Jang Yeong-sil (Hangul: 장영실) is a 2016 South Korean historical drama television series starring Song Il-gook, Kim Yeong-cheol, Kim Sang-kyung and Park Sun-young. It replaced The Jingbirok: A Memoir of Imjin War and aired on KBS1 from January 2, 2016 to March 26, 2016 on Saturdays and Sundays at 21:40 (KST) for 24 episodes.
A television series talk about Jang Yeong-sil (Song Il-gook), a popular scientist of Joseon in XVth century. Born as a slave but with the remarkable talent and the profound passion for astronomy, he was known by King Sejong (Kim Sang-kyung) and was recommended to the court. Jang Yeong-sil had a lot of contributions for the science-technology of Joseon, he has left many great inventions such as the water clock, the sundial, the astronomical instruments, the rain gauge and also many research on weaponry.
Main characters
Song Il-gook as Jang Yeong-sil (or Jang Young-sil)Jung Yun-seok as young Jang Yeong-silKim Sang-kyung as Lee Do, later King Sejong (1397~1450)Hong Hyun-taek as young Lee DoKim Yeong-cheol as Lee Bang-won, later King Taejong (1367~1422)Park Sun-young as Princess Sohyun – King Taejong's daughter and Lee Do's older sister (fictional character)Yoon Si-yeong as young SohyunRoyal householdKim Ki-hyeon as King TaejoLee Byung-wook as Prince YangnyeongKim Bo-mi as Princess GyeonghyeHan Jeong-woo as King MunjongChoi Seung-hoon as young Lee Hyang (later King Munjong)N/A as King DanjongGo Young-bin as King SejoCourt officialsKim Do-hyun as Lee CheonSon Byong-ho as Ha YeonJung Han-yong as Hwang HuiKim Byung-ki as Maeng Sa-seongLee Young-seok as Jo Mal-saengHan Ki-joong as Heo JoKim Hyo-won as Jeong ChoKang Shin-goo as Jeong Heum-jiJeong Eui-gap as Jeong In-jiPark Seung-gyu as Park EunHwang Yi-gun as Kim Goo-namLee Gun-myung as Park YeonAhn Shin-woo as Choe ManriSeoungwan peopleLee Byung-hoon as Lee Sun-jiSeo Hyun-cheol as Choi Bok (fictional character)Im Hyuk as Yoo Taek-sangMin Joon-hyun as Jeon Bae-cheon (fictional character)Lee Joo-hyun as Ji Gyeong-chan (fictional character)Kang Ji-hoo as Seong Sa-gook (fictional character)Dongraehyeon peopleLee Ji-hoon as Jang Hee-je (fictional character)Kim Dan-yool as young Jang Hee-jeKim Myeong-soo as Jang Seong-hwi – a Goryeo's scientist, minister and Jang Yeong-sil's fatherKim Ae-ran as Eun-wol – a Kisaeng and Jang Yeong-sil's mother (assumed character)Son Ho-gyun as Jang Gi-bae (fictional character)Kang Sung-jin as Seok-goo – Jang Yeong-sil's best friend (fictional character)Lee Joon-seo as young Seok-gooKim Dae-jong as Kim Hak-joo – a noble and Jang Hee-je's friend (fictional character)Lee Kye-in as young Kim Hak-jooHanyang peopleYoon Ah-reum as Eul-seon (Chinese: 乙善; Pinyin: Yǐ Shàn) – princess Sohyun's maid, later Seok-goo's wifeN/A as Oh Gu-sanLee Geon as Han Nae-gwanKim Mi-ra as Uhm Sang-goongMing dynastyIm Dong-jin as Joo Tae-kang (Chinese: 朱太江; Pinyin: Zhū Tàijiāng) – a Ming dynasty old prince (fictional character)Park Gyu-ri as Joo Bu-ryeong (Chinese: 朱副伶; Pinyin: Zhū Fùlíng) – Tae-kang's daughter (fictional character)Im Chul-hyung as Yoon Bong – a joseon person work as a eunuch in Ming dynastyKwon Bin as Zhengtong EmperorExtended castKwak Min-ho as Go Gil-soo – a trader between Joseon and Ming dynasty (fictional character)Jo Sang-goo as Byun Dae-chiByun Joon-seok as Choi YoolJang Gwang as Jo GwangHwang Chan-ho as Moo-sanKim Min-hyuk as Oh Pil-gyoN/A as Bae Kang-choolCha Ye-joon as Im Myung-deokOh Ji-hyuk as Yoo CheolCha Bo-seong as Seong Sam-moonJang Joon-nyungJin Hyun-kwangLee Je-kwanPark Dae-kyuJeon Jin-kiSeol Chang-heeChoi Dong-yeobKim Moon-sikShin Chi-youngJo Shin-geunJo Yeon-hoChoi Dong-ahHwang Bi-hoLee Ho-yoolLee Joo-yeonNam Il-woo as Jang Seong-bae – Jang Seong-hwi's oldest brotherChae Dong-hyun as Kim Beob-raeYeo Hoe-hyun as Na Ki-soonSong Dae-han as little beggar 1Song Min-guk as little beggar 2Song Man-se as little beggar 3In the table below, the blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and the red numbers represent the highest ratings.
Episode 12, scheduled to be broadcast on the evening of February 7, was canceled because the South Korea was in emergency after the North Korea's missile launch (Kwangmyŏngsŏng-4) at 9:30 am in the same day.
