Een waargebeurd historisch drama over koning Sejong, de grootste heerser in de geschiedenis van Joseon die via astronomie de nationale welvaart en militaire macht probeerde te vergroten, en Jang Yeong-sil, een opmerkelijke wetenschapper.
Tijdens het bewind van koning Sejong in de 15e eeuw was de Joseon-dynastie de belichaming van de perfecte staat. Voor de Ming China, de aspirant-imperiale macht, vormde Joseon een obstakel voor territoriale expansie. Om zichzelf tegen oorlog te beschermen, ontwikkelt koning Sejong een geheim wapen om hun territorium te verdedigen en hun land en suprematie terug te nemen.
De film toont de drie maanden voordat Choong-nyung (de toekomstige Sejong de Grote) koning wordt. De Annalen van de Joseon-dynastie, die de geschiedenis van de Joseon-dynastie tussen 1413 en 1865 volgen, laten verslagen van deze cruciale periode achterwege. Terwijl toekomstige generaties hem zouden leren kennen als koning Sejong, de legendarische figuur die het Koreaanse alfabet creëerde en het wetenschappelijk onderzoek en recht van het land vooruitstreefde, werd prins Choong-nyung aanvankelijk afgedaan als een teruggetrokken boekenwurm. Wanneer zijn oudere broers Yangnyeong en Hyoryeong er niet in slagen indruk te maken op hun vader, koning Taejong, geeft de koning een koninklijk bevel aan Choong-nyung om in plaats daarvan de volgende heerser van het koninkrijk te worden.
"The Great King, Sejong" is a full-scale political drama describing how King Sejong and his loyal retainers cooperate and contrive to make his dynasty a better place. While King Sejong was on the throne, the Joseon Dynasty enjoyed increasing prosperity. The drama shows the dramatic processes of how so many new cultural heritages have been devised. At that time, "Hangul", the native phonemic alphabet system for Korean language was first invented and introduced. Before it was made, Chinese characters had been used for a written communication, which makes it extremely difficult for ordinary people to learn and use. "Hangul" is easy to learn for its simple and scientific principles. Other than "Hangul" itself, there had been so many cultural heritages during his regime including a rain gauge, a sundial, an hourglass to name a few. Also, King Sejong’s pragmatic diplomacy is concentrated in the drama. Then, the Joseon Dynasty was facing a powerful Ming dynasty of China, and King Sejong demonstrates the essence of pragmatism with dignity.
Deep Rooted Tree is a 2011 South Korean television series starring Jang Hyuk, Shin Se-kyung and Han Suk-kyu. Based on the novel of the same title by Lee Jeong-myeong, it aired on SBS from October 5 to December 22, 2011 on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:55 for 24 episodes. Taking its name from the poem Yongbieocheonga that says that trees with deep roots do not sway, the series tells the story of a royal guard investigating a case involving the serial murders of Jiphyeonjeon scholars in Gyeongbok Palace while King Sejong comes to create the Korean written language.
Drama series follows the life Jang Yeong-Sil: a scientist, technician and inventor during the Joseon period. Jang Yeong-Sil was born in the lower class nobi. King Sejong notices his abilities and brings him to the palace. King Sejong grants him a chance to display his abilities. He invents tools like astronomical instruments, iron printing press and a water clock.
The second installment in the 500 Years of Joseon Dynasty series covers the first half of the 15th Century, during the reign of King Sejong.
Dan-Bi is a senior high school student. She has a special ability which allows her to transport to anywhere on rainy days. For her university entrance exam, Dan-Bi can't deal with the pressure and runs off to a playground. Without knowing why, she goes into a puddle and finds herself transported to the Joseon period. There, she meets Lee Do. He is a young King of the Joseon period. Lee Do is in a difficult situation due to droughts and the spread of an epidemic.
