and egg in a soy-flavoured sauce.

Ramen
A bowl of yellow noodles and soup with slices of roast pork, fishcake and spring onion.

Sashimi
Sliced raw fish eaten after being dipped in soy sauce mixed with wasabi. Among the most popular fish are tuna, yellowtail and cuttlefish.

Sekihan
Sticky rice steamed with red beans. Since red is considered to be the color of joy, it is prepared for auspicious occasions such as festivals and birthdays.

Shabu Shabu
A dish of thinly sliced beef and vegetables cooked in a shallow pan. The meat is first quickly boiled in broth and then dipped in ponzu & sesame sauces.

Somen
Very thin white noodles served with slices of cucumber and other vegetables in a large glass bowl of icy water. Eaten after being dipped in a soy-flavoured sauce.

Sukiyaki
A dish of thinly sliced beef, tofu, onions, siitake mushrooms, corn marigold and other vegetables cooked in a pan at the table. Sugar, soy sauce and sake are added for flavour.

Takosu
A kind of Japanese salad made of vinegared octopus and vegetables.

Takoyaki
Grilled octopus dumpling including batter, octopus and spring onion. Sold at street stands, it is grilled on an iron plate and served with shaved bonito and a thick sauce.

Tanuki Soba
A bowl of brown noodles and soup topped by sweet bean curd.

Tatsuta Age
Deep fried marinated chicken with garlic, ginger and soy sauce.

Tempra
Dish of prawns, small fish, squid and vegetables deep-fried after being in batter. It is served with a light say sauce.

Teppanyaki
A fried dish on a hot plate with a combination of seafood or meat and vegetables.

Tonkatsu
Deep fried crumbed pork served with Japanese BBQ sauce.

Tsukemono
Pickled vegetables in salt, rice bran, miso or sake sediment. They are usually served to complement other dishes.

Tsukudani
A preserved food made by boiling an ingredient, which may be fish, shellfish, a vegetable or seaweed, with sugar and soy sauce.

Unaju
A dish of grilled eel on rice with a sweet glaze sauce served in a layered lacquer box.

Yakimeshi
Japanese-style fried rice with some meat, vegetables and egg.

Yakisoba
Fried noodles with pork or squid and vegetables.

Yakitori
Chunks of chicken and vegetables arranged on bamboo skewers grilled over a charcoal fire and dipped in a special sweet soy sauce.

Yakizakana
Grilled fish. Among the most popular fish are saury, yellowtail and salmon.

Yasai Itame
Fried vegetables such as cabbage, beansprouts and bell pepper with some meat.

Yosenabe
A dish of various kind of meat or fish and vegetables cooked in a earthen pot at the table. Served with ponzu or sesame sauce.

Zaru Soba
Cold brown noodles dish dipped in a sauce with wasabi, spring onion and quail egg.

Zoni
A soup containing rice cakes and vegetables. It is a special dish for the New Year holidays and each region has different style.

Zosui
A kind of porridge of rice and vegetables. Boiled rice is cooked in a soup and then mixed with trefoil leaves, egg or seafood.

The original Japanese platform shoes

Long before the 1970's and the platform shoes, Japanese women had been wearing Geta sandals or clogs.

The reason for wear these very high platform shoes was not for fashion, but for very practical reasons. If you are wearing a very expensive kimono that hangs all the way to your feet, you do not want to get mud on it when you walk outside. (A larger version of the picture can be seen by clicking on it).

Are Geta difficult to walk in?
Yes! Significant practice is required before someone can walk safely and elegantly in Geta.

Geta are made of one piece of solid wood forming the sole and two wooden blocks underneath. These block may have a metal plate on the section that touches the ground in order to lengthen the life span of the Geta. A V-shaped thong of cloth forms the upper part of the sandal.

KIMONO OBI

The Japanese kimono obi is a traditional decorative cloth worn around the middle of a kimono.

Introduction to Obi
History of the Obi
Obi Weaves, Dyes & Stitches
Types of Obi
Modern uses for kimono Obi

Introduction to Obi

More people the world over are recognising that Japanese traditional arts are too lovely to be left behind in the rush towards the 21st century. As Japan races forward, technologically and economically, we tend to forget its older image of picturesque teahouses and thatched roofs. Yet the design principles and philosophy behind traditional creations have not changed.

For several decades now, Japanese women have found Western dress more practical, comfortable and economical than traditional Japanese kimono and obi attire. The trousseau of fine heirloom obi is no longer a part of modern Japanese women's lives. The decline in the kimono industry in Japan has resulted in fewer obis being produced each year.


A young Japanese woman wearing a furisode kimono with a matching Obi.

As a fine obi becomes scarce, many of the best obis are considered collector's items. The most rare and expensive obi is the maru obi. Vintage maru obi is most valuable, as the patina of the gold thread resembles that of an antique tapestry. Newer maru obi, while it is still beautifully designed, does not have the lustre of the older maru obi, perhaps because of the use of synthetic material in combination with silk.

You will be paying top dollar for a high quality obi at antique shops in Japan. Some large department stores hold clearance sales several times a year. Expect to pay several hundred dollars for a used obi, while a new obi can cost several thousand dollars.

KIMONO

Kimono: Over 55 pages of kimono pictures, kimono style descriptions, kimono history, kimono fashion competitions, places to buy kimonos and articles relating to kimonos.

The kimono is a traditional form of clothing worn by Japanese women and men. There are many different kimono styles. We detail all the different forms of Japanese kimonos here.

Kimono Picture:
Traditional Japanese dancer Michiko Moriguchi appearing in a traditional Japanese kimono at the Japan Festival Melbourne.

KIMONO HISTORY

Traditional clothing of the Edo period, (1600-1868), included the kimono and obi as we know them today. The obi did not, however, become a prominent part of a woman’s ensemble until the mid Edo period. It was then that designers, weavers and dyers all focused their talent on creating a longer, wider and more elaborate obi. Obi measurement was then standardised to 360cm long by 30cm wide.

Edo fashion was influenced by the design and style that courtesans and entertainers wear. Women of the samurai class continued to wear the simpler kosode kimono, tied together with an obi made of braided cords. Outside the samurai class, women experimented with a more elaborate kimono - the furisode, which is often seen on the Kabuki stage. Characterised by long, flowing sleeves, the furisode kimono was accented by a large, loosely tied obi.

For many years, the obi bow was tied either at the front or on the side. By the mid-Edo period, the obi bow was tied in the back position. It was said that this style started in the mid-1700s when a Kabuki actor, imitating a young girl, came on stage with his obi tied in the back. Another reason that the back position became more acceptable was that the sheer bulk of the wider obi became too cumbersome to be positioned in the front of the kimono.

The Meiji era, (1868-1912) witnessed a revolution in the textile industry with the advent of electric weaving looms and chemical dying techniques from the West. During this time, a woman's kimono ceased to be worn in the free-flowing style of the earlier days. The new fashion was to tuck the kimono at the waist to adjust the length of the kimono to the woman's height. These tucks and folds were visible and became part of the art of tying the obi.

HOW TO WEAR KIMONO

The first part on how to wear a yukata - the casual Japanese kimono.

