The Tale of Lady Ok

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The Tale of Lady Ok (Korean: Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter exited with status 1.Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter exited with status 1.) is a 2024–2025 South Korean television series starring Lim Ji-yeon, Choo Young-woo, Yeonwoo and Kim Jae-won. It aired on JTBC every Saturday and Sunday at 22:30 (KST) from November 30, 2024 to January 26, 2025. It is also available for streaming on Viu and Kocowa in selected regions.

Synopsis

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Set in the Joseon period, the story is about the journey to success of a female slave named Goo Deok, whose name "Ok Tae-young", status, and even her husband were fake.

Goo Deok is a servant who escapes slavery and later becomes a legal expert, assuming the name of "Ok Tae-young". Even in difficult situations, she does not hesitate to help people. However, she has a secret. Her secret is that her name, husband, and her status are all fake. She happens to meet Cheon Seung-hwi. He is a story-teller and travels all around the country, reciting stories to people. He happens to meet "Ok Tae-young" and falls in love with her at first sight.

Cast

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Main

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A legal expert in Joseon. She is loved by everyone because she helps others even in difficult situations. However, her assumed name, identity, and even her husband are all fake.
1. Seung-hwi – A story-teller who covers his face with a veil and travels around the country reciting novels to people. He falls in love with "Ok Tae-young" at first sight when he meets her by chance and supports her wholeheartedly even after he finds out about her true identity.
2. Yoon-gyeom – Do-gyeom's older brother and later husband of "Ok Tae-young" who strongly resembles Seung-hwi.
  • Yeonwoo as Cha Mi-ryeong / Baek Sun-hee[5]
    • Choi Da-hye as young Baek Sun-hee[6]
An eager apprentice learning from "Ok Tae-young", and Lord Cha Cheon-sik and Lady Hong's daughter, assuming the name "Cha Mi-ryeong". "Cha Mi-ryeong" is hiding her secret as being Lady Song's daughter and is looking for revenge on Ok Tae-young.
A beloved figure in the village. Sung Do-gyeom holds great respect for "Ok Tae-young" who has been a pillar of support since his childhood.

Supporting

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The real Ok Tae-young's grandmother.
  • Lee Jae-won (Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter exited with status 1.)Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter exited with status 1. as Man Seok[8]
Seung-hwi's servant and best friend.
The Ok family's servant and "Tae-young"'s devoted admirer.
Mak Sim's daughter and "Tae-young"'s servant and best friend. (eps. 1–3)
A male servant of the OK family who likes Mak Sim.
The head of Yuhyangso (Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter exited with status 1.Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter exited with status 1., translated as Mother's Sanctuary).
  • Lee Seo-hwan as Kim Nak-soo
A rich but greedy nobleman and Goo Deok's villainous master.
  • Ha Yul-ri as Kim So-hye[12]
Kim Nak-soo's daughter who often abuses Goo-deok and the other servants, and sought revenge against Goo-deok after she ran away. She was later made a government slave for her criminal association with Park Jun-gi.
  • Jeon Ik-ryung as Lady Song[13]
A vicious and cruel person who treats slaves like animals and commits atrocities that are brutal, ruthless and creepy.
  • Kim Sun-bin as Baek Do-gwang[14]
Lady Song's son.
"Tae-young"'s family member.
A just and righteous magistrate who is the father of Yoon-gyeom and Do-gyeom.
A corrupt and immoral official who marries So-Hye as his concubine and also schemed to get rid of "Tae-young". He was, in the end, arrested for corruption and died from torture.
  • Kim Dong-gyun as Lee Chung-il[20]
Madam Kim's husband.

Special appearances

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The real Ok Tae-young, who died in a fire.
  • Lee Sang-hee as Gae Jook
Kim Nak-soo's servant and Goo Deok's father.

