The Legend (TV series)

This article is about the Korean television series. For the 1995 American science fiction drama, see Legend (TV series). For the 2014 American crime drama, see Legends (TV series).
The Legend

Promotional poster for The Legend
Genre
Written by Song Ji-na
Directed by
Starring
Ending theme "Love Song for a Thousand Years" by TVXQ
Composer(s) Joe Hisaishi
Country of origin South Korea
Original language(s) Korean
No. of episodes 24
Production
Running time 60 minutes
Production company(s) TSG Company (joint venture of Kim Jong-hak Productions and SSD)
Release
Original network Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation
Picture format
Audio format Surround sound
Original release September 11 (2007-09-11) – December 5, 2007 (2007-12-05)
External links
Website
Korean name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised Romanization Taewangsasingi
McCune–Reischauer T'aewangsasin'gi

The Legend (Hangul: 태왕사신기; Hanja: 太王四神記; RR: Taewangsasingi; lit. "Story of the First King's Four Gods") is a 2007 South Korean historical fantasy television series, starring Bae Yong-joon, Lee Ji-ah, Moon So-ri and Choi Min-soo. Directed by Kim Jong-hak and written by Song Ji-na, it aired on MBC from September 11 to December 5, 2007 on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:55 for 24 episodes.[1][2]

Loosely based on the legend of Dangun and Gwanggaeto the Great of Goguryeo, the story also adds mythical elements of the Four Symbols depicted in fantasy form as the four guardians who serve the king of Jyushin. Bae was paid ₩250 million per episode, the highest salary to date for a Korean drama actor.[3][4]

Synopsis

A long time ago, a tribe that respected the tiger and controlled fire called the Ho-jok (Tiger Tribe), ruled the world. They eliminated and assimilated all tribes except the tribe that respected the bear, called the Ung-jok (Bear Tribe). The Tiger Tribe and the Bear Tribe fought, and Hwan-woong could not bear to see so many people getting killed. He brought the three gods of nature; Poong-Baek (백호, the White Tiger), Woonsa (청룡, the Azure Dragon), and Woosa (현무, the Turtle Snake).

He removed the power of fire from the leader of the Tiger Tribe, Kajin, sealed the power into an artifact called the Heart of Jujak (주작, the Vermilion Bird/Phoenix), and gave it to the woman he loved; Sae-oh. However, Kajin was mortally wounded while attacking another tribe, and she seemed to die until Hwan-woong healed her. This event makes Kajin develop love for Hwan-woong. When her tribe declared in a war council they would Hwan-woong take back the power of fire, Kajin then slew her tribe's elders with her own blade. She then escapes from her own tribe in search of Hwan-woong, deciding to become Hwan-woong's woman.

However, Hwan-woong likes Sae-oh and declared his love for her, not knowing that Kajin was watching them secretly when this took place. Kajin was infuriated by this and began reforming the Tiger Tribe and attacked the Bear Tribe. Unfortunately, this was the time when Sae-oh was pregnant, and when she had given birth, the baby was kidnapped by Kajin who offered Sae-oh a deal to trade her baby for the power of fire. When Sae-oh refuses Kajin, Kajin responds by dropping Sae-oh's baby from a cliff, leading to Sae-oh going out of control and releasing the Heuk-Jujak (Black Phoenix), even though Hwan-woong had saved the baby. (Note: Jujak is roughly the equivalent of Phoenix.) Hwan-woong's subordinates, the White Tiger, the Azure Dragon and the Turtle Snake fought the Black Phoenix, but they were no match for it.

Left with no choice, Hwan-woong used his Heavenly Bow to kill Sae-oh, the source of the power of the Black Phoenix, and managed to seal it once again in the heart of the Phoenix. Kajin committed suicide by jumping from the cliff because she now "had no reason to live in this world any more." Hwan-woong sealed the powers of the 'Four Gods' (The Phoenix, White Tiger, Azure Dragon, and the Turtle Snake) in certain artifacts and left them in the care of certain people, telling them that they will wake when the King of Jyushin is born.

Many centuries later, Damdeok, the reincarnation of Hwan-woong, was born. Along with him, the artifacts of the guardians of the King were born. Damdeok met difficulties in becoming the king of Goguryeo, mainly because of Yeon Hogae who mistook Damdeok for the murderer of his mother, and his father who turned the king's parliament against him.

