GOONG CHARACTER ANALYSIS

Goong is adapted from the same titled manga by Park So Hee. Read the manhwa here

It's a different Korea, where a royal family rules and a beautiful palace sits in the heart of modern-day Seoul. It's where a normal girl and a celebrated prince will discover their fate, tying them together for as long as their love-hate relationship will allow. Chae Gyung, art student one day, crown princess the next, must find a way to survive the extravagance of palace life while falling faster and faster in love with her husband, the lonely and reluctant prince. Once upon a time, there was far from enough warmth between them to build the fairy tale relationship, but in this modern Cinderella story, scandals, love triangles, and royal jealousy can all fit in the shoe.

Shin Chae Gyung (Yoon Eun Hye)
- A heroine with a heart of gold, Chae Gyung is compassionate, free-spirited, and fiercely loyal to her loved ones. She's won the genetic lottery as a result of her grandfather's agreement with the late emperor and is promised from the cradle to the crown prince of Korea. Nineteen years later, she grudgingly accepts marriage to a handsome but outwardly unemotional Prince Shin. Despite her clumsy, silly ways, she brings a cheerful, genuine presence to the doll-like stoniness of the palace and slowly gains the acceptance of the royal family. In the beginning, the animosity between herself and Shin is mutual, however, as the estranged distance between them closes with understanding, Chae Gyung learns that true love is the only thing this prince charming needs to make her the queen of his heart.

Lee Shin (Joo Ji Hoon)
- He's no Romeo or Casanova, but he's won the heart of every girl in Korea as their crown prince. Brought up with every adherence to proper manners and royal duties, he's suddenly found himself married to a spunky, "common" girl who isn't afraid to treat him like a normal human being. Though inwardly touched by Chae Gyung's open adoration of him, he isn't the type to express how he feels through words. Throughout the course of their marriage, he faces ex-girlfriend troubles and repeated royal scandals, all topped with his impending vow of giving up the throne for his freedom. In time, he learns he's truly come to love his Cinderella and has to find the courage to tell her before his pride drives them apart forever.

Lee Yul (Kim Jung Hoon)
- The fallen angel and palace outcast, Yul is sentimental, reserved, and possesses a first-rate lady killer smile. The quiet type, he prefers books and nostalgic childhood places to the party scene. First cousin to Shin and originally first in line to the throne, Yul was just five when his father died unexpectedly, leaving the crown title to Shin's father. Following imperial law, Yul and his mother left the palace to live a solitary but not unpleasant life in London. Fourteen years later, his return to Korea is driven by a shadowed desire to reclaim his throne. In the royal chaos that ensues, he also finds himself falling for Chae Gyung, unable to let go of the fact that she was first betrothed to him. Over time, as his feelings grow, he must choose between his dream of becoming king and his love for a woman he can never have.

Min Hyorin (Song Ji Hyo)
- A premier ballet dancer, Hyorin fulfills every stereotypical characteristic of the high school Queen Bee: pretty, rich, and incredibly immune to human emotions. At least on the surface it seems that way. For two years, she's carried on a relationship with Shin, both of them keeping it secret to avoid mass media and social attention. Prior to his wedding, Shin proposed to Hyorin to escape his arranged marriage, but she declined, not willing to give up her dancing dreams. She feels the full sting of her rejection only after Shin marries Chae Gyung and resolves herself to win him back. In addition to the love triangle she creates, she also has a hidden past that threatens her confidence and desire to live. Beneath the haughty exterior, she's insecure, lonely, and increasingly hopeless as she watches Shin move on without her. Her only remaining wall of support is Kang In, who may or may not be able to convince her that his love for her is enough.

Director: Hwang In Roe
Date Airing: January 11th, 2006 - March 30th, 2006
Time Airing Wednesday and Thursday, 9.55 pm
Broadcasting Channel: MBC
Number of Episodes: 24 Episodes (A sequel, Goong 2, will be aired February 2007)

Episode Summaries: http://home.pacific.net.sg/~rebbie11/goongsummary.htm