In Korean historical dramas, Admiral Yi Sun-sin and Royal Consort Huibin Jang are among the most depicted figures. Yet in “Dong Yi”, aired in 2010, the spotlight shifted to a lesser-highlighted figure—Sukbin Choe, the mother of King Yeongjo. The series marked Han Hyo-joo’s first leading role and a turning point in her career.
Directed by Lee Byung-hoon, known for “Dae Jang Geum: Jewel in the Palace” and “Lee San, Wind of the Palace”, “Dong Yi” was the second collaboration with writer Kim Yi-young and portrayed Choe as a bright, righteous woman—a departure from Han Hyo-joo’s usual supporting roles. Han initially faced criticism for her acting but gradually impressed viewers. Her performance earned her both the MBC Drama Grand Prize and the Baeksang Best Actress award that year.
Born in Cheongju in 1987, Han Hyo-joo began acting in the mid-2000s. Though she gained some recognition from “Iljimae” and “Brilliant Legacy”, her rise to stardom was solidified with “Dong Yi”. She later starred in hits like “Masquerade”, “Cold Eyes” and “The Beauty Inside”, and recently gained renewed acclaim with Disney+’s “Moving” and Netflix’s “Believer 2”.
Interestingly, “Dong Yi” precedes “Lee San, Wind of the Palace” chronologically, meaning that within Lee Byung-hoon’s historical drama universe, Han Hyo-joo’s Sukbin Choe is essentially the mother of Yi Sun-sin—played by veteran actor Lee Soon-jae in “Lee San, Wind of the Palace”. This humorous lineage earned the nickname, “Han Hyo-joo gave birth to Lee Soon-jae.”
While “Dong Yi” faced stiff competition from dramas like “Giant” and “Sungkyunkwan Scandal”, it still achieved peak ratings of 29.1%, continuing Lee’s streak of successful historical dramas. The drama also featured strong performances from Ji Jin-hee as King Sukjong, Lee So-yeon as a powerful reinterpretation of Huibin Jang, Park Ha-sun as the graceful Queen Inhyeon, and Bae Soo-bin as the tragic second lead Cha Chun-soo.
Through “Dong Yi”, Han Hyo-joo redefined a sidelined historical figure and proved her talent in a male-dominated drama landscape—earning her place in the Lee Byung-hoon universe and in Korean drama history.
Sources: Netizenbuzz
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