Background
Princess Hours, or Goong (궁), was first released in South Korea in 2006. Although it is seemingly a typical poor-girl-marries-rich-guy story which often involves a clumsy girl and an aloof guy, this show actually garnered a nationwide average viewership rating of 22.6% (TNS Media Korea, 2006). The series, which bagged three prestigious awards, soon spread like wildfire to countries in Asia in that same year, especially those in the Southeast Asian region like Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand.
The Plot
Set in 21st-century Korea, the story revolves around Crown Prince Lee Shin and his wife, Chae Kyung, who is a poor commoner. She was betrothed to the Prince by his late grandfather, the Emperor of Korea.
Chae Kyung is wilful and was deemed by the Empress to be unfit as a member of the imperial family. Although Shin was in love with the graceful ballerina Hyo Rin, he still went ahead with the marriage with Chae Kyung, hoping that she will cause chaos in the royal household.
Soon, Lee Yul and his mother, Lady Hwa Young returned to the palace. Yul was supposed to inherit the throne if not for the death of his father, the late Crown Prince. Hwa Young has returned to see that her son ascends the throne, a place she believes to be rightfully his, as she carries out her schemes.
Matters of the heart are complicated when the jealous Chae Kyung understands that Shin and Hyo Rin still have feelings for each other. At the same time, Yul found himself developing feelings for Chae Kyung. True love eventually blossomed between Shin and Chae Kyung.
The Cast
Get a flavour of the show here:
