Dong Yi

Dong Yi follows a young water maid whose steady intelligence and quiet determination carry her through the dangerous world of the Joseon court. After earning the trust of Queen Inhyeon, she stands by the queen during bitter rivalries with Jang Hee-bin, and her prayers for the queen's health draw the king's attention. As she rises from servant to the king's favored concubine with the rank of sook-bin, her position in the palace tightens the stakes around loyalty, power, and survival. Along the way she becomes mother to a son who will later ascend as King Yeongjo, shaping her legacy in the annals of Joseon history.

Released in 2010 and created by Kim Yi-young, the series stars Han Hyo-joo as Dong Yi, Ji Jin-hee as King Sukjong, Lee So-yeon as Jang Hee-bin, Park Ha-seon as Queen Inhyeon, and Jeong Dong-hwan in a key supporting role. The show is a period drama rooted in Joseon-era settings and court intrigue.

The drama drew attention at domestic year-end award shows and helped raise the profiles of several cast members. Exact award listings vary by ceremony, so specific wins and nominations are best checked against official award records for the year.

Dong Yi had a noticeable effect on popular interest in historical Korean dramas outside Korea, helping introduce international viewers to Joseon court stories. The lead performance and palace aesthetics became talking points among fans, and the series contributed to the wider wave of interest in period productions during the early 2010s.

On aggregate sites the show scores 7.709 out of 10 from 43 votes, reflecting generally favorable viewer response. Major themes include class mobility, the cost of power, loyalty under pressure, and the tensions between personal morality and political survival. Viewers often single out the performances, particularly Han Hyo-joo's, and the production design for bringing the palace world to life without sacrificing the human stories at its core.