Dae Jang Geum - Cast

Cast

• Lee Young-ae as "Seo Jang Geum"

An intelligent and beautiful lady whose outgoing nature and enthusiasm allow her stand out from the crowd. Ever since her parents died during a political massacre, she has suffered many hardships and obstacles, especially in the palace, but she overcomes them with strong determination and perseverance.

Being strong-willed, Jang Geum strives to reach her goal regardless of the obstacles she is facing and it is with her extraordinary medical skills&knowledge as well as her integrity and high ethics to only use her knowledge to heal and cure that she becomes the first female physician to the Emperor, and named the Great Dae Jang Geum, ranking third in the officers, something unheard of at the time during the Chosun era.

• Ji Jin-hee as "Min Jung-ho"

An educated, very intelligent and good-looking man, he is an outstanding scholar who combines both learning and the martial arts. Min Jung Ho is a judge of the Hang Sung Boo, the Ministry governing the affairs of the capital Hang Sung. Unaware of who he is Jang Geum saves him upon being shot at. They then meet again when she goes to him to borrow books. They become romantically involved as he moves to Nae Geum Wee, the Royal Military Guard as Jong Sa Gwan, a senior officer.

• Hong Ri-na as "Choi Geum-young"

Ambitious and arrogant, Choi Geum-Young starts her life in the palace as the niece of the influential Lady Choi, becomes Jang Geum's lifelong rival. Although she is with the Choi clan, she yearns to find her own way - never really accepting the Chois' way of doing things but unable to find her own independent identity. Her intelligence and talent often put her head-to-head with Jang Geum and she competes with her in order to become better than her. Eventually Lady Choi's influence and her unreciprocated attraction to Min Jung-ho prompt her to keep mostly to the Choi clan's ways.

• Im Ho as "Jungjong of Joseon"

The 11th king of the Chosun Dynasty, he is very gentle but extremely irresolute and indecisive. A kind man who, after his first wife was forced to be commit suicide by cabinet ministers for political reasons, has shut down his heart. The Emperor deeply mourns over his beloved wife, powerless to protect her. He is constantly aware that he is only a puppet to the appointed ministers and angry that he is helpless to do anything about it. The Emperor gets to know Jang Geum in the midst of his aggressive efforts toward pushing for a political reform and grows fond of her warm personality and outstanding talents. He finds an understanding companion in her and later, for the first time in a decade, becomes attracted to her.

• Yang Mi-Kyung as "Han Sang Gung†"

As one of Soo Ra Gan's Sang Gung, she possesses a talent in culinary art and is able to identify the source of the ingredients in a dish. Best friend to Jang Geum's mother, she often misses and regrets not being able to save her friend. She is a rigorous, steadfast person who is not to be swayed from her purpose. Although obdurate in nature, she is actually very kind-hearted. Jang Geum's presence allows her to open up and she treats her as both a strict teacher and kind 'Ersatz' mother.

• Kyeon Mi-ri as "Choi Seong-geum†"

Choi Pan Sool's younger sister and Geum-Young's aunt. Comes from a family of high hierarchy and is to be the successor of Soo Ran Gan's Highest Sang Gung from a long bloodline. She learns and is being taught about the delicacy of food from a young age. Arrogant and too proud, she has a fierce need to get what she wants and will stop at nothing until she gets what she wants. Sharp-minded and quick to act, she is always a step ahead of plotting against Jang Geum and Han Sang Gung.

Early life

• Jo Jung-eun as Seo Jang-Geum (child)
• Park Chan-hwan as Seo Cheon-Soo† (Jang-geum's father)
• Kim Hye-seon as Park Myeong-yi† (Jang-geum's mother)
• Im Hyeon-sik as Kang Duk-gu (Jang-geum's adoptive father)
• Geum Bo-ra as Na Joo-daek (Deok-gu's wife and Jang-geum's adoptive mother)

Time as a palace chef

• Yang Mi-gyeong as Han Baek-young†
• Park Eun-hye as Lee Yeon-saeng
• Lee Ip-sae as Yoon Young-roh†
• Kim So-ih (김소이 金素怡) as Min Mee-geum
• Yeo Woon-kay (여운계 呂運計) as Jung Mal-geum†
• Park Jeong-soo (박정수 朴貞洙) as Park Yong-shin
• Choi Ja-hye as Chang-ee
• Jo Gyeong-hwan as Oh Gyeom-ho (오겸호 吳兼護)
• Lee Hee-do as Choi Pan-sul† - Lady Choi's brother
• Na Seong-gyun as Yun Mak-gae - Young-roh's uncle
• Choi Seong-geum's aunt was the Top Lady during Park Myeong-yi, Choi Seong-geum, and Han Baek-young's time as palace maids. She was the executor of Myeong-yi's secret "death sentence" administered to all palace maids committing moral errors.

Time as a medical woman

• Jeon In-taek as Doctor Jeong Yoon-soo
• Maeng Sang-hun as Prof. (and Doctor) Jeong Woon-baek
• Kim Yeo-jin as Jang-deok
• Han Ji-min as Shin-bi
• Lee Se-eun as Park Yeol-i (Her "adoptive" mother was the previous Head Lady Park Yong-shin)