The Princess Hours (궁 (宮) / Goong (Gung) -2006)

Starring:
Yoon Eun Hye as Shin Chae-kyung
Joo Ji Hoon as Lee Shin
Kim Jeong Hoon as Lee Yul
Song Ji Hyo as Min Hyo-rin
Chae-Kyung's family
Im Ye Jin as Chae-kyung's mother
Kang Nam Gil as Chae-kyung's father
Kim Suk as Shin Chae-joon (younger brother)
Shin's friends
Choi Sung Joon as Kang In
Lee Yong Joo as Jang Kyung
Uhm Sung Mo as Ryu Wan
Chae-kyung's friends
Jun Ji Ae as Lee Kang-hyun
Lee Eun as Kim Soon-young
Dan Ji as Yoon Hee-soong
Palace
Kim Hye Ja as the Queen Mother
Yoon Yoo Sun as the Queen
Park Chan Hwan as the King
Lee Yoon Ji as Princess Hye-myung (Shin's sister)
Shim Hye Jin as Lady Hwa-Yong (Yul's mother)

Goong (궁) is based on the same titled manhwa by Park So Hee.

Goong is a story about young love in face of tradition, politics, and intrigue. In the imaginary world, modern-day Korea is a constitutional monarchy and the Royal Family lives in a grand Palace, the Goong. Story opens with the sudden death of the reigning the King. Faced with the decreasing popularity among the public for the Royalty, a grand wedding for the Crown Prince, Lee Shin (Joo Ji Hoon), is decided to be the best publicity move to improve the image of the Royalty and at the same time prepare Shin for immediate succession. The intended bride? The headstrong, awkward, and sweet spirited Shin Chae-kyung (Yoon Eun Hye) that just happens to go to the same exclusive art school. Chae-kyung was betrothed to become the next Crown Princess by her grandfather and Shin's grandfather.

After 14 years of living in England with his mom, Lee Yul (Kim Jeong Hoon) appears all of a sudden. He is Shin's cousin as well as the former Crown Prince. Everything seemed to be going normally until Chae-kyung's optimistic spirit wins the heart of internally lonely, Yul. As the Crown Prince Shin and simple-minded Chae-kyung's relationship appear to developing deeper feelings, a series of scandals are exposed to the public right after the pair were officially announced married. Will love prevail all in a world of political pressures and martial hardships? Or will being in the spotlight of the public be too much for the young newlyweds to endure?
This drama is probably one of the best to come out of Korea. And probably the most popular too! I'll admit I loved this one. I actually watched it again last week.....all the way through but skipped parts that bored me. I didn't really care about who was going to get the throne and the crazy Queen wannabe. I think I am not the only one who thought this way. The main gist of the story was about the Crown Prince and his bride.

This story was so touching and hilarious at the same time. Yes, it had its Korean moments when you want to change the scene quick but in all the whole entire form of this drama was exceptional in every way. It brought tears and laughs. And it made those of us who had forgotten Cinderella, that dreams can come true.

I need to say this. Out of all the dramas, including Japanese and Chinese/Taiwanese, this drama had the freakin' best kissing scene ever! Not those damn pressed lips that are touching. No. This looked and felt like a real kiss and nothing left to the imagination. I could watch that scene in itself over and over and over and over and over and over again. My heart melted. The romance between the two seemed believable.

Okay, I do have one question from the end. What?????? Ummm?????? When did they "do" it? LOL! The ending was truly wonderful because they closed the ending. More than just a promise but vows were made. Now that was a truly deep and loveable drama. Indeedy do.

Joo Ji Hoon