	Step 1: Hold the two collar ends (‘erisaki’) with the right hand. Place the yukata to the right side and take a step forward.
	Step 2: Bring the yukata over the back of the body. Open it up.
	Step 3: Wear the yukata over the shoulders. Hold both overlaps with both hands away from the body. Step 4: Hold the yukata tightly and lift it off the floor. Lower the yukata slowly to adjust its length. The skirting of the yukata is worn just above the ankles.
The second part on how to wear a yukata - the casual Japanese kimono. Step 5: Continue to hold the yukata tightly. Bring the left overlap over the body and adjust its width such that its edge runs along the right point of the hipbone. Step 6: Continue to hold the yukata tightly. Open up the left overlap and bring the right overlap over the body. Lift the end of the right overlap by about 3-5cm. Step 7: Continue to hold the yukata tightly. Bring the left overlap over the right overlap and hold its end with the right hand. Take the first waist sash (‘koshi himo’ sash) with the left hand. Step 8: Remove any creases around the stomach, waist and back with the left hand. Tie the ‘koshi himo’ sash around the waist. The third part on how to wear a yukata - the casual Japanese kimono. Step 9: Insert both hands into the openings under the arm (‘miyatsuguchi’). Use both hands to remove any creases around the waist on both the back and front of the body. Step 10: Hold the ‘centre’ line on the back with the left hand and adjust the distance between the collar and neck by pulling the collar ends with the right hand. Please note that the distance between the collar and the neck should be the size of a clenched fist. Step 11: Fold the top right overlap to make a triangle shape. Step 12: Bring the upper left overlap over the upper right overlap. Tie the upper overlaps with a second ‘koshi himo’ sash. he fourth part on how to wear a yukata - the casual Japanese kimono. Step 13: Check that the top and bottom parts are aligned. Step 14: Check the centre line on the back. Step 15: Hold the obi board (‘obi ita’) with the left hand. Please note that ‘obi ita’ is used to maintain the shape of the obi tie. Step 16: Wear the ‘obi ita’ on the front of the body.

Big Bang new album Number 1 free korea song download

Big Bang, a Korean boy band released their new album “Number 1″, first album in Japan. Number 1 features 13 tracks, including How Gee, Baby Baby, and Always which were also featured on their earlier Japan mini albums For The World and With U.

Number 1′ album will have a total of 8 song with 6 new songs in it. The new songs are said to be of a different music style as what Big Bang is used to produce in Korea. Already, the title song ‘Number 1′ has received heat responses after its reveal on online sites previously.

YG Entertainment said, “The song ‘Number 1′ is produced with the participation of Sweden producing team ‘Silverroom’, and it features GDragon and TOP’s rap that gives off the bouncy feel, TaeYang’s sexy vocal and also SeungRi and DaeSung’s more matured vocal. The Big Bang members have brought their new song to another level.”

The album will also include ‘Make Love’ from TaeYang’s solo album as sung in the R&B version by all 5 members, ‘Everything’ and ‘Remember’ amongst other songs.”

Artist : Big Bang
Album : Number 1
Release Date: October 22, 2008
Language: English/Korean/Japanese
Genre: Pop/R&B
Artist: Male group

Number 1 Track list
01. Intro
02. Number 1
03. Make Love
04. Come Be My Lady
05. Haru Haru
06. With U
07. How Gee
08. Baby Baby
09. So Beautiful
10. Remember
11. Heaven
12. Everything
13. Always
14. Candle (Together Forever, Japanese Ver.)

TOKYO FASHION

Tokyo fashion - Tokyo fashion locations, Tokyo fashion pictures, Tokyo fashion styles, Tokyo fashion shopping and Tokyo fashion updates.

Tokyo Fashion

http://www.japaneselifestyle.com.au/tokyo/tokyo_fashion.htm

TOKYO FASHION - SPRING 2006 UPDATE
There were some very distinct fashion trends for young women in Tokyo this Spring. Denim jackets and skirts - Never worn together, but a short denim jacket would be worn over a dress or t-shirt with pants in a wide range of lengths from the very short to full length in either army green or camouflage.	Below the knee length boots were very common, worn with shorts or dresses, but with bare legs. Stocking socks were worn with the boots, more frequently showing than hidden at the top. The styles of boots varied greatly, as I don't think I ever saw any the same. Many boots were a cowboy style, but with a high pointed heel. Others had patterns on the side or fancy laces. Black was not a common color.
TOKYO FASHION - LOCATIONS
HARAJUKU Possibly the new centre of fashion in Tokyo, from the latest in young fashion to extreme fashion Gothic Lolita.	GINZA It is considered the fashion area of the Tokyo and contains many up market shops and restaurants.
ODAIBA A popular shopping and sightseeing destination for Tokyoites and tourists alike.	SHINJUKU A key fashion shopping and nightlife part of Tokyo.
ROPPONGI Famous for its nightlife where thousands of foreigners are visible. Almost all restaurants and clubs cater to the English-speaking crowd.	SHIBUYA The trendy part of Tokyo, where you can see the latest and often outrageous fashion.
TOKYO FASHION - DISTINCT STYLES
KOGAL A subculture of girls and young women in urban Japan. They are characterized by conspicuously displaying their disposable incomes through unique tastes in fashion, music, and social activity.	GOTHIC LOLITA Gothic Lolita or GothLoli is a Japanese youth fashion among Japanese teenagers and young women. It emphasizes Victorian-style girl's clothing and often aims to imitate the look of Victorian porcelain dolls.
GANGURO Ganguro (ガングロ), literally "black-face", is a Japanese fashion trend among many Japanese girls which peaked in popularity from the late 1990s.

For a special segment of SBS Gayo Daejun, the representative members of Korea's most popular boy-bands of 2009 got together for a fun shoot. 2AM's maknae, Jinwoon, 2PM's Thai Prince, NichKhun, Beast's Blondie, Yoseop, MBLAQ's Hollywood Star, Joon, SHINee's "Tofu" leader ONew, and Super Junior's Sweet Pumpkin Prince, Sungmin, got together to make fan girls everywhere melt. This just increases the anticipation for this year's show, which is guaranteed to bring together the hottest acts of the year! But where are SS501 and U-Kiss? It seems they were snubbed this year... Anyway check out the pictures below! (By the way, I didn't mention DBSK or Big Bang because they didn't promote anything in Korea this year)

(Source: Omgkpop )

Barang kesukaan Shinee

Upzzz,,,, barang kesukaan Shinee Lutu"

QUEEN SEON_DEOK

[Queen Seon-deok] Kim Nam-gil as Bi-dam, "Bi-dam with both good and evil sides is perfect for me"

-His handsome features befit that of a Hwa-rang member!

-Postersof six characters from the drama are being advertised on the sides ofbuses; much attention is also given to Kim Nam-gil

Kim Nam-gilhas shown various sides in his past projects, which include movies[Portrait of a Beauty] and [Hand Phone]. [Queen Seon-deok] ishis return to the small screen after a 2-year hiatus. In the upcomingspecial drama [Queen Seon-deok] that celebrates MBC's 48th anniversary(script by Kim Young-hyeon and Park Sang-yeon, directed by ParkHong-gyun and Kim Geun-hong), Kim Nam-gil is Mi-shil's(Go Hyeong-jeong) secret son Bi-dam who eventually leads the "Rebellionof Bi-dam."

The character Bi-dam will go from good to evil, fromone end of the spectrum to the extreme other end. Kim is currentlyimmersed in the study of his character.

