Jang-geum

Jang Geum (fl. early 16th century; family name Seo) was reputedly the first female Royal Physician in Korean history. She was mentioned more than seven times in the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty. It is known that King Jungjong was pleased with Jang Geum's medical knowledge and trusted her with taking care of royal family members. Henceforth, Jang Geum became the third highest-ranking officer in the Court, and was granted the use of Dae (Hangul: 대; hanja: 大; RR: Dae; MR: Tae) (which means "great" in Korean) before her first name.

Some sources attest to Jang Geum as a real person and it is still a topic of debate among scholars.

Mentions in Annals of the Joseon Dynasty

Mentions of Jang Geum, or a "female doctor", happened on these occasions:

Dae Jang Geum

Dae Jang Geum (Hangul: 대장금; hanja: 大長今; RR: Dae Jang-geum; MR: Tae Chang-gǔm; literally "The Great Jang-geum"), also known as Jewel in the Palace, is a 2003 Korean television series directed by Lee Byung-hoon. It first aired from September 15, 2003 to March 23, 2004 on MBC, where it was the top program with an average viewership rating of 46.3% and a peak of 57.8% (making it the 10th highest rated Korean drama of all time). Produced for US$15 million, it was later exported to 91 countries and has earned US$103.4 million worldwide, becoming known as one of the primary proponents of the Korean Wave by heightening the popularity of Korean pop culture abroad.

Starring Lee Young-ae in the title role, it tells the tale of an orphaned kitchen cook who went on to become the king's first female physician. In a time when women held little influence in society, young apprentice cook Jang-geum strives to learn the secrets of Korean cooking and medicine in order to cure the King of his various ailments. It is based on the true story of Jang-geum, the first female royal physician of the Joseon Dynasty. The main themes are her perseverance and the portrayal of traditional Korean culture, including Korean royal court cuisine and traditional medicine.