Don't know if anyone has had the opportunity to see this one, but Vol. 1 has recently been released on DVD with English subtitles. Region 3 format.

Deb, I highly recommend it. I was wrong the other day. Heo Joon and then Sang Do are historical dramas that I wateched from the beginning to the end. I think I watched the entire series of Heo Joon within 1 or 2 weeks during my vacation time after the series was over.

It is as good as DJG, if not better. Ranked #4 ever with its highest rating reached at 63.7% . I think you would like it if you liked DJG or Seo Dong Yo.
It is directly by the same director/producer of DJG. HeoJoon is the most famous doctor in Chosun, and he wrote a very influencial book on medicine. Thanks to this drama, Oriental medicine was taken seriously and became popular ever since.

You will notice many similarites of Lee Byung Hoon historical dramas like Seo Dong Yo, DJG and Heo Joon. The protagonist goes through many many difficult times. You will also find some familiar and funny characters.

http://tinyurl.com/3c4rog (Heo Joon pictures)

 
 

This will be offered by the VC but under the name Hur Jun.

 

Hubby and I have watched the first four episodes, and it already looks like a high quality drama, especially storywise. Cast is great, packed with favorites.

The subs are good. Some gender confusion here and there, but still very easy to understand.

Hubby is really interested because although a health professional in a conventional field (anesthesia), he has always been very interested in studying the botanical origins of modern pharmacology. This promises to put a lot of emphasis on that, in addition to all that acupuncture that they really do on camera......

I am glad you are liking it so far. Isn't Lady Yejin charming? Because of Hur Joon, all moms in Korea wished to have Hwang Soo Jeong as their DIL. Who knew she would eventually get involed in a drug scandal and disappear from the scene for 5 years? That was a big disappiontment for many people. I am glad she back, though.

It was good to see her in this one. I saw her in "Four Sisters", then wondered why I didn't see her in anything else. Then I read about the drug scandal and that explained it. Terrible price to pay. It will be interesting to see what kind of parts she will get in the future.

We're really getting into the medical stuff now. Hubby is just lapping it all up. Interesting how doctors' egos don't seem to have changed for centuries. Loved the "Duel of Nine Needles" and how humble HJ out-yangbanned the two Yangbans on the way to the state exams.

I have to say that even though people have compared this production with Dae Jang Geum, some unfavorably, I like it more. Has more depth and dimension. Lots of fun seeing some cast members that later showed up in DJG and many other productions.

chinohills wrote:

You will also find some familiar and funny characters.

The comedy married couple:

 

Lee Hee Do and Kim Hae Sook, both of whom have been in just about everything. I've seen her do a couple of very straight roles before, but had never seen her do comedy. She's a truly great comedienne besides everything else. These two are outstanding together, and are probably the best married couple comedy team I've seen yet.

Also for comedy relief, there is the ever-hilarious Im Hyun Sik, pictured in Jason's post above, (guy in the blue hat) who is at his usual high standard in this drama. He really cracks hubby up.

I was rather surprised to see this actress turn up.

 

A very young Lee Yoo Ri. Only about two or three scenes and half a dozen or so lines. Unless she lied about her birth year, she would have been only about 17 or 18 at the time. It surprised me because I didn't expect to see her in a historical, but guess I should know by now that you can expect anyone to appear in one.

Three quarters of the way through the series now, and it hasn't disappointed us in any way. My hubby has had a crush on Yejin since the beginning. Some parts are not for the squeamish, and it has about ten times the acupuncture of Dae Jang Geum goin' on. Lots of it goes into the philtrum, and I can't for the life of me figure out how the victims, uh, actors hold still for those shots. Good to have an open mind about the medical practices of other cultures while viewing this.

All four volumes are now out, we finished the last one tonight, and even though some might think it a spoiler, I will say that it had a truly beautiful ending.