This is Kim's secondstab at the historical period piece genre, and this time he is anantagonist. Compared to other actors his age, he has always drawnattention for choosing roles that are distinct and different. Whenasked why he chose to take on the role of Bi-dam, he replied, "I wasreally attracted to this character because he gradually transforms fromgood to evil. As it is with Kim Yu-shin and Kim Chun-chu, this is thefirst time a drama is attempting to bring the historical characterBi-dam to life, and so I'm excited to create him as my own."

Totake on this role, he revisited horseback riding, and instead of justresorting to sword fighting or archery as is typical in a historicalperiod piece, he held many discussions with the director in order toset himself aside, showing just how passionate he is.

When KimNam-gil showed up for the poster shoot dressed up as Bi-dam, the staffwas blown away by how perfect he was as Bi-dam. Standing tall at 185cmand with a well-toned body, and on top of that very handsome features,he seemed to be the perfect Hwa-rang member. On top of that, he alsogave off a sexy aura, much to the delight of the female staff members.With the disclosure of his individual posters and his inclusion in thegroup poster, interest towards him is expected to rise.

In replyto how he feels to be acting alongside three beautiful women - GoHyeon-jeong, Lee Yo-won and Park Ye-jin - he replied, "It's exciting tobe in a field of flowers after only working with men. Even the summerheat can't bother me now."

Kim and Eom Tae-woong are so closethat Kim made a special guest appearance in the movie [Hand Phone]. "Inthe movie, he beat me up quite one-sidedly, but thank goodness thatwon't be happening in the drama. I'm so glad to be acting oppositeTae-woong since we're good friends." To Eom directly he said, "Let'salways be close friends, but please, go easy on me next time. It reallyhurt."

The character Bi-dam in [Queen Seon-deok] is originally agood guy, someone who grows up to be a good and brave member of theHwa-rang despite the sad back story of his birth. Yet, due to hissurrounding environment, he begins to change as his hidden desiresbegin to come out, and he becomes enemies with Kim Yu-shin (EomTae-woong). Kim Nam-gil has always been successful in taking on new anddifferent roles thanks to his good looks and his solid acting skills.His characterization of Bi-dam will soon be seen when [Queen Seon-deok]airs.

[Queen Seon-deok] Yu Seung-ho as Kim Chun-chu, "Please look forward to my first adult role" source: MBC news

-A "veteran" historical period piece actor, seeing how this is his fourth

-Transition from child actor to adult actor with his role in [Queen Seon-deok]

“I can't be a child actor forever."
“Please look forward to my first adult role!"

Consideredeveryone's little brother and much loved as "Little So Ji-seob," actorYu Seung-ho attempts his first adult role in the upcoming drama [QueenSeon-deok].

In MBC's special drama celebrating its 48thanniversary [Queen Seon-deok] (script by Kim Young-hyeon and ParkSang-yeon, directed by Park Hong-gyun and Kim Geun-hong), Yu Seung-hois Princess Cheon-myeong's (Park Ye-jin) son Kim Chun-chu, who laterbecomes King Tae-jo Mu-yeol. Chun-chu becomes a leader of the Hwa-rangalongside Kim Yu-shin and later takes the throne as King Mu-yeol.

Whenasked how much he knew about Kim Chun-chu, he confessed, "I know thathe has a very strong personality. But I haven't received all thescripts yet so I've yet to understand him completely."

KimChun-chu makes his first appearance around episode 20. When asked if hefeels any pressure about taking on an adult role, he replied, "I'vealways done child roles so I'm definitely more comfortable with them,but I can't be a child actor forever. This is a step I have to take,now or someday, so I think if I keep at it I'll grow more comfortabledoing adult roles."

[Queen Seon-deok] is already Yu Seung-ho'sfourth historical period piece venture following [Immortal Admiral YiSun-shin], [The King and I] and [The Legend (of the King's Four Gods)],yet that doesn't lessen the anxiety. "I get nervous each time. Thelines are hard to say compared to modern dramas and it's even morenerve-wracking working with all the respected older actors, but in theend it's fun because you learn a lot more. I want to try my best."

-“My role model is An Seong-gi!”

-He likes being everyone's little brother!

YuSeung-ho has always shown us that he is growing into an honest andupright young man through his various commercials and photo spreads,and so he is known as "everyone's little brother" and "a star of thenext generation." His reaction to these qualifiers was, "On onehand, they make me feel good, but on the other hand, it's a lot ofpressure. Since I'm straddling the line between being a child actor andbecoming an adult actor, I need to work harder and be more careful.Though there is some pressure, I will try hard to live up to everyone'sexpectations."

At the cusp of becoming an adult actor, his rolemodel is veteran actor An Seong-gi. "I respect him so much. He shows somany sides and becomes his characters so naturally. I want to becomelike him."

A main force behind Silla's unification of the ThreeKingdoms is Tae-jo Mu-yeol Kim Chun-chu, and this is Yu Seung-ho'sfirst adult role. He will be making an appearance in the upcoming[Queen Seon-deok] which debuts on May 25th.


[Queen Seon-deok] 500 extras on set for Nang-cheon-jae, a Hwa-rang festival
source: MBC news

-Overnight filming for the grand scale Hwa-rang festival Nang-cheon-jae and the coronation of King Jin-ji


Themost anticipated drama of the year [Queen Seon-deok] aired the verytalked about spectacular scenes of King Jin-ji's coronation and theNang-cheon Festival (a Hwa-rang festival) in its first episode. Thesescenes were filmed day and night recently.


Thehead count for extras used were at approximately 500, two large cranesheld up lights bright enough to brighten the set like the day, andseveral moving cameras were set up.

Thecoronation of the young and fragile King Jin-ji was attended by the sixdifferent clans and their distinctive ways of cultural dancing, and theceremony came to a close after its highlight, the contact with Silla'sfounder Park Hyeok-keo-se. Filming began on May 5th as soon as the sunset and continued until dawn the following day. The dance team fromSang-myeong University performed beautifully and those actorsspecializing in action moves captured everyone's interest with theirmartial arts moves.

Another scene was filmed the following day,the Nang-cheon Festival (a Hwa-rang festival) and the sworn resolutionof the Hwa-rang members. In this scene, Mi-shil (Go Hyeon-jeong) leadsthe sworn Hwa-rang members to King Jin-ji in order to demand hisabdication of the throne.

With dark make-up around the eyes andtheir lips reddened, the Hwa-rang members follow Mi-shil with fiercedetermination into the Hwa-rang main hall and demand that King Jin-jiabdicate the throne.

The veteran cinematographer of historicalperiod pieces Kim Young-cheol and director Kim Geun-hong of [Yi San]and [Jewel in the Palace] walked everyone through this difficult scene.

Thisscene was necessarily in order to show Mi-shil's wily says as well asthe way she wields great power. The viewers will be able to witness theextravagance of the Silla Kingdom, the fierce battle for power as wellas the determination of Hwa-rang as never seen before.

[Queen Seon-deok] In the footsteps of a hit drama with premiere ratings of 16%
source: MBC news

-TNS nationwide 16%, Seoul 17.1%

-AGBNielson nationwide 15.3, Seoul 16.8%, scoring similarly to and higher than

MBC's 48th Anniversary special drama [Queen Seon-deok](scripted by Kim Young-hyeon & Park Sang-yeon, directed by ParkHong-gyun & Kim Geun-hong) followed in the footsteps of past hithistorical period pieces that aired during the Mon-Tues timeslot withhigh premiere ratings and got off to a good start.

