Goong (manhwa)


Goong is a manhwa series by author Park So-hee. It has been adapted into a popular TV drama series of the same name.

Summary

Set in an alternate world where the Korean monarchy still exists, Chae-kyung Shin is an ordinary strong-willed girl who attends the same high school as Shin Lee, the crown prince of Korea. After accidentally witnessing Shin proposing to his girlfriend Hyo-rin and being rejected, Chae-kyung unexpectedly learns that she will marry Shin and become Crown Princess of Korea. Due to a promise between the former king of Korea and her grandfather, Chae-kyung has been betrothed to the seemingly cold-hearted prince of Korea. Meanwhile, Shin's cousin Yul unexpectedly returns from England with his mother, the wife of the king's deceased older brother - both with their own plans to take what they believe rightfully belong to Yul: the position of the crown prince and Chae-kyung, the girl who was intended to be the wife of the crown prince.
Both unwilling parties agree to the marriage, each with his and her own different motivations for the agreement to marry. Chae-kyung is forced into the difficult and restrictive role of the crown princess, being forced to live in the palace without permission to return home and learn its endless traditions and rituals. Her only comfort appears to be Shin's assurance that he will divorce her if she cannot adjust to palace life. However, they fall deeply in love with one another, in spite of everything that begins to pull them apart.

Characters

The setting of Goong reflects the status of the monarchy of Korea during the Joseon period, seen in most of the titles and styles of the royal family. In Korean, the speech used in the royal household was different from that used by commoners, which served to distinguish and separate the royal family from ordinary citizens. Royal children addressed their parents and grandparents with different terms.
Recurring Terms
In 2006, a live-action television adaptation of the manga was broadcast from 11 January to 30 March 2006 on Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation, starring Yoon Eun-hye, Ju Ji-hoon, Kim Jeong-hoon and Song Ji-hyo.
In 2010, a theatrical musical spin-off of the television drama, Goong: Musical premiered. It starred Kim Kyu-jong of SS501 as male lead Lee Shin, where he also performed Kyoto on 11 June 2011. It also starred U-Know Yunho of TVXQ.