Koreas Produce Epic Drama on Royalty

By Chung Ah-young

Staff Reporter

The huge popularity of epic dramas is very evident on major networks this season.

Yet a different kind of epic drama is expected to air soon which is likely to stimulate the curiosity of viewers.

The first-ever television epic drama jointly produced by South and North Korea will finally be unveiled on KBS2 Aug. 8.

Titled ``Sayuksin,'' the much-awaited show was produced, shot and edited by (North) Korean Central Television.

South Korea's state-run broadcaster KBS has paid 1.9 billion won, or roughly $2.1 million for the production costs and has provided the infrastructure including technology.

The airing makes a five-year wait since North Korea first suggested co-producing the drama in 2002.

The drama was originally scheduled to be released last year, but was postponed due to tension between the two Koreas over North Korea's nuclear issue.

The drama, consisting of 24 episodes each of 70 minutes long, features more than 170 North Korean actors and actresses including North Korean dancer Cho Myong-ae. Cho is a well-known North Korean celebrity in South Korea as she co-starred with South Korean singer Lee Hyo-ri in Samsung mobile phone commercials a few years ago.

The drama is based on the historical background of King Sejo (1455-68) and the six loyal subjects, known as ``sayuksin.''

Sayuksin is originally a historical term referring to six high-ranking officials during the reign of King Danjong in the 15th century.

It is a story of six loyalists who were killed in an attempt to restore the dethroned King Danjong after the notoriously brutal King Sejo seized power.

King Sejo is known for killing many scholars who fought against his tyranny.

The drama will reinterpret the historical events and shed light on the sayuksin's loyalty and fidelity.

The drama has raised expectations as it is the first to be outsourced to North Korea by a South Korean broadcasting company. It is also the first North Korean drama made with the digital technology and equipment support of KBS. Another first for the drama is that it would be the North's first live recording in drama production.

But the piece retains North Korean cultural characteristics as it carries more than 30 North Korean music pieces such as the background music and the main theme music.