Production

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Development

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Director Jin Hyuk, who previously worked on Master's Sun (2013), The Legend of the Blue Sea (2016–2017) and Sisyphus: The Myth (2021), and writer Park Ji-sook, who wrote My Spring Days (2014) and Uncle (2021–2022), teamed up to create the series.[5]

Casting

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On December 6, 2023, it was reported that Lim Ji-yeon and Choo Young-woo were confirmed as the lead actors of the series.[4] On May 28, 2024, actor Lee Jae-won was confirmed to join the cast.[22] On June 11, 2024, Yeonwoo and Kim Jae-won were reported to appear in the series.[23]

Release

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JTBC confirmed that the series would premiere in the second half of 2024.[24] The series was confirmed to broadcast on November 30, 2024, and would be airing every Saturday and Sunday at 22:30 (KST).[25] It would also be available to stream on Kocowa in the Americas, Europe, and Oceania.[26]

Reception

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Audience

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The Korea Times praised The Tale of Lady Ok for its progressive depiction of Goo-deok (Lim Ji-yeon), a female slave who defies societal norms in the Joseon Dynasty to become a legal advocate for the oppressed. Lim's powerful performance and the drama's fusion of historical and modern themes have resonated with viewers, achieving a peak rating of 11.1%. The story is commended for empowering women through a compelling narrative of justice and resilience.[27]

Critical response

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Pierce Conran of South China Morning Post highlights The Tale of Lady Ok as a refreshing departure from typical Joseon-era dramas. Lim Ji-yeon's compelling portrayal of Ok Tae-young was praised as a character evolving from a servant to a noblewoman, adding depth to the genre's traditional costume intrigue. The drama's nuanced storytelling and engaging performances captivated viewers with its focus on personal transformation within a period setting offers a unique twist to familiar narratives.[28]

Writing for Forbes, Joan MacDonald praised Lim Ji-Yeon for her convincing Lady Ok/Gudeok, someone whose spirit could not be confined by the limitations of her surroundings.[29] Drama critic Gong Hee-jung praised Lim Ji-yeon for showing significant growth and maturity in her performance. She noted that Lim skillfully blended the character's emotions with the personality Ok Tae-young might possess, reflecting the actress's effort. Lim was also praised for fitting seamlessly into the role of a self-reliant woman overcoming challenges. Gong highlighted that while many dramas portray women's independence, The Tale of Lady Ok stands out for focusing on resolving issues within a legal framework rather than solely through personal effort.[30]

Ranking

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The series ranked eighth globally on Netflix's "TV Shows (Non-English)" from December 2 to 8, 2024, with 1.6 million views despite being only released in some Asian region initially.[31] The Top 10 countries include Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan and Vietnam.[32]

The show also generated significant buzz in South Korea, leading the drama category on Good Data Corporation FUNdex during December 10 and topping both TV and OTT charts within two weeks of its release. Lim Ji-yeon and Choo Young Woo ranked first and second in actor popularity respectively.[33][34] Lim maintained her top spot for drama performers who generated the most buzz for two consecutive weeks in a row.[35]

61st Baeksang Arts Awards

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Actress Lim Ji-yeon was unexpectedly excluded from the Best Actress nomination at the 61st Baeksang Arts Awards, despite leading the JTBC drama The Tale of Lady Ok, which achieved high ratings (peaking over 13%) and critical acclaim. While the drama itself and her co-star Chu Young-woo received nominations, Lim's absence from the list sparked widespread confusion and disappointment among fans and viewers. Public opinion remains divided—some accept the limitation of spots, while others insist Lim's performance warranted recognition. It was noted that while Baeksang's judging process is confidential and based on multiple factors like acting skill, contribution, and buzz, debates about fairness persist due to this controversial omission.[36]