The firstepisode of [Queen Seon-deok] aired at 10:30PM on the 25th. The SillaKingdom's main temptress Mi-shil (Go Hyeon-jeong] showed us akaleidoscope of facial expressions that reflected her dream to usurpthe throne, stirring and exciting action as well as a great charisma asshe demanded the king abdicate the throne, recording a high rating of16%. In the main metropolitan city of Seoul, ratings hit a high of17.1%.

According to AGB Nielson, the ratings were 15.3% adn16.8% nationwide and in Seoul, respectively, and therefore [QueenSeon-deok] has all the ingredients to become a hit drama.

[QueenSeon-deok] follows the tradition of historical period dramas airing inthe Mon-Tues timeslot, and it beat scriptwriter Kim Young-hyeon'sprevious work , which had a 15.2% (TNSnationwide) rating for its first episode. And it scored higher than therecent drama by director Lee Byeong-hun by 2% since recorded 14% ratings for its first episode. And it isonly .3% lower than 's first episode (16.3%). Therefore[Queen Seon-deok] continues the tradition of a strong start for MBC'shit historical period piece dramas.

[Queen Seon-deok] was highlyanticipated by the media and the public even before its first episode,and afterwards, viewers showed a high interest on the official websitefor the character of Mi-shil, acted by Go Hyeon-jeong.

After thefirst episode, user [Seo Jeong-wu] praised, "It was highly intense andfun. I'm looking forward to Go Hyeon-jong's great acting." And user[Kim Byeon-san] said, "Mi-shil's terrifying charisma in the firstepisode gave me chills."

Scriptwriters Kim Young-hyeon and ParkSang-yeon were so nervous they couldn't sleep for a week before thefirst broadcast, and the two directors put everything into filmingnight and day in order to win over the viewers.

Led by thetagline "The one who secures the people will acquire the world and rulethe ages," [Queen Seon-deok] plans to use this smooth start as astepping stone in order to present an even more interesting and tightstoryline.

Scriptwriters Kim Young-hyeon & Park Sang-yeon

[Queen Seon-deok] Ratings rise, Mi-shil's charisma captivates the Mon/Tues audience source: MBC news

-Ratings for episode 2 rose from yesterday's 16% to 16.6% nationwide and 17.8% in Seoul (TNS)

Mi-shil(Go Hyeon-jong) unleashes her unbounded charisma in her determinationto become queen, and her villainy has captivated the viewers.

Episode2 of [Queen Seon-deok] showed Mi-shil forcing the abdication of KingJin-ji and following that up by trying to seduce the young KingJin-pyeong in her blind ambition to become queen.

Also, preparations were made for the birth of Mi-shil's future rival Princess Deok-man (who will become Queen Seon-deok).

Theintensity of the scenes and the pace of the plot has captured theinterest of the villains, leading to the rise in ratings to 16.6%. Andit shot up to 17.8% in the Seoul region.

Praises for Mi-shil continue to pop up on the website, including comments like "Her aura is incredible" (user Lee Yun-hui).

Inthe upcoming episodes 3 and 4, the story will deal with the ordealsthat Princess Deom-man goes through when she is sent to China in orderto ensure her safety from the clutches of Mi-shil.

[Queen Seon-deok] Success virus of the star directors, Park Hong-gyun & Kim Geun-hong source: MBC news


*First picture is director Park Hong-gyun
*Second picture is the blonde director Kim Geun-hong


-DirectorPark Hong-gyun of 35% ratings + historical perioddrama specialist director Kim Geun-hong of [Yi San] in perfect harmonylike well-fitted cogs of a wheel


From the first twoepisodes aired, [Queen Seon-deok] has proven itself to be captivating,as expected from a highly anticipated historical period drama. Thisdrama is backed by not only the best writers and the most talentedactors as well as a solid and detailed storyline, but it also has thepowerful combination of directors Park and Kim.

We havedirector Park Hong-gyun, who opened a new era of medical dramas with[New Heart], and the young director Kim Geun-hong, who worked alongsideLee Byeong-hun in some of the greatest historical dramas.

Inhis 13th year of this line of work, Park Hong-gyun is acknowledged byall for his exquisite style and attention to detail, as proven by theway he really made contact with the viewers in [New Heart].

Ofthe first two episodes, Park commented, "Go Hyeon-jeong as Mi-shil isperforming 120% more than our expectations. [...] Mi-shil is a bit ofan unfamiliar character to the viewers, and it seems her establishmentas a character has been successful in the first two episodes. I'msatisfied."

He continued with, "The stage has been set well withMi-shil's strong performance and presence. From now on, please keepyour attention on how the twins Deok-man and Cheon-myeong come uponobstacles and overcome them." The China location shots in the upcomingepisodes 3~6 are all the proud handiwork of director Park Hong-gyun.

Onset in the Ningsia Province, in the desert, in parks and otherlocations, the [Queen Seon-deok] crew had to fight a bitter and harshbattle with sandstorms and the freezing cold 20 degrees below zero,Celcius. Park had a word of praise of young actor Nam Ji-hyeon, "Shehas great potential as an actress and is someone viewers should havehigh expectations for."

The other member of the director duo isyoung director Kim Geun-hong, a historical period drama specialist wholearned his tricks and techniques from the great historical perioddirector Lee Byeon-hun. Kim has moved on from [Yi San] to complementdirector Park in the new [Queen Seon-deok].

One unique habit ofdirector Kim Geun-hong: every time he goes into a new project, he dyeshis hair yellow. Perhaps it's his good luck charm? Everyone thinks it'sa hopeful sign since he has had a lot of success in the past withdirector Lee Byeong-hun. On the other hand, director Kim explains itas, "Since it's a huge project and a historical period piece, I justwant to make myself stand out so the staff can find me easier in acrowd. It's my service to them."

Director Kim also showed hissatisfaction in Mi-shil, "Go Hyeon-jeong of the role Mi-shilpractically spits fire both on and off camera with her intensity andher passion."

Both directors expressed their satisfaction withGo Hyeon-jeong's performance as well as both stating, "It gets evenbetter," thereby raising our expectations once again for the drama.


[Queen Seon-deok] First appearance of Mi-shil's nemesis, Nam Ji-hyeon as Princess Deok-man in episode 3

source: MBC news
-Nam Ji-hyeon as the young Queen Seon-deok (adult role by Lee Yo-won)will face-off with Go Hyeon-jong, armed with her talented acting




- Writer Kim Young-hyeon and director Park Hong-gyun highly praise her acting

"It feels like a dream to be portraying the Queen Seon-deok I've only read about in history books."

Whilethe first two episodes of [Queen Seon-deok] dealt with Mi-shil (GoHyeon-jong) and her obsession to take over the palace, starting episode3 we see the appearance of our heroine, Princess Deok-man.

Takingon the role of younger Deok-man until episode 7 is actress NamJi-hyeon. When King Jin-pyeong found out of Mi-shil's plan to killDeok-man, he had his nanny So-hwa take her far away, and she grows upin China as a strong young woman.

Young Deok-man is an obedientdaughter who does everything for So-hwa, and she's also a talentedmiddleman in barters and trades with Rome and the western world. Forthis role, Ji-hyeon practiced Latin as well as Chinese.

NamJi-hyeon received a lot of attention for her portrayal of the youngerversion of Han Ji-hye in [East of Eden]. This first year student inmiddle school spent 20 days of last February in China on location, fromthe Ningsia Province to the desert to gardens.

