'Jewel in the Palace' star Lee Young-ae celebrates 23-year bond with royal court cuisine mentor
Lee Young-ae / Courtesy of Korea Foundation for Persons with Disabilities
Actor Lee Young-ae, whose most iconic work is considered by many to be the drama “Jewel in the Palace,” paid tribute to her more than 20-year bond with Han Bok-ryeo, the Korean royal court cuisine researcher who participated in the drama.
The actor posted several photos of herself visiting the Institute of Korean Royal Cuisine on social media Thursday. In the photos, she was seen wearing a blouse paired with a long skirt, strolling around the institute and smiling while holding hands with Han.
“My mentor, royal court cuisine researcher Han Bok-ryeo. Thank you, and please always stay healthy,” she wrote.
She also added the hashtags “Jewel in the Palace” and “My mentor.”
Lee Young-ae and Han Bok-reo / Captured from Lee Young-ae's Instagram
Lee played the title character, Seo Jang-geum, in the MBC drama, which became a nationwide sensation in 2003.
Han, a researcher specializing in royal court cuisine from the Joseon Dynasty, is known for creating the dishes featured in “Jewel in the Palace” by drawing on historical documents about traditional Korean cuisine. In 2007, she was officially recognized as a holder of the skills associated with Royal Court Cuisine of the 1392-1910 Joseon Dynasty, designated as National Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 38.
The mentor-protégé bond formed between Lee and Han through the drama has endured for 23 years, with Lee still referring to the researcher as “my mentor” and expressing her affection for her.
Lee married Korean American businessman Jeong Ho-young, who is 20 years her senior, in 2009. The couple has twins, a son and a daughter.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.