The Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation historical drama Daejanggeum—or The Great Janggeum (Jewel in the Palace)—set new highs in television ratings in Korea in 2003–2004, breaking the 50 percent mark. Great storytelling, a wonderful cast, visual effects, and the “frequent Iron-Chef-like” cooking sequences have made it one of the most popular shows in Korean soap-opera history. Since its first showing in Hong Kong in January 2005, it has steadily maintained a Nielsen rating of over 44 percent.

Thanks to this drama, Korean court cuisine has become immensely popular and sales of hanbok (traditional clothing) and traditional herbal medicine have skyrocketed in places like Taipei. A Daejanggeum theme park was opened in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province, in December 2004 and has been transformed into a major tourist attraction averaging 800 visitors a day.

The University of Hawai‘i Center for Korean Studies will host a symposium on this cultural phenomenon November 7–12, 2005. The highlight of the symposium will be a day-long series of panel discussions featuring both academics and practitioners and related performances on Friday, November 11.

Other symposium-week features include Korean cooking instruction and demonstrations, a film showing, performances of Korean traditional music, and a discussion of current conditions on the Korean peninsula in connection with Peace Day (November 10).

A complete schedule of events will be posted here. Additional information is also available from the Center for Korean Studies (808-956-7041).

Outline Schedule

November 7 (Monday). 2:30–6:30 p.m. Teaching kitchen for Kapiolani Community College culinary students (20).

November 9 (Wednesday) . 6:00–9:00 p.m. Cooking demonstration for the community. Sun-young Lee, Korean chef specializing in Chosŏn-dynasty cuisine, author of A Mother’s Cooking Notes. Center for Korean Studies.

November 10 (Thursday). 6:00–9:00 p.m. Peace Day, Center for Korean Studies.

November 11 (Friday). 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Daejanggeum Symposium, Center for Korean Studies.

November 12 (Saturday). 8:00 a.m.– noon. Teaching demonstration kitchen for twenty community people at Kapiolani Community College.