“A great artisan is not to be kept, but she is entitled to serve the rest of her life in making others people happy through her talent and artistry.”

Hwang Jin Yi (2007)

After reviewing Song Joong Ki’s movies, I think it’s fair to also review his wife-to-be, Song Hye Kyo,’s movies. The first movie is Hwang Jin Yi.

Song Hye Kyo’s Hwang Jin Yi is not the first movie about the gisaeng. There were musicals, a 80’s movie, and short dramas about her in Korea. This one is the modern version of Hwang Jin Yi.

This movie tells a story about the famous gisaeng during Joseon Dynasty in 16th century, Hwang Jin Yi. Perhaps if you don’t know what gisaeng means, it’s courtesan in English. Song Hye Kyo potrays the famous Hwang Jin Yi, with her beauty and wit, charms the men and becomes the well-known gisaeng in Korean history. If you ever seen her pictures wearing hanbok around the net, the pictures are from this movie.

The movie was produced in 2006 after Hye Kyo’s skyrocketed popularity in Full House. Her character in Hwang Jin Yi is very different from Ji Eun in the series, perhaps this was also when she captured everyone’s attention by letting go Ji Eun’s image, and because this is a movie, Hye Kyo is also more daring on exposing her body even though not explicit.

Hye Kyo is very beautiful in this movie, not to mention she’s wearing hanbok all the time. We also can see her dance (one of gisaeng’s abilities to give service to client). Beautiful costumes and the strong character of Hwang Jin Yi, not to mention the scenes which can make you cry...looks like this movie was inspired by a kdrama production with the same title and Ha Jin Won as the female lead.

And here’s the review of the Kdrama version...

Hwang Jin Yi (2006)

This drama, no doubt, was the serial version about Hwang Jin Yi. With Ha Ji Won (Empress Ki, Hospital Ship) as the female lead, it tells the story about Hwang Jin Yi from her younger years until she becomes the famous gisaeng along with her love story.

The drama version, of course, very detailed than the movie with beautiful costumes and how these gisaengs endure trainings for all of their lives. I remember one scene when they have to dance, turning around in 360 degrees with thin paper underneath their feet, and the paper must not be ripped apart. Ha Ji Won really nailed her character and awarded with Daesang Award on 2006 KBS Drama Awards for her role as Hwang Jin Yi.

My verdict:

It’s really hard to choose between Song Hye Kyo or Ha Ji Won. Both of them are great actresses and both are amazing Hwang Jin Yi. But, I must say, the drama version is more specific and the costumes are so beautiful. The movie, in the other hand, is like a resume of Hwang Jin Yi’s life in almost two hours duration. Both versions are very worth to watch. If you want to see the detailed version, you can watch the drama, but if you just want to admire Hye Kyo’s beauty with not so many heavy scenes (but, it doesn't mean there are no sad scenes), you can watch the movie.