K-drama Historical Series Story Facts

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The following claims were verified through Perplexity Sonar before the questions were finalised. The host can reference any of them during play:

• Jewel in the Palace (Dae Jang Geum), released in 2003, follows an orphaned girl who becomes the first female royal physician in Joseon history.
• Queen Seondeok depicts Princess Deokman, a twin daughter of King Jinpyeong, who overcomes trials to become the ruler of Silla.
• The Hwarang were a real elite force of young warriors assembled by Queen Jiso of Silla in the 6th century to protect herself and her son.
• The Legend of Jumong is an epic drama based on the myth of Jumong, the founder of the Goguryeo kingdom in 37 B.C.
• Empress Ki (Gyeoui Hwanghu) tells the story of a Goryeo-born girl who becomes a powerful warrior and empress in the Yuan Dynasty.
• Hong Gil Dong features an illegitimate son of a minister who escapes strict Confucian laws of the Joseon Dynasty to become a bandit leader.
• The King and the Clown (Kkoktu) portrays a clown who looks exactly like King Lee Tae and is placed on the throne to escape assassins.
• Moon Embracing the Sun is a time-travel drama where Ha-jin travels 1000 years back to Goryeo and becomes involved in a power struggle.
• The Merchant of Joseon is based on Choi In-ho's novel about Lim Sang Wok, a legendary merchant of the Joseon Dynasty.
• Royal Historian Goo Hae Ryung features Goo Hae-ryung, the first female historian in Joseon, who faces gender discrimination.
• The Silla Dynasty was one of the mightiest civilizations on the Korean Peninsula, holding sway over the eastern half of the country.
• King Jeongjo, the 22nd monarch of Joseon, is remembered in history as a fabulous king who loved the people and reigned for the commoner.