The [QueenSeon-deok] crew fought bitter battles with sandstorms and the freezingcold that reached 20 degrees below zero Celcius. Diretor Park Hong-gyunsaid of her, "She has great potential as an actress and is someoneviewers should have high expectations for." After the premiere event,writer Kim Young-hyeon praised her highly, "I have as high expectationsfor her as I do for Go Hyeon-jeong."

Young Ji-hyeon iscourageous enough to grab snakes with her bare hands. She says of hercharacter, "Young Deok-man has a bright personality, and inside she hasa strong will, and I thought she was similar to me in those ways.Director Park Hong-gyun guided me well so I could completely immerse inthe character. That made the location shoot in China not so difficult."

Eventhe veteran actors Chil-suk (An Kang-gil) and So-hwa (Seo Young-hui)had difficulty dealing with the intense cold in the desert, butJi-hyeon surprised everyone on the staff by showing a calmness andfocus.


NamJi-hyeon commented, "I was glad to see things I've never seen before,like the neverending expanse of the desert, but it's true that I was alittle homesick. [...] Since I did a lot of walking and running in themountainous sand with the camel day and night, when I came back toschool my friends all teased me that I was majorly sunburnt."

Sheadded, "I'm nervous and excited about working with Go Hyeon-jeong inthe future. [...] I will show the viewers that I am trying my best."



「Queen Seon-deok」Breaks through 20% ratings after just 3 episodes
source: MBC news

- A steady increase in ratingsfrom the first episode at 16%, second 16.6%, 3rd 21.3% (23.3%, Seoul)according to TNS Media Korea

- [Jewel in the Palace] third episode was 20.8%, [Ju-mong] was 21.8% and [Yi San] was 20.4%


MBC's48th Anniversary commemorative drama 「Queen Seon-deok] (script by Kim Young-hyeon & Park Sang-yeon, directed by Park Hong-gyun & KimGeun-hong) broke through 20% ratings after just three episodes.

Accordingto TNS Media Korea, episode 3, which aired on June 1st, had thenationwide ratings of 21.3%, rising 4.7% higher than episode 2, andeasily jumped into the twenties. The ratings in Seoul was even higherat 23.3%.

Both dramas that hit highs of over 50%, [Jewel in thePalace] in 2003 recorded 20.8% for its third episode and [Ju-mong]recorded 21.8%. According to this pattern 「Queen Seon-deok」 is well onits way to becoming a major hit historical period drama.

「QueenSeon-deok」 has a fast-paced story development as well as acclaimedacting from Go Hyeon-jeong and the other actors, captivating theaudience from the very first episode. Each episode has been highlypraised.

In episode three, So-hwa (Seo Young-hee) and youngDeok-man (Nam Ji-hyeon) escaped the clutches of Mi-shil to end up inChina. With Deok-man's appearance, people are looking forward to theunfolding plot.

Episode 4 will cover Deok-man's hardships in the desert.

[Queen Seondeok] Eom Tae-woong appears in EP 8, "Nervous but will show you confidence"
source: MBC news

-Eom Tae-woong's first appearance camealongside adult Deok-man Lee Yo-won's first appearance, and already thetwo are squabbling at every chance.

He's finally here. The adultversion of Kim Yu-shin, Eom Tae-woong appeared on screen in episode 8alongside fellow Hwa-rang members, the Yong-hwa-hyang-do.

Despitehaving gotten off on the wrong foot with Princess Cheon-myeong, theirfateful meeting leads to him joining the Hwa-rang branch situated inSeorabol. Rallying around Deok-man, he faces the prestigious "10Hwa-rang" of Seorabol and begins training.

The filming tookplace at the Kyeong-ju Millennium set. Though he didn't appear in thefirst 7 episodes, he made sure to watch each episode and understand theflow of the story.

Because so far the older and younger actorsdid such a great job, he admitted to "feeling the heat" yet "being ableto take part in such a huge production of the historical period piecegenre is such a dream come true and I hope to become a contributingmember of the team."

"I will try to make this a drama that willstay with me and the viewers for a long time." While Eom will continueto squabble with Deok-man (Lee Yo-won), his character will develop intoa person who will protect and take care of her, as speciallycommissioned by Princess Cheon-myeong.

Though Kim Yu-shin willhave to endure prejudice from the "10 Hwarang" of Seorabol against thecountry bumpkin Hwarang branch, the Yong-hwa-hyang-do, future episodeswill show him persevering and training obsessively in the martial arts.

Eom Tae-woong is determined to "build my character one step at a time since this is just the start."


[The Great Queen Seondeok] Here come the pretty boys of the Seorabol Elite 10 Hwarang
source: MBC news

- The Seorabol Elite 10 Hwarang are revealed

'Silla'sspecial reserve of armed forces,' the Hwarang is gaining a lot ofpopularity and interest in [The Great Queen Seondeok].

Taking a look at the Seorabol Elite 10 Hwarang, there are some familiar faces as well as some unknown faces. We first notice Go Yun-hu, who was Song Seung-hun's left-hand man 'Dok-sa' in [East of Eden]. He is Ho-je, the leader of the Wind-Moon sect.

And then there's the familiar face of Hong Kyeong-in, who takes on the role of Seok-pum, the Hwarang who bullies Deok-man. And Seok-pum's crony is Deok-chung, acted hilariously by Seo Dong-won. And Lee Seung-hyois the character Al-cheon, who had a pretty big role in episodes 9-10.He's garnering much attention for looking like Lee Jun-ki and standingout in the battle scenes.

Taking on the role of Seon-yeol is the famous trainer Choi Seong-jo, also known as "The Mackerel Coach." Kim Hye-su's youngest brother Kim Dong-hui was cast as Hwarang Wang-yun, and Jang Hui-woong, who was an imperial guard in , is Hwarang Bak-Ui. The role of Pil-tan is played by the newcomer actor Lee Sang-hyeon, Kang Ji-hu of is Im-jong, and Ryu Sang-wook from wraps up the Elite 10 as Dae-nam-bo.

All of these actors joined the Elite 10 against high odds of 10:1 or higher.

Eventhe illustrious and elite West Point wouldn't compare with Hwarang.Writer Kim Young-hyeon said of the Hwarang, "The organization known asHwarang was an elite training center that was essentially all-purposeas well. It was the leading training grounds for future militaryleaders, a place of religious affairs and also taught its members toplay instruments or paint." Kim also added, "This drama will paint arefreshing picture of Hwarang for the viewers."

So far theHwarang have boldly expressed their stance on matters of nationalimportance, and they carry a certain weight in the court and with theking. [The Great Queen Seondeok] brought to you scenes of theNang-cheon Festival (a ceremony to celebrate the prominence of theHwarang) as well as Nan-jang, the ritual in which the Hwarang painttheir faces heavily with the determination to face even death.

The crew of [The Great Queen Seondeok] has even built a large-scale set of the Hwarang's main training hall.

Through the Elite 10, the drama will continue to show you different facets of the historical Hwarang.

[The Great Queen Seondeok] Deokman & Misil's battle of wits in ep 15 bring in huge numbers source: MBC

-According to TNS, [The Great QueenSeondeok] reached a personal best in ratings, 32.8% in Seoul (47.3%market share). The Chilsuk-Sohwa storyline stirred up much excitement.

