MovieChat Forums > Dae Jang-geum (2003) Discussion > This is most popular TV drama in Asia bu...

This is most popular TV drama in Asia but also the most influential one!

posted 18 years ago by mailoon
6 replies | jump to latest

It has been broadcasted to over 20 countries world wide. It broke the viewership record in Korea in 2003 with 57.8% of viewership. It broke Hong Kong TV viewership at that rate of 50% in year 2004, over 3 millions of Hong Kong population viewed this movie. So far, it has set record of viewership in China, Singapore (on first day of airing in 2006 already broke records) and even Japan (in May 6th for the night time viewership record). It is hot in Thailand, Philippine, Malaysia, Vietnam, US, and now going to Middle East...

It is not only the most popular TV drama in Asia, but also the most influential one. In year 2005, it brought in over US$7 billions of tourism income to Korea. In year 2005, China medical schools received a total increase of 20% of enrollment because students wanted to follow the footsteps of Jang Geum. In end of year 2005, Lee Young Ae because of her role in Dae Jang Geum and great personality she was voted as People of the Year in Hong Kong. Beginning of year 2006, Lee Young Ae also because of her role in Dae Jang Geum and great personality voted by China Centre Television CCTV International as the most influential foreign artist from Asia in China. April 28th 2006, Japan issued special collections stamps on Dae Jang Geum. May 10th 2006, Korean Airline Asiania has a Boeing 767 airplane painted 5 photos of Lee Young Ae's Jang Geum's character and this airplane will be flying around Asia, mainly from Korea to Japan, Taiwan, China and South East Asia, because of its popularity, and first class and business class passangers will be having the Royal Cuisine meals on this special aircrafts.

For more information, please view our Lee Young Ae Malaysia Fans Club at this link
http://groups.msn.com/LeeYoungAeMalaysiaFansClub/

[–] sarah182004 17 years ago

and now in Iran about 70%
of course this tv serie is perfect

[–] rosiepink 17 years ago

I picked up the DVD version at the library just to see what it was and it was simply amazing! Like another reviewer said anyone who loves Austen and Bronte will love this series. After watching this series, you will want to visit the theme park in Korea!

[–] IdleFingers 17 years ago

I'm loving this! I know K-dramas have a large fanbase, but I usually tend to stay away from them because I don't like watching long running shows. I was only going to view the first episode because I'm planning on buying the DVDs for my mom for Christmas, and was checking it out to see if she would like it. Now I'm on Episode 6, and I'm hooked! Who knew corrupt palace politics and cooking can be so riveting? This is definately worth watching!

Ralph Nader is a rock star!!!

[–] PeykanTM 17 years ago

Its the most watched television series in Iran. The main actress is very popular.

[–] IdleFingers 17 years ago

I wish American networks would show it... lol, like that would ever happen...

Ralph Nader is a rock star!!!

[–] bexn 11 years ago

It played on the now defunct AZN Television in 2005, which was a network geared towards English-speaking Asian Americans. It has also played on local independent stations.

I do agree that it would be great if a broadcast or major cable network decided to air it but it's unlikely to have high enough ratings to make it worthwhile for them. I'm not sure how broadly appealing it would be, too, for quite a number of reasons: lack of sex and violence, length (given the American ratings system, it would likely be canceled long before it finished!), subject matter, it would either have subtitles or be dubbed, etc. It wouldn't surprise me if critics and viewers turned the number of hardships she had to endure into a joke as well. I would love to be proven wrong, I just suspect I won't be any time soon. You never know, however. I never thought I'd hear a Korean song in the top 10 on American radio! (Go Psy!) Maybe if a network like iaTV airs it and it does relatively well, they'll consider airing other Kdramas. Unfortunately, I don't think iaTV is available everywhere but at least it would be a start.

In the meantime, there are other options available in the US like DramaFever (for premium subscribers) and Hulu (which partners with DramaFever). Those who subscribe to Hulu Plus can watch it on their TV and mobile device instead of only their computer. Netflix also has the DVDs available.