By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
A Korean soap opera ``Jewel in the Palace'' has given many people courage with the story of a woman named ``Janggeum'' who becomes a royal chef and doctor against all odds.
And the drama has touched not only Korean people's minds but also Singaporeans. The actress playing the heroine of the soap opera encouraged a Singaporean woman suffering from cancer during a visit to Singapore. Now on a visit to Korea to meet the actress, the woman is cured.
Cheong Yu Chee, 67, and her daughter, Anna Quek, 44, came to Korea on May 1 for a reunion and a one-week tour here.
The special relationship started last year. Quek sent the Singapore branch of the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) a letter that said her mother, a big fan of ``Jewel in the Palace,'' wanted to visit Korea despite suffering from lung cancer.
But Cheong's condition became serious and she could not travel. The KTO branch then arranged a meeting between Cheong and Yang Mi-kyung, one of main characters, when Yang visited Singapore last August.
Yang visited Cheong's house and prayed for her recovery, and promised she would treat her to a meal when Cheong visited Korea later.
After medical treatment, Cheong recovered and came to Korea. Last Sunday, Yang kept her promise by entertaining Cheong and her daughter to lunch at a Korean restaurant in Insa-dong in central Seoul.
``She remembered us upon seeing us. Although Yang is a celebrity, she was not arrogant but very tenderhearted. I could see that she cared for me from the bottom of her heart,'' Cheong told The Korea Times.
Yang refused to disclose their meeting to the media, saying it was her personal promise.
``She had said she would make food herself but she could not. Instead, she made a special order to the restaurant for us. I enjoyed the food very much,'' Cheong said.
The daughter said when she first sent the letter to the KTO, she never expected the thing would become this big.
``It was just my way of expressing my love for my mother, to be of any help for her to recover and revive her spirit. The KTO, travel agency, Asiana Airline, and all related agencies actively helped the wish come true. It is the grace of God,'' Quek said.
They also visited the filming set of the drama and Sunbi Town in Yeongju, North Kyeongsang Province where the head of the traditional-style town gave them wild ginseng as a present.
Pledging to come back someday, they left Seoul on Monday.