The young Deokman (Lee Yowon) had the cunning Misil (Go Hyeonjeong) on strings.

Misilset in action a plan to isolate Deokman from her friends: she senta personal letter to Deokman, to be delivered in front of her friends,and even Misaeng pretended to give special attention to Deokman.

PrincessCheonmyeong and Deokman's Hwarang friends all misunderstood, butDeokman quickly realized that this was a trick once used by a person ofthe Han Dynasty. Using Misil's own trick, Deokman turned the tables andfooled Misil instead.

Furthermore, in episode 15 (aired 7/13),Chilsuk reunited with Misil. In this scene, Misil wept, touched by theyears of servitude that Chilsuk has so loyally followed, therebyshowing the viewers just how skilled she is at drawing in and bindingpeople to her will.

Thanks to these captivating plot points,[The Great Queen Seondeok] reached 32.8% ratings in Seoul, a 47.3%market share. Meaning nearly half of the viewers in Seoul were watching[The Great Queen Seondeok].

The nationwide ratings were 31.6%, a personal best.

[Queen Seondeok] Bidam and Yushin protect Deokman, "Touch her and I'll kill you all"
source: MBC news

-Bidam and Yushin put their lives on the line to protect Deokman, ascene reminiscent of Jeong Junho and Jeong Woongin saving Choi Jinshilin

"Touch her and I'll kill you all" (Bidam)
"You'll have to get through me first. Come on." (Yushin)

Inepisode 22 aired on the 4th, there was a touching scene where Bidam andYushin face off against Seolwon and his gang in order to protectDeokman from Mishil's orders to kidnap her.

Mishil finds outthat Deokman is Cheonmyeong's twin sister, and attempts to use her toshake up the royal family and further establish her own power. On theother hand, King Jinpyeong and Eulje try to get rid of Deokman in orderto stop Mishil's plans. Completely clueless as to what is going on,Deokman is handed over to Seolwon when Bidam trades her for medicinalroots.

When Bidam's (Kim Namgil) teacher Munno finds out, hescolds Bidam greatly for bargaining with a human being's life. Havingrealized his wrongdoing, Bidam goes back to save Deokman. Yushin (EomTaewoong), who had been held captive at the deserted house, breaks freeand races to save Deokman. Hence we get a scene where Bidam and Yushinbecome allies in order to save Deokman.

This scene is expectedto be as touching and emotional as a certain scene from last year's hitdrama [The Last Scandal of My Life]. In that particular scene, thefamous celebrity Jeong Junho and his brother Jeong Woongin race to savethe average housewife Choi Jinshil from reporters when a scandal breaksout between Junho and Jinshil.

Kim Namgil and Eom Taewoong havealready acted together once in the movie . Despitehaving met after a long time, they complemented each other so well intheir acting that the staff on set gave a round of applause.

Withthe truth about Deokman now in the open, Mishil's attacks are growingfiercer and the story is more chock full of action. The ratings for[The Great Queen Seondeok] are reflective of this, hitting numbers over50% in terms of market share.

[Queen Seondeok] Yushin, "I chose you"; high ratings by capturing the hearts of women everywhere
source: MBC news

-Personal record of high ratings of 35.4%(TNS); Seoul average ratings at 36.4% according to TNS media; market share at 52.9%

“I chose you” (Kim Yushin)

Thegenuine and loyal Kim Yushin captured the hearts of women everywherethrough a dependable and faithful act. His slow-paced love was proventhrough his desperation to protect Deokman as shown in episode 22 of[The Great Queen Seondeok], touching the hearts of viewers everywhere.

KimYushin is desperate , watching helplessly from the jail cell as Bidamtakes Deokman away to hand her over to Seolwon. But like his motto"Where there's a will, there's a way," he breaks through the woodenbars to save Deokman. Using a wooden stick, he repeatedly hits the baruntil he breaks through, a scene reminscent of the scene in the movie"Kill Bill" where the Bride (Uma Thurman) escapes from the coffinburied in the ground by repeatedly hitting the lid with the tips of herfingers.

And Kim Yushin's devoted and passionate love towardsDeokman is reminiscent of Daniel Day-Lewis's vow to go to the ends ofthe world to save the person he loves.

Yushin's line "I chose you" is quickly becoming one of the most memorable quotes of the drama.

Thanksto such scenes, the drama broke its personal record by hitting a highof 35.4% ratings nationwide and 36.4% in Seoul. The market share was52.9%, reaching over 50% for the third consecutive time.

Deokmanand Yushin's endearing love is expected to continue for some time, andpeople are already anticipating a further development in theirrelationship as soon they will no longer be a Hwarang and his trainee.

[Queen Seondeok] Bidam Kim Nam-gil, "Impressed after doing nighttime filming with Deokman & Yushin"

source: MBC news

- Fiercely charismatic Bidam Kim Nam-gil joins in the nighttime filming done all around the country

Kim Nam-gil has commanded much attention since his first appearance as the mysteriously charismatic Bidam.

Kim Nam-gil joined Deokman (Lee Yo-won) and Kim Yushin (Eom Tae-woong) in the nighttime filming.

Ashe climbed to the top of a mountain in Yangpyeong, sweating streams ofsweat, and as he filmed overnight in a dark cave in Pocheon, herealized just how difficult filming has been for co-actors Lee Yo-wonand Eom Tae-woong.

KimNam-gil commented, "The energy here on set is amazing. [...] I have anewfound respect for Lee Yo-won after watching her endure themountain shoots that would tire out even men."

While filming scenes in a cave in Pocheon, he added, "Eom Tae-woong is already used to taking catnaps in tents."

Lee Yo-won was preparing for a night of filming by cooking ramen noodles on a bunsen burner under the moonlight.

KimNam-gil said, "Everyone's been going through this for months, and forme it's only been a week, so I don't dare complain that it's hard work.[...] I'm just really grateful that the viewers seem interested in mycharacter's appearance." He, along with Lee Yo-won and Eom Tae-woong,have more nighttime scenes for the time being.

"Bidam has a deepgrudge from the moment of his birth, and he has a wild side thatdevelops as he matures. Honestly, even I'm curious as to how he'll turnout."

Scriptwriter Park Sang-yeon had previously upped theviewers' expectations by saying of Kim Nam-gil's Bidam, "He's acomplicated character that'll bring about a dynamic change." He hadalso said of Bidam's character, "He's a character that encompasses bothgood and evil, and in the end he will turn out to be a character morefrightening like Misil than Misil herself. He gives the impression ofbeing an intelligent animal, and he possesses the best qualities fromboth Munno and Misil. Unfortunately, he has never learned civility andhas a severe wild streak."

Bidam Kim Nam-gil showed greatdetermination. "When I joined the cast on set, I realized just howincredible it is the way everyone was working as one and puttingeverything they had into this drama. [...] I will do my best as well inorder not to be a burden and to help create an even better drama."


[Queen Seondeok] on verge of 40% ratings with Yusin's oath to love Deokman
source: MBC news
-New personal records: nationwide ratings of 37.5% (TNS Media), Seoul ratings of 39.6%, market share of 54.9%

"Neveragain will I let them get their hands on you. No one will be able to doanything to you without my permission. That includes you." (Kim Yusin)

Yusin-rang(Eom Taewoong) has revealed with earnest his true and unwavering lovetowards Deokman as only he can. And in turn, he is helping to raise theratings for the drama.

