Arang and the Magistrate

Arang and the Magistrate
Promotional poster
Also known asTale of A-rang
Genre
Created byKim Jin-man
Written byJung Yoon-jung
Directed by
  • Kim Sang-ho
  • Jung Dae-yoon
Creative directors
  • Jung Jae-yeon
  • Kim Mi-na
Starring
ComposerKim Hyeon-jong
Country of originSouth Korea
Original languageKorean
No. of episodes20
Production
Executive producerKim Jin-man
CinematographyKim Jong-jin
Running time60 minutes
Production companiesMBC TV
Number Three Pictures
(as production proxy)
Original release
NetworkMBC
ReleaseAugust 15 (2012-08-15) –
October 18, 2012 (2012-10-18)
Korean name
Hangul
아랑사또전