Golden Bride
Encyclopedia
Golden Bride is a South Korean TV drama, which had its first run from July 23, 2007 to February 3, 2008. Due to its vast popularity, the series was extended by 14 episodes.
) is half-Korean half-Vietnamese, working at a matchmaking service between Vietnam
and South Korea
, being the main translator. Raised near a temple
where she was taught Korean, her father abandoned her family 20 years ago, although her mother still longs for his return. Jin Joo works hard to earn money for a cure for her mother's night blindness. However, the doctor reveals her condition to be irreversible. As her final wish, Jin Joo's mother asks to be able to see Jin Joo's father one last time before she goes blind. In an act of desperation, she convinces her clients, Jun Woo's mother Jung Han Sook and aunt Kang Koon Ja (Park Mi Sun), to take her to Korea as Jun Woo's bride in order to find her father. They both agree, finding her more suitable than the other brides. Jin Joo travels to Seoul
, pretending to be Korean, and the two marry.
Though their relationship had begun with a mutual agreement that it was a fake marriage and that they would secretly live as friends (which meant not sharing the same bed), Jin Joo's genuine effort to support him touches Jun Woo's heart and they eventually fell in love. With her mother's illness worsening, Jun Woo quickly begins to help search for Jin Joo's father.
) at Seoul University and they were engaged. However, after Ji Young goes to Chicago
to study abroad, she abruptly breaks off their relationship, not telling him it was due to her mother's financial problems. Jun Woo shortly rushes to Chicago and has a violent encounter with her that resulted in Ji Young calling the police. They violently beat Jun Woo and lock him up in an American prison for three months. This severely traumatized Jun Woo, causing him to develop a serious heart condition and melancholia
. In an attempt to improve his health, Jun Woo's mother flies to Vietnam in search of a wife.
Three years later, Ji Young marries Kim Young Min (Song Jong Ho). Although unaware of the family feud, Ji Young hides her past with Jun Woo, as well as her strained relationship with her wayward mother, whom she is ashamed of. This ultimately leads to the destruction of her marriage.
Though from the outside Ok Kyung and Sang Il's marriage seems happy, there is a damaging past. 22 years ago, Sang Il had abandoned his family to go overseas, not contacting them for 2 years. This led to Ok Kyung to fall into depression and started drinking. When he returned, they resume their marriage as if nothing happened, but Ok Kyung secretly dreads what might have happened during his absence.
. By coincidence, she catches the eye of Kim Young Soo (Kim Hee Chul), younger brother of Young Min, at a club. Rejected on the basis of being told that he is a rich playboy, Young Soo goes through several changes in order to impress her, much to the amusement of his family. After getting a job as the security guard
at Sae Mi's modeling agency, Young Soo attempts to woo her again, but it's when he discovers her ambition to become an actress, Sae Mi softens after he encourages her to audition at his father's company.
Their relationship finally blossoms after he helps her win a competition for a hotel gift card for Jin Joo and Jun Woo's honeymoon
, although Young Soo had mistakenly thought it had been for them. Sae Mi and Young Soo remain oblivious to the family feud for most of the drama series, but when it is discovered, they are inevitably affected.
. Heo Dong Gu (Kim Kyung Sik) is a law student who has for years tried to woo Sae Mi by becoming her driver
, although he is repeatedly turned down. In an attempt to win her over, Dong Gu asks Won Mi to help, getting them both into strange and hilarious situations. After joining the military
and keeping in contact with her only through letters, Dong Gu falls in love with Won Mi instead, although at this time Won Mi begins dating a dentist
.
Plot summary
Several storylines take place within the dorama at the same time that ultimately all link up to one another.Jin Joo and Jun Woo
Nguyen Jin Joo (Lee Young AhLee Young Ah
Lee Young Ah is a South Korean actress and model. She is best known for playing the role of Nguyen Jin Joo from Golden Bride, a 2008 drama that extended 14 episodes due to its popularity and is in Top 5 of Korean Dramas of the Year 2008 in Nielson Ratings and Top 7 in TNS, and on the popular...
) is half-Korean half-Vietnamese, working at a matchmaking service between Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
and South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, being the main translator. Raised near a temple
Temple
A temple is a structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities, such as prayer and sacrifice, or analogous rites. A templum constituted a sacred precinct as defined by a priest, or augur. It has the same root as the word "template," a plan in preparation of the building that was marked out...
where she was taught Korean, her father abandoned her family 20 years ago, although her mother still longs for his return. Jin Joo works hard to earn money for a cure for her mother's night blindness. However, the doctor reveals her condition to be irreversible. As her final wish, Jin Joo's mother asks to be able to see Jin Joo's father one last time before she goes blind. In an act of desperation, she convinces her clients, Jun Woo's mother Jung Han Sook and aunt Kang Koon Ja (Park Mi Sun), to take her to Korea as Jun Woo's bride in order to find her father. They both agree, finding her more suitable than the other brides. Jin Joo travels to Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, pretending to be Korean, and the two marry.
Though their relationship had begun with a mutual agreement that it was a fake marriage and that they would secretly live as friends (which meant not sharing the same bed), Jin Joo's genuine effort to support him touches Jun Woo's heart and they eventually fell in love. With her mother's illness worsening, Jun Woo quickly begins to help search for Jin Joo's father.
Jun Woo, Ji Young and Young Min
Kang Jun Woo (Song Chang Ui) met Ok Ji Young (Choi Yeo JinChoi Yeo Jin
Choi Yeo Jin is a South Korean actress and model. Choi is a Korean Canadian actor and studied Hotel management at George Brown City University. She debuted to the entertainment business by getting selected as a first entry at the 2001 Super Elite Model Contest...
