SynopsisSet in an alternate 21st-century reality where
Koreapossesses a royal family, this show revolves around the lives of the
Crown Prince (Wangsaeja) Yi Shin, and his new bride, Chae-kyeong. The
depicted royal family in the show is modelled after the
last royal family of Korea,
which in reality reigned until the start of the Japanese Occupation in
1911 and was not reinstated after Japanese surrender in
WW2.
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.
In the meantime, however, matters are further complicated with the
return of Yi Yul and his mother Lady Hwa-Young, who was once the Crown
Princess (Bingoong) 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.
Main Characters Shin Chae-Kyeong (신채경)Portrayed by
Yoon Eun Hye,
Shin Chae-kyeong is a very creative and outgoing, normal high school
girl. She attends the same school as Yi Shin, the Crown Prince of
Korea.
Her grandfather was best friends with the previous King. To honor his
friend, the previous King dictated that Chae-kyeong is to become the
Crown Princess, which means that she is to marry whoever is the Crown
Prince at the time of the marriage (Yi 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 to save her family from bankruptcy. Her initial reaction to Yi
Shin is one of irritation but she falls in love with him in the earlier
part of the series, not knowing that he, in return, feels the same way,
until the last few episodes. Although she regards Yi Yul only as a
friend and cousin-in-law, he falls in love with her. In the Philippine
airing, her name is "Janelle".
Yi Shin (이신)The crown prince of Korea, Yi Shin, as portrayed by
model and actor
Joo Ji Hoon,
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 was irritated by her naivete and enthusiasm, but as he
recognizes how genuinely sweet she is, he begins to open his heart to
her, and falls in love. Throughout the series, it becomes obvious that
inside, he is just a lonely, sensitive, warm and kind young man. He
also owns a teddy bear, Alfred, the only thing that he can let his
guard down for, which is used 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
Yi Yul is a contender not only for the throne, but for the crown
princess Chae-kyeong's love. Chae-kyeong does not realize this until
later on in the story. In the Philippine airing, he is "Gian".
Yi Yool (이율)Kim Jeong Hoon plays Yi Yool, Shin's cousin. He returns from a long stay in
Englandwith his mother, the widow of the former crown prince. He is the
opposite of Shin, he is warm, kindhearted, sweet, and romantic -- an
instant hit with the girls. Interested in Chae-kyeong, their friendship
grows to love on his side, while she remains innocently unaware of it
until much later. Although the position of the Crown Prince originally
belonged to him, it was given to his cousin when Yool's father died in
a car accident and his mother was found to have had an affair with his
uncle, who she was originally in love with, but she decides to marry
his brother, the crown prince, wanting her son to inherit the title of
crown prince. Originally uninterested in the throne, Yool decides to
follow his mother's wishes and compete with Shin for the throne after
falling in love with Chae-kyeong. In the end, after realizing that
Chae-kyeong and Shin truly love each other, and after discovering his
mother's affair with the King, he passes up both the chance of being
King and having Chae-kyeong as a wife. He is "Troy" in the Philippine
airing.
Min Hyo-rin (민효린)Portrayed by
Sung Ji Hyo, Hyo-rin is a skilled
ballerina.
She is beautiful, intelligent, accomplished--basically, perfect in
every way possible. 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 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 attempting suicide. Later, however, she
decides that Shin does truly love Chae-kyeong, and she ultimately gives
him up and decides to just concentrate on her
ballet. She is "Monique" in the Philippine airing.
Family HistoryThe fictional family history was released by MBC, as follows:
- First year of theGwanghwa Era (광화 원년) 1945: After World War II, Korea's common people wanted the royal family (House of Yi) to remain in the country, even as they act as symbols of Korea's past.
- Fortieth year of the Gwanghwa Era (광화 사십년) 1984: Crown Prince Yi Soo (황태자 이수) is married to dancer Seo Hwa Yeong, who becomes the Crown Princess (consort) (황태자비 서화영).
- Forty-first year of the Gwanghwa Era (광화 사십일년) 1985: Grand Prince Yi Hyeon (대군 이현) is married to Lady Min.
- Forty-third year of the Gwanghwa Era (광화 사십삼년) 1987: Grand Prince Yi Hyeon (대군 이현) sires a daughter, named Hye Myeong (혜명 옹주).
- Forty-fourth year of the Gwanghwa Era (광화 사십사년) 1988: Crown Prince Yi Soo (황태자 이수) sires a son, named Yool (이율). Grand Prince Yi Hyeon (대군 이현) sires a son, named Shin (이신).
- Forty-seventh year of the Gwanghwa Era (광화 사십칠년) 1991: Shin Chae Kyeong's grandfather dies.
- Forty-eighth year of the Gwanghwa Era (광화 사십팔년) 1992:
Crown Prince Yi Soo (황태자 이수) dies in a car accident. His brother the
Grand Prince Yi Hyeon (대군 이현) becomes the Crown Prince (황태자) upon his
brother's death. Meanwhile, Yi Soo's family, the Crown Princess
(consort) Seo Hwa Yeong (황태자비 서화영) and his son Yool (이율) are chased out
of the palace, emigrating to Great Britain.
- Forty-ninth year of the Gwanghwa Era (광화 사십구년) 1993:
Emperor Seongjo (성조 황제), Yi Soo and Yi Hyeon's father, dies. Crown
Prince Yi Hyeon (황태자 이현) becomes the next Emperor of Korea, thereby
changing the former era name of Gwanghwa (광화) to Inhwa (인화 仁化) (1993
becomes, thru implication, first year of the Inhwa Era).
- Third year of the Inhwa Era (인화 삼년) 1995: Yi Shin (이신) becomes the next Crown Prince (황태자 이신).
- Twelfth year of the Inhwa Era (인화 십이년) 2004:
Yi Shin (이신) enrolls into a well-known arts and cultures school in
Korea centering on film and movie. Yi Yool (이율), while in Britain,
enrolled in an art-school.
- Fourteenth year of the Inhwa Era (인화 십사년) 2006:
Crown Prince Yi Shin (황태자 이신) is married to Shin Chae Kyeong after an
old agreement between his grandfather and Chae Kyeong's grandfather.
OMG! this story is a HIT! just like the CP! i really like Chae Kyung's attitude there, and the prince is really cute! (im talking about Gian or Shin!) haha^^