The Legend (TV series)


The Legend is a 2007 South Korean historical fantasy television series, starring Bae Yong-joon, Lee Ji-ah, Moon So-ri and Choi Min-soo. Directed by Kim Jong-hak and written by Song Ji-na, it aired on MBC from September 11 to December 5, 2007, on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:55 for 24 episodes.
Loosely based on the legend of Dangun and Gwanggaeto the Great of Goguryeo, the story also adds mythical elements of the Four Symbols depicted in fantasy form as the four guardians who serve the king of Jyushin. Bae was paid per episode, the highest salary to date for a Korean drama actor.

Synopsis

A long time ago, a tribe that respected the tiger and controlled fire called the Ho-jok, ruled the world. They eliminated and assimilated all tribes except the tribe that respected the bear, called the Ung-jok. The Tiger Tribe and the Bear Tribe fought, and Hwan-woong could not bear to see so many people getting killed. He brought the three gods of nature; Poong-Baek, Woonsa, and Woosa.
He removed the power of fire from the leader of the Tiger Tribe, Kajin, sealed the power into an artifact called the Heart of Jujak, and gave it to the woman he loved; Sae-oh. However, Kajin was mortally wounded while attacking another tribe, and she seemed to die until Hwan-woong healed her. This event makes Kajin develop love for Hwan-woong. When her tribe declared in a war council they would Hwan-woong take back the power of fire, Kajin then slew her tribe's elders with her own blade. She then escapes from her own tribe in search of Hwan-woong, deciding to become Hwan-woong's woman.
However, Hwan-woong likes Sae-oh and declared his love for her, not knowing that Kajin was watching them secretly when this took place. Kajin was infuriated by this and began reforming the Tiger Tribe and attacked the Bear Tribe. Unfortunately, this was the time when Sae-oh was pregnant, and when she had given birth, the baby was kidnapped by Kajin who offered Sae-oh a deal to trade her baby for the power of fire. When Sae-oh refuses Kajin, Kajin responds by dropping Sae-oh's baby from a cliff, leading to Sae-oh going out of control and releasing the Heuk-Jujak, even though Hwan-woong had saved the baby. Hwan-woong's subordinates, the White Tiger, the Azure Dragon and the Turtle Snake fought the Black Phoenix, but they were no match for it.
Left with no choice, Hwan-woong used his Heavenly Bow to kill Sae-oh, the source of the power of the Black Phoenix, and managed to seal it once again in the heart of the Phoenix. Kajin committed suicide by jumping from the cliff because she now "had no reason to live in this world any more." Hwan-woong sealed the powers of the 'Four Gods' in certain artifacts and left them in the care of certain people, telling them that they will wake when the King of Jyushin is born.
Many centuries later, Damdeok, the reincarnation of Hwan-woong, was born. Along with him, the artifacts of the guardians of the King were born. Damdeok met difficulties in becoming the king of Goguryeo, mainly because of Yeon Hogae who mistook Damdeok for the murderer of his mother, and his father who turned the king's parliament against him.

Cast and characters

Main cast

  • Bae Yong-joon as Damdeok
  • *Yoo Seung-ho as young Damdeok
  • Lee Ji-ah as Sujini
  • *Shim Eun-kyung as young Sujini
  • Moon So-ri as Seo Kiha
  • *Park Eun-bin as teenage Kiha
  • *Kim Eun-seo as 5-year-old Kiha
  • Oh Kwang-rok as Hyeon-go
  • *Oh Seung-yoon as young Hyeon-go
  • Choi Min-soo as Daejangro
  • Yoon Tae-young as Yeon Hogae
  • *Kim Ho-young as young Hogae
  • Park Sang-won as Yeon Garyo
  • Lee Phillip as Cheoro
  • *Lee Hyun-woo as young Cheoro
  • Park Sung-woong as Jumuchi
  • Park Seong-min as Saryang

    Supporting cast

  • Park Jung-hak as General Go Woo-cheung
  • Jang Hang-sun as Heukgae
  • Kim Hyuk as Dalgu
  • Kim Seok as Dalgu's friend
  • Shin Eun-jung as Dalbi
  • Ha Ji-young as Personal Writer
  • Kim Mi-kyung as Bason
  • Min Ji-oh as Soidooroo
  • Baek Jae-jin as Buldeul
  • Hong Kyung-yeon as Dae Shin-kwan
  • Jung Yoon-seok as Ahjik
  • Lee Da-hee as Gakdan
  • Song Kwi-hyun as Jo Joo-do
  • Woo Hyun as wheat seller
  • Kim Sun-kyung as Hogae's mother
  • Dokgo Young-jae as King Gogugyang
  • Bae Yong-joon as Hwan-woong
  • Lee Ji-ah as Sae-oh
  • Moon So-ri as Kajin

    Ratings

Source:

Awards and nominations

Adaptations

A novelization written by Kim Chang-gyu became a bestseller, and a graphic novel version by manga artist Riyoko Ikeda was also released.
The series was adapted into a musical by the Japanese Takarazuka Revue. It was staged in early 2009 by the Flower Troupe, and starred Sei Matobu and Ayane Sakurano. Following the success of the first run, Version II of the musical was staged in late June 2009 by the Star Troupe, starring Reon Yuzuki and Nene Yumesaki.