Viewership

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Average TV viewership ratings
Ep. Original broadcast date Average audience share
(Nielsen Korea)[37]
Nationwide Seoul
1 November 30, 2024 4.206% (1st)Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter exited with status 1. 4.690% (1st)Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter exited with status 1.
2 December 1, 2024 6.813% (1st)Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter exited with status 1. 7.190% (1st)Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter exited with status 1.
3 December 8, 2024 7.786% (1st)Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter exited with status 1. 8.081% (1st)Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter exited with status 1.
4 December 15, 2024 8.496% (1st)Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter exited with status 1. 8.892% (1st)Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter exited with status 1.
5 December 21, 2024 7.863% (1st)Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter exited with status 1. 8.708% (1st)Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter exited with status 1.
6 December 22, 2024 9.124% (1st)Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter exited with status 1. 9.224% (1st)Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter exited with status 1.
7 December 28, 2024 8.077% (1st)Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter exited with status 1. 7.857% (1st)Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter exited with status 1.
8 December 29, 2024 9.457% (1st)Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter exited with status 1. 9.135% (1st)Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter exited with status 1.
9 January 4, 2025 10.338% (1st)Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter exited with status 1. 10.597% (1st)Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter exited with status 1.
10 January 5, 2025 11.061% (1st)Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter exited with status 1. 11.849% (1st)Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter exited with status 1.
11 January 11, 2025 7.689% (1st)Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter exited with status 1. 8.321% (1st)Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter exited with status 1.
12 January 12, 2025 9.200% (1st)Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter exited with status 1. 10.226% (1st)Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter exited with status 1.
13 January 18, 2025 8.406% (1st)Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter exited with status 1. 9.132% (1st)Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter exited with status 1.
14 January 19, 2025 9.836% (1st)Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter exited with status 1. 10.758% (1st)Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter exited with status 1.
15 January 25, 2025 10.201% (1st)Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter exited with status 1. 10.869% (1st)Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter exited with status 1.
16 January 26, 2025 13.575% (1st)Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter exited with status 1. 14.030% (1st)Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter exited with status 1.
Average 8.882% 9.347%
  • In the table above, the blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and the red numbers represent the highest ratings.
  • This drama aired on a cable channel/pay TV which normally has a relatively smaller audience compared to free-to-air TV/public broadcasters (KBS, SBS, MBC, and EBS).

Accolades

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Awards and nominations

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Award ceremony Year Category Nominee Result Ref.
Baeksang Arts Awards 2025 Best Drama The Tale of Lady Ok Nominated [38]
Best Supporting Actress Kim Jae-hwa Nominated
Best New Actor Choo Young-woo Won
Best Screenplay Park Ji-sook Nominated
Bechdel Day 2025 Bechdel Choice 10 The Tale of Lady Ok Placed [39]
Broadcast Critics Award 2025 Drama The Tale of Lady Ok Won [40]
Seoul International Drama Awards 2025 Individual Lim Ji-yeon Pending [41]
2025 Best K-drama The Tale of Lady Ok Pending [41]

References

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  34. ^ Young, P. (2024, December 11). "옥씨부인전" 임지연x추영우, 시청률·화제성 다 잡았다. . .1위 싹쓸이| "The Tale of Lady Ok" Im Ji-yeon x Chu Young-woo, grabbing both viewership ratings and buzz. . . sweeping 1st place. Joy24 Naver. Retrieved December 11, 2024, from https://m.joynews24.com/v/1792667
  35. ^ So Young, H. (2024, December 17). "옥씨부인전" 임지연, 2주 연속 TV-OTT 출연자 화제성 1위|The Tale of Lady Ok Lim Ji-yeon, TV-OTT guest topic no. 1 for 2 consecutive weeks. Jtbc News Naver. Retrieved December 28, 2024, from https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/437/0000423067
  36. ^ Lee, S. (2024, April 10). 임지연, 백상서 찬밥 신세 당했다…최우수 후보 탈락에 팬들 '술렁' [Lim Ji-yeon snubbed at Baeksang… fans stirred by Best Actress omission]. TenAsia. https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/312/0000707716
  37. ^ Nielsen Korea ratings:
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  40. ^ 오광수. (2025, February 28). 드라마 '옥씨부인전', 다큐 '돈의 얼굴'…방송비평상 수상 [Drama 'The Tale of Lady Ok', Documentary 'The Face of Money'… Winners of the Broadcast Critics Awards]. 뉴스핌. https://m.newspim.com/news/view/20250228000525
  41. ^ a b Park, J. (2025, June 11). 아이유·박보검·임지연·주지훈·이혜리⋯서울드라마어워즈 후보 공개 [IU, Park Bo-gum, Lim Ji-yeon, Joo Ji-hoon, Lee Hye-ri… Seoul Drama Awards nominees revealed]. Joynews24. Retrieved June 15, 2025, from https://m.joynews24.com/v/1853140

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