# Dong Yi (2010)

> A lowborn palace water maid rises through Joseon court intrigue to become the mother of a future king.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/35706

## Facts

- Seasons: 1
- Episodes: 60
- Episode runtime: 65 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: drama, history
- Created by: Kim Yi-young
- Network: MBC
- Cast: Han Hyo-joo, Park Ha-seon, Jeong Dong-hwan, Ji Jin-hee, Lee So-yeon, Bae Soo-bin, Jung Jin-young, Kim You-jung
- TMDB rating: 8.1/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1666209/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: slow
- Intensity: moderate
- Complexity: layered
- Violence: mild
- Tone: melodramatic, sincere, intense, wistful, dignified

## What critics say

Viewers are sharply divided, with some praising the historical court drama and its lead performance while others find the sixty-episode runtime slow, repetitive, and reliant on melodrama.

## Synopsis

Jewel in the Crown (2010) is a South Korean historical drama miniseries created by Kim Yi-young for MBC. Set during the reign of King Sukjong in seventeenth century Joseon Korea, it follows Dong Yi, a water maid played by Han Hyo-joo, whose quiet devotion wins the trust of Queen Inhyeon (Park Ha-seon) and later the favor of the king (Ji Jin-hee). The engine of the story is a woman navigating a crowded palace where rival consorts, court factions and shifting alliances turn every ambition into risk. Lee So-yeon plays the jealous Jang Hee-bin, whose rivalry gives the drama its sharpest friction, while Jeong Dong-hwan and Bae Soo-bin anchor the political maneuvering. Told across sixty episodes in a single continuing storyline, the series unfolds in the slow, accumulating rhythm of a long-form Korean period melodrama, with lavish costume design, formal court ritual and intimate scenes of prayer and loyalty. Its tone blends sincere sentiment, melodramatic reversals and a wistful sense of dignity under pressure. Viewers who loved Jewel in the Palace, Queen Seondeok and Yi San will find the same mix of palace intrigue and emotional sweep.

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- [Empresses in the Palace (2011)](https://ember.film/tv/45592)
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- [Queen For Seven Days (2017)](https://ember.film/tv/62617)
- [Jewel in the Palace (2003)](https://ember.film/tv/309)
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- [The Red Sleeve (2021)](https://ember.film/tv/109757)
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- [The King's Affection (2021)](https://ember.film/tv/107134)

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