The simple and loyal Kim Yusin has alwaysdone as he believed, in the faithful and simply honest fashion that ishis way. And he is stealing the hearts of the viewers.

Yusin'slove is unchanging. In episode 23 which aired on the 10th, he gave uphis arranged marriage to Princess Cheonmyeong and protected Deokmaninstead. There he swore a very heartbreaking yet heartwarming oath thathe would always be with her until the very end.

And already hewon over the viewers in episode 22 when he declared, "I chose you."With declaration after declaration of his feelings, there is more of apossibility that love will develop between Yusin and Deokman.

Yusin'sline "I chose you" is already much loved as a memorable quote of theseries. Following that line, he gave others that didn't deny hisfeelings towards her, such as 'I never said it wasn't true' and 'No onewill be able to do anything to you without my permission. That includesyou.' Such overwhelmingly emotional lines are being much loved by theviewers.

As Kim Yusin showed his affections towards Deokman evenwhile helping her escape in unfortunate circumstances, and the ratingshit 37.5% (nationwide), 2.1% higher than the previous week. And theSeoul ratings were a personal high at 39.6%. As for the market share,this week's 54.9% was the drama's fourth consecutive one to reach over50%.

Deokman and Yushin'sendearing love is expected to continue for some time, and people arealready anticipating a further development in their relationship assoon they will no longer be a Hwarang and his trainee.

[Queen Seondeok] 47.8% peak in ratings when Yusin embraces and comforts Deokman
source: MBC news

-The 24th episode's peak in ratings was 47.8% (TNS Media, Seoul), a personal record

Which scene earned the honor of capturing the interest of the most viewers?

The 24th episode, which aired on the 11th, set a personal record in terms of peak ratings when it hit a high of 47.8%.

And the scene to earn this honor was...

WhenYusin (Eom Taewoong) comforts Deokman with a hug after Cheonmyeong'sdeath. As the exhausted Deokman trembles and weeps, Yusin embraces herfrom behind and comforts her.

This scene that highlights thelove between Deokman and Yusin set the record of being the single mostwatched scene of the series.

This scene aired on the 11th. Itwas the scene where Deokman is so overwhelmed by the anguish, shock,fear, frustration and despondence of Cheonmyeong's death that shetrembles terribly. Yusin is filled with sympathy and embraces her frombehind.

This peak in ratings shows that viewers were most immersed in this scene.

Evenmore so than Cheonmyeong's death scene, viewers cried and expendedtheir emotions on the scene of Deokman's extreme grief and Yusin'sthoughtful care for her.

The so-called "second season" of [TheGreat Queen Seondeok] will open its doors with Deokman (Lee Yowon) andYusin (Eom Taewoong) growing stronger in Cheonmyeong's death, Bidam's(Kim Namgil) continuing mysterious presence and the appearance of KimChunchu (Yu Seungho).

[Queen Seondeok] Lee Yowon prepares samgyetang for 100 crew members
source: MBC news

- A samgyetang (chicken broth with ginseng) party held for the crew on the hottest day of the dog days of summer

Thepeak of this year's dog days was on the 13th. Deokman Lee Yowon broughtsamgyetang for all the crew members on set, helping to fight againstfatigue, the heat and drowsiness.

Having worked hard on the setof [The Great Queen Seondeok] from the wee hours of the morning, theappreciative crew shouted "Deokman!" and cheered.

Afterwrapping up filming at the training grounds of Mt. Yeoham in Uijeongbu,the exhausted crew members made their way to the set of [The Jewel inthe Palace], also located in Uijeongbu, where 100 bowls of samgyetangwere waiting for them. They proceeded to devour and enjoy the meal.

Atthe samgyetang party, the crew happily discussed the latest ratings forepisode 24 (aired on the 11th). After receiving 41.7% (Seoul), [TheGreat Queen Seondeok] has taken on the title of being a "nationaldrama".

Lee Yuwon, Yusin Eom Taewoong and Alcheon Lee Seunghyoate together and discussed the peak ratings of 47.8% achieved inepisode 24.

This peak came about in the scene where Yusinembraces the grieving Deokman. The crew joked, "You guys need to showmore PDA (public displays of affection) to help out with the ratings."To which everyone enjoyed a good laugh.

Another crew membercommented, "Bidam's the chicken lover of the series. Shouldn't he bethe one buying everyone samgyetang?" The character Bidam shows such adeep obsession with chicken that netizens have nicknamed him "ChickenBidam" and joked, "Bidam works with neither Seondeok nor Misil. Heworks only for chicken."

Afterenjoying the hearty meal provided by leading lady Deokman, the crewheaded back to work with light steps in order to continue making thegreat drama.

[Queen Seondeok] Alcheon lays his life on the line for the truth behind Cheonmyeong's death
source: MBC news

- To find out the truth behind PrincessCheonmyeong's untimely death, Alcheon acts alone and lays his life onthe line through the Nanjang

Alcheon, soon to be an ally of Deokman's, has performed the Nanjang.

Earlierin [The Great Queen Seondeok] the Hwarang led by Misil came together toperform the Nanjang in order to dethrone King Jinji. This is the firsttime the Nanjang is performed alone.

Filmed just this past Friday (the 14th) at the Yongin set, Alcheon's (Lee Seunghyo) Nanjang scene will appear in episode 25.

Alcheondeclares that he was unable to properly protect Princess Cheonmyeongand her death by poisoned arrow was part of a conspiracy hatched inSeorabol (the capital). He insists that the person behindthis unforgivable act must be found, and so he performs the Nanjang byhimself in front of King Jinpyeong.

The Nanjang is an appeal made upon the determination to face even death, often reflecting on something unfair and sorrowful.

The face is made up, particularly the eyes and the lips are painted red, to further emphasize this determination.

His hair let down, the somber Alcheon cuts quite a brilliant figure.

LeeSeunghyo said of his newfound popularity and being on set, "I'm notquite sure how to deal with the sudden affection from the viewers.[...] Everyone on set is working so hard and the results are sogood that it's easy to forget how tired we are while filming."





[Queen Seondeok] Deokman Lee Yowon finally changes outfits after 25 episodes
source: MBC news

- In episodes 25~28, she'll don a rustic commoner's outfit, also known as the mountain look

Deokman Lee Yowon finally says goodbye to the blue Hwarang outfit she has grown accustomed to.

During the past episodes, she had sweated and fought in the summer heat in that blue trainee outfit.

Butstarting the 25th episode, she will head back to Seorabol (the capital)to fight to get back her title of princess. She'll attempt this withthe help of Alcheon, Kim Yusin and Bidam, and she'll be dressed as acommoner as she does this.

She'll be dressed similarly to Bidam. And with her hair flowing long, she now has an air of femininity.

LeeYowon says of this change, "I feel bittersweet about saying goodbye tomy trainee outfit. [...] I'm really looking forward to dressing up inprincess clothes."

Lee Yowon also spoke about the high ratingsfor [The Great Queen Seonseok]. "I think it's because there's a comicbook aspect to the drama that makes it easy for even little children towatch and understand. [...] Sometimes there are children around theset, and they yell 'Deokman!' That's when I really feel firsthand ourdrama's popularity."

The costumes team are preparing and willdebut her princess clothes starting episode 30, once Deokman gets pastthis transitional period.

[Queen Seondeok] Faithful romantic Kim Yusin is stronger; splitting a boulder by dedication alone
source: MBC news

-The faithful romantic Kim Yusin (Eom Taewoong) becomes stronger; he chooses to serve Deokman as his princess

KimYusin is the quintessential example of a loving and self-sacrifical mandedicated to one woman. It is this man who splits a boulder with awooden sword.

Yusin has already shown us how he hits a largeboulder with wooden swords in episode 17. He takes up the wooden swordonce more, hoping for a revelation that will change his life.

Theromanticist Yusin has already stolen hearts all around by proving hisdedication to Deokman with the line "I chose you." In episode 26, heends up back at the boulder at the Yeoham training ground, hoping tofigure out a way to save both Deokman and the impoverished Gayacitizens.

This scene was filmed on the 13th, the hottest of thedog days, at the peak of the Uijeongbu Hoam Temple. It once againhighlights Yusin's growth in strength.

Filming continuesd all morning as Eom Taewoong makes his way through the supply of wooden swords.

As he hits the boulder, he remembers his father's words that one of the unchanging facts of life is that wood cannot break rock.

And the boulder splits in half. Seeing this, Yusin has a revelation and descends from the mountain.

Heonce thought of Deokman as the woman he had to protect his entire life.But now he knows that he must protect her as Silla's princess.

Yusindidn't realize that his years of hitting the boulder had strengthenedhim and helped him become a great swordsman. But he is definitelystronger.

Eom Taewoong commented after wrapping up the scene, "Ifeel like I hit that boulder hundreds of thousands of times. [...] I'dlike to believe that the real Kim Yusin would've done the same." Havingpreviously shot a scene like this, Eom was a bit anxious because heknew that his arms would feel a lot of shock. But once filming began,he hit the boulder with everything he had.

Eom hinted, "KimYusin is already a lot more serious and mature than he was before.[...] Soon he'll persuade the remaining Gayan forces to join forceswith Deokman and become her people."

Eomis already great friends with Lee Yowon after all the all-nighterfilming they've done together. Of the amazing feat of 40% ratings, hesaid, "There are a lot of interesting elements to our drama. The plotmakes sure not to focus too entirely on one character. We're receivingso much love from the viewers because the script is so great."

[Queen Seondeok] Bidam says, "Got the charisma from [Vagabond], the comic from [Ruler of the Land]”
source: MBC news

- The psychotically-inclined Bidam was created with the influence of two comic book characters

[The Great Queen Seondeok]'s character Bidam has generated much interest for his duality of good and evil.

Bidamis comical at times, but in a split second he becomes a cold-bloodedkiller. The actor Kim Namgil created this dualistic character bystudying two comic books.

He gets the savage charisma from thecharacter Miyamoto Musashi of [Vagabond], drawn by the mangaka who alsodrew Japan's hit comic book series . The comicalaspect of Bidam is inspired by the character of Han Bigwang of [Rulerof the Land], a hit comic book in Korea.

Kim Namgil's Bidamcreated quite a stir in the [Great Queen Seondeok] world from his firstcharismatic appearance. He is a mysterious character that challengesanyone and everyone he meets, he's Munno's secret pupil, and later heleads a rebellion against Deokman when their relationship goes awry.

KimNamgil analyzed his complicated character Bidam. "He was born withMisil's craftiness, wits and trickery and he was trained to haveMunno's superb martial arts skills. He's a complicated and layeredcharacter that stands on the thin line between good and evil."

KimNamgil explained how Bidam's personality came about. "In the beginning,the writers and I held a lot of discussions about Bidam's personality.I decided to look for ideas in my favorite comic books. [...] I gleanedthe most striking aspects from two different characters, so it's notsurprising that Bidam has inherent traits that are quite cartoonish."

Kim even keeps the comic books in his car so he can further study his character.

Hecommented about the atmosphere on set. "It hasn't been long since Ijoined, so I'm still in the middle of adapting. The atmosphere on setis really passionate. Everyone's working so hard that I just have tomake sure I match them."

Kim is very grateful that the viewers seem to like his Bidam. "I realize time and time again how great this story is."


[Queen Seondeok] crosses the 40% threshold, “Kim Yusin will be the ultimate victor”
source: MBC news

"In both our drama and history, Kim Yusin is the ultimate victor." (scriptwriters Kim Younghyeon & Park Sangyeon)

After26 episodes, [The Great Queen Seondeok] has finally crossed the 40%threshold in ratings, joining the ranks of other "national dramas."

Inepisode 26 that aired on the 18th, Kim Yusin finds himself torn betweenlove and a noble cause. In the end he names Deokman as "the king that Ihave chosen to serve" and successfully marks the start of theinformally dubbed "second season" of the series.

With theformation of the Deokman faction with Deokman at its core, the ratingfor the series finally rose to 42%. The Seoul rating was an impressive44.3%, a new personal record.

Deokman declares that she willrecover her place as princess and eventually become king, and Yusinchooses this cause over his love. The scriptwriters were highlysatisfied with Eom's portrayal of their Yusin.

Regarding KimYusin, Kim Younghyeon and Park Sangyeon explained his character, "TheKim Yusin that we created is initially just a simple and honest guy,frustrating at times, and the quintessential late-bloomer. He has aone-track mind and is too serious, and he has recently been through alot of terrible trials. The Kim Yusin we imagined is not particularlycomposed, intelligent or lively. Rather, he is the type of person whocannot lie to himself. Because he is this type of person, he faces allthe trials face-on rather than avoid them, and as a result suffersgreatly and experiences a lot confusion." They went on to say, "Butwhen he pulls out of this confusion starting episode 25, he will riseto his full potential. Eom Taewoong shoulders the responsibility ofacting out this difficult and complicated character, and for him all wehave is praise, consolation and words of encouragement."

The scriptwriters then added on that the ultimate victor of the drama will be Kim Yusin.

[Queen Seondeok] Finalists of the martial arts tournament, Yushin-Alcheon-Bojong-Bidam
source: MBC news

- The actors exhausted after 2 days of filming the martial arts competition on the Yongin set

"I hope everyone takes care not to get hurt." (director Park Honggyun)

"I was so focused that now my entire body aches." (Eom Taewoong as Kim Yushin)

Inan official competition to choose the next leader of the Hwarang, thePoongweolju, the participants now face the third and final test: themartial arts tournament.

The martial arts leg of the competitionis the highlight of the entire affair, and it is a chance for theHwarang to show off their polished fighting skills.

Thetournament starts off with 32 competitors, all representatives of thedifferent Hwarang factions. The final four finally boils down toYushin, Bojong, Alcheon and the wild card Bidam.

Like gladiators, they fought their way to being the final four.

They'reparched and covered in dirt after having rolled around in it, but inorder to film that perfect scene they give both the rehearsals and thereal filming their all. They are all professionals; their torn hands,scratches, skinned knees and aching shoulders are proof of their hardwork.

EomTaewoong commented with a smile, "With the mindset that I've gone backto that time period, I found myself swinging even harder."

Lee Seunghyo (Alcheon) said, "I feel like I'm a character in 'Gladiator.' "

BaekDobin (Bojong) said, "Our characters all really want this for differentreasons, so even us actors fought like it was real."

Kim Namgil(Bidam) jokingly complained, "The scene where I was nearly burned atthe stake was nothing compared to this. This scene is twice as hard."

The viewers can't help but anticipate who will come out on top.