Korean Drama- Tree with Deep Roots

[soryang]

Tree with Deep Roots is about the reign of King Sejong the Great in 15th Century and his enlightened rule. This particular drama focuses on Sejong's struggle to free the people from illiteracy due to the burden of learning traditional Chinese characters in the classical neo-Confucian society. Learning the phonetically correct 28 character alphabet Sejong's scholars formulated only took a few days in contrast to Chinese characters ( 한자; Hanja: 漢字 ) which took years of study.

Tree with Deep Roots fictionalizes and dramatizes the political reaction of ruling elites to this revolutionary improvement in literacy for ordinary Koreans. Whether it would actually change the caste society nature of traditional Chosun was a matter of dispute in Episode 18.



https://www.viki.com/videos/159368v?vst=875

If they know the joy of reading, they will wake up. English subs. Available on viki.com.

Reminds me of discussions about internet access and media monopolies.

[GP6971]

1. Do you know if this is broadcast

on any of the Korean Channels broadcast by Direct TV? I don't know the name of the series, but there is something very similar on SBC. We've been to the Gyeongbokgung Palace (Hangul: 경복궁; Hanja: 景福宮 a couple of times and it's a fascinating experience.

[soryang]

2. That's really great GP

I've been there too. Was lucky to get stationed in Yongsan (Seoul) for almost three years, years ago.

I don't have the US media, I just watch Korean broadcasting and youtube for US input.

So I don't know the answer. These historical dramas are compelling. This isn't even the best one, but I like it anyway because I've been studying Korean for some time now. I found most Korean-Americans in the US just plug the laptop into the tv, if they have broadband. I made the change a few years ago.

On one of my earlier posts I gave the names of some other historical dramas I liked best. They are not always available due to copyright restrictions. I watch korvideo, dailymotion.com, for daily broadcasting in Korea, but there's no English.

For subtitles I use Viki.com.

My all time favorites are the historical dramas: Empress Qi, Six Flying Dragons, Dong Yi, Jewel in the Palace, The Flower in Prison and The Great Queen Seon Deok. Fabulous sets, (like Gyeongbokgung Palace), great plots, characters and acting.

[GP6971]

3. Thanks!

I'll pass your list on to my wife who is from Wonju...I'm sure she'll start looking for the programs.

I was never stationed in Korea, but had a lot of TDY. there..about 18 months in 4 years...Camps Humphreys, Long, Page,Red Cloud, Boniface, Henry, Walker, Yongsan and Busan. Fell in love with the country the first time I was there. Then I worked for a defense contractor and had a lot of trips back to Yongsan, Camps Casey and Hove.

[soryang]

4. Lucky you!

I think I've been to most of those places. I also went to most of the US army bases to give legal briefs. Loved Pusan.

I agree, such a wonderful experience.

I wasn't able to get into Korean media until much later here in the states, after I discovered Talk to me in Korean TTMIK for short. That web site has the best Korean teacher in the world, Hyun Oo Kim. After that I started listening to Korean music all day and translating the lyrics. Then after I retired I was able to binge on Korean dramas and other programs to try to improve my comprehension.

https://talktomeinkorean.com/

I went to the Minsokchon, the Korean folk village, every spring. That served as a movie set for many of these dramas. That was wonderful too.