Cast and characters

The filming location of the series on Jeju Island

Main cast

Supporting cast

Ratings

Date Episode Nationwide Seoul
2007-09-10 1st Special 14.1% (6th) 14.5% (6th)
2007-09-11 1 20.4% (3rd) 21.6% (3rd)
2007-09-12 2 26.9% (1st) 27.7% (1st)
2007-09-13 3 26.9% (1st) 28.3% (1st)
2007-09-19 4 31.7% (1st) 33.3% (1st)
2007-09-20 5 31.5% (1st) 33.1% (1st)
2007-09-26 6 23.4% (2nd) 25.3% (1st)
2007-09-27 7 30.9% (1st) 33.0% (1st)
2007-10-10 8 25.9% (2nd) 26.4% (2nd)
2007-10-11 9 28.2% (2nd) 29.3% (1st)
2007-10-17 10 27.5% (2nd) 28.6% (1st)
2007-10-18 11 28.3% (2nd) 29.7% (1st)
2007-10-24 12 29.6% (2nd) 30.2% (1st)
2007-10-25 13 29.1% (2nd) 30.4% (1st)
2007-10-31 14 27.9% (2nd) 29.0% (1st)
2007-11-01 15 31.9% (1st) 33.2% (1st)
2007-11-07 16 30.0% (2nd) 31.0% (1st)
2007-11-08 17 30.4% (2nd) 31.9% (1st)
2007-11-14 18 30.4% (2nd) 31.5% (1st)
2007-11-15 19 31.6% (2nd) 32.8% (1st)
2007-11-21 20 30.4% (2nd) 32.1% (1st)
2007-11-22 21 32.3% (2nd) 33.4% (1st)
2007-11-28 22 31.6% (2nd) 32.9% (1st)
2007-11-29 23 33.0% (2nd) 34.6% (1st)
2007-12-05 24 35.7% (1st) 37.0% (1st)
2007-12-06 2nd Special 16.9% (2nd) 16.0% (2nd)
Average 29.4% 30.7%

Source: TNS Media Korea

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Recipient Result
2007
MBC Drama Awards
Grand Prize (Daesang) Bae Yong-joon Won
Top Excellence Award, Actor Choi Min-soo Nominated
Bae Yong-joon Nominated
Golden Acting Award, Actor in a Historical Drama Choi Min-soo Won
Best New Actor Lee Phillip Nominated
Best New Actress Lee Ji-ah Won
Viewer's Favorite Drama of the Year The Legend Won
Popularity Award, Actor Bae Yong-joon Won
Choi Min-soo Nominated
Popularity Award, Actress Lee Ji-ah Won
Best Couple Award Bae Yong-joon and Lee Ji-ah Won
2008
44th Baeksang Arts Awards
Best Drama The Legend Nominated
Best Actor (TV) Bae Yong-joon Nominated
Best New Actor (TV) Lee Phillip Nominated
Best New Actress (TV) Lee Ji-ah Won
2nd Korea Drama Awards
Best Drama The Legend Nominated
Hallyu Achievement Award Bae Yong-joon Won

International broadcast

In Japan, the series (titled Taioshijinki (太王四神記)) aired on NHK beginning April 5, 2008.[5] Two 60-minute episodes were also screened over 12 showings at 10 Japanese movie theaters, over a period of six months.[6] However, it drew disappointing ratings given Bae Yong-joon's enormous popularity in Japan. Japanese viewers were reportedly confused by the drama's several flashbacks, and its references to Korean history. They were also disappointed by the dubbing of Bae's voice, while others had trouble relating to his character because of his established screen image from Winter Sonata. The early sales of the drama's DVD set may have likewise hurt the ratings. It received ratings of 7%, which though far from Winter Sonata's 20%, is still a respectable result given its late night time-slot.[7]

In the Philippines, it aired on the GMA Network on weekdays starting March 10, 2008.[8] The Legend was one of the highest rated shows in its timeslot, with average ratings of over 30%.[9]

In Thailand, it aired on the Channel 3 on Saturdays and Sundays starting April 19, 2008.[10]

Adaptations

A novelization written by Kim Chang-gyu became a bestseller, and a graphic novel version by manga artist Riyoko Ikeda was also released.[6]

The series was adapted into a musical by the Japanese Takarazuka Revue. It was staged in early 2009 by the Flower Troupe, and starred Sei Matobu and Ayane Sakurano. Following the success of the first run, Version II of the musical was staged in late June 2009 by the Star Troupe, starring Reon Yuzuki and Nene Yumesaki.[11]

References

  1. "Soap star king". Korea JoongAng Daily. June 6, 2007. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  2. Park, Si-soo (December 9, 2007). "Epic Drama Taewangsasingi Most Searched on Internet". The Korea Times. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  3. "Lee Byung-hun's Acting Fee Dwarfs Industry Guideline". The Chosun Ilbo. November 12, 2009. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
  4. Park, Si-soo (June 26, 2013). "Who is the highest paid actor?". The Korea Times. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  5. "Cast of The Legend to Appear on Japan's NHK TV". KBS World. May 23, 2008. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  6. 1 2 Lee, Hyo-won (December 4, 2007). "TV Drama Taewangsasingi Goes to Japan". The Korea Times. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  7. "Why Yonsama Didn't Wow the Japanese This Time". The Chosun Ilbo. September 5, 2008. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  8. Dimaculangan, Jocelyn (March 7, 2008). "The Legend premieres on GMA-7, March 10". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
  9. Godinez, Bong (March 14, 2008). "TV Ratings (March 11–13): The Legend breaks into the Top 10 primetime shows". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
  10. "ตำนานจอมกษัตริย์เทพสวรรค์". Sanook.com. August 18, 2015. Retrieved November 26, 2013. Thai: ภาษาไทย
  11. Archived January 13, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.
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