Popular Actress Makes History By Reprising Her Role In Sequel Of 20-Year-Old Drama

In the world of K-Dramas, sequels are not rare to come by. In fact, one of the common signs of a good show is usually the fandom’s demand for a second season because 16 episodes are just not enough. Sometimes, these sequels come with new storylines and characters, with the old cast members making the occasional cameos (like Park Hyung Sik and Park Bo Young in Strong Girl Nam Soon, the sequel of Strong Woman Do Bong Soon). And other times, fans are blessed with new seasons but with the same cast that they fell in love with, though it might come with a significantly long wait.

South Korean veteran actress Lee Young Ae has made the latter possible for the fans of her hit show Jewel In The Palace, as she has been recast for an iconic role from 20 years ago in the upcoming sequel of the original show.

Though Lee is well-known for many of her projects over the years, her 2003 K-Drama, Jewel In The Palace, will always hold a special place in fans’ hearts. The actress portrayed the role of Seo Jang Geum, who went from a palace maid to a medic during the Joseon era.

This series shot Lee to international fame 20 years ago, turning her into the face of the Hallyu K-Drama wave. Now that the legendary drama series is making a comeback on screen with a new season, Lee Young Ae is going to step into the shoes of Seo Jang Geum once again. The actress’s agency Fantagio confirmed that Lee will be appearing as the lead actress for the sequel of Jewel in the Palace, which is expected to begin filming in October 2025.

The story of this sequel will supposedly pick up where it left it 20 years ago, with Seo Jang Geum successfully becoming a medic. The new season will focus on her journey as a medic. The working title for the new season is reportedly Medic Dae Jang Geum.

The first season of the period drama, which was a whopping 54 episodes long, saw unprecedented success back in 2003. The last episode, which aired in 2004, recorded a viewership rating of 57%, according to Nielsen Korea. The show went on to win many accolades, including a Daesang at the 2003 MBC Drama Awards for Lee Young Ae’s portrayal of Seo Jang Geum.

Meanwhile, the specific date of the new season’s release or the broadcaster has not been disclosed yet.