) at Seoul University and they were engaged. However, after Ji Young goes to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
to study abroad, she abruptly breaks off their relationship, not telling him it was due to her mother's financial problems. Jun Woo shortly rushes to Chicago and has a violent encounter with her that resulted in Ji Young calling the police. They violently beat Jun Woo and lock him up in an American prison for three months. This severely traumatized Jun Woo, causing him to develop a serious heart condition and melancholia
Melancholia
Melancholia , also lugubriousness, from the Latin lugere, to mourn; moroseness, from the Latin morosus, self-willed, fastidious habit; wistfulness, from old English wist: intent, or saturnine, , in contemporary usage, is a mood disorder of non-specific depression,...
. In an attempt to improve his health, Jun Woo's mother flies to Vietnam in search of a wife.
Three years later, Ji Young marries Kim Young Min (Song Jong Ho). Although unaware of the family feud, Ji Young hides her past with Jun Woo, as well as her strained relationship with her wayward mother, whom she is ashamed of. This ultimately leads to the destruction of her marriage.
Han Sook, Ok Kyung and Sang Il
A lifelong cold war exists between Jung Han Sook (Kim Mi Sook) and Yang Ok Kyung (Kyeon Mi Ri), starting from high school where Ok Kyung steals Han Sook's boyfriend, Kim Sang Il (Im Chae Moo), and marries him after faking a pregnancy. Their two sons Young Min and Young Soo grew up in a luxurious household while Han Sook's family struggled. The feud intensifies when Han Sook discovers that Young Min's new wife is Ok Ji Young, the woman responsible for Jun Woo's condition.Though from the outside Ok Kyung and Sang Il's marriage seems happy, there is a damaging past. 22 years ago, Sang Il had abandoned his family to go overseas, not contacting them for 2 years. This led to Ok Kyung to fall into depression and started drinking. When he returned, they resume their marriage as if nothing happened, but Ok Kyung secretly dreads what might have happened during his absence.
Sae Mi and Young Soo
Kang Sae Mi (Han Yeo Woon) is Jun Woo's younger sister who works as a modelModel (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
. By coincidence, she catches the eye of Kim Young Soo (Kim Hee Chul), younger brother of Young Min, at a club. Rejected on the basis of being told that he is a rich playboy, Young Soo goes through several changes in order to impress her, much to the amusement of his family. After getting a job as the security guard
Security guard
A security guard is a person who is paid to protect property, assets, or people. Security guards are usually privately and formally employed personnel...
at Sae Mi's modeling agency, Young Soo attempts to woo her again, but it's when he discovers her ambition to become an actress, Sae Mi softens after he encourages her to audition at his father's company.
Their relationship finally blossoms after he helps her win a competition for a hotel gift card for Jin Joo and Jun Woo's honeymoon
Honeymoon
-History:One early reference to a honeymoon is in Deuteronomy 24:5 “When a man is newly wed, he need not go out on a military expedition, nor shall any public duty be imposed on him...
, although Young Soo had mistakenly thought it had been for them. Sae Mi and Young Soo remain oblivious to the family feud for most of the drama series, but when it is discovered, they are inevitably affected.
Won Mi and Dong Gu
Kang Won Mi (Hong Eun Hee) is Jun Woo and Sae Mi's older sister, the eldest of the siblings. Though in her early 30s, she is unmarried and is often rejected at dating services. She works as a music teacher to children, teaching the violinViolin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
. Heo Dong Gu (Kim Kyung Sik) is a law student who has for years tried to woo Sae Mi by becoming her driver
Chauffeur
A chauffeur is a person employed to drive a passenger motor vehicle, especially a luxury vehicle such as a large sedan or limousine.Originally such drivers were always personal servants of the vehicle owner, but now in many cases specialist chauffeur service companies, or individual drivers provide...
, although he is repeatedly turned down. In an attempt to win her over, Dong Gu asks Won Mi to help, getting them both into strange and hilarious situations. After joining the military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
and keeping in contact with her only through letters, Dong Gu falls in love with Won Mi instead, although at this time Won Mi begins dating a dentist
Dentist
A dentist, also known as a 'dental surgeon', is a doctor that specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity. The dentist's supporting team aides in providing oral health services...
.
Cast
- Lee Young AhLee Young AhLee Young Ah is a South Korean actress and model. She is best known for playing the role of Nguyen Jin Joo from Golden Bride, a 2008 drama that extended 14 episodes due to its popularity and is in Top 5 of Korean Dramas of the Year 2008 in Nielson Ratings and Top 7 in TNS, and on the popular...
as Nguyen Jin Joo - Song Chang Ui as Kang Jun Woo
- Choi Yeo JinChoi Yeo JinChoi Yeo Jin is a South Korean actress and model. Choi is a Korean Canadian actor and studied Hotel management at George Brown City University. She debuted to the entertainment business by getting selected as a first entry at the 2001 Super Elite Model Contest...
as Ok Ji Young - Song Jong Ho as Kim Young Min
- Kim Hee Chul as Kim Young Soo
- Han Yeo Woon as Kang Sae Mi
- Kim Mi Sook as Jung Han Sook (Jun Woo's mother)
- Kang Shin Il as Kang Woo Nam (Jun Woo's father)
- Hong Eun Hee as Kang Won Mi (Jun Woo's older sister)
- Kyeon Mi Ri as Yang Ok Kyung (Young Min and Young Soo's mother)
- Im Chae Moo as Kim Sang Il / Richard Kim (Young Min's father)
- Park Mi Sun as Kang Koon Ja (Woo Nam's sister)
- Kim Kyung Sik as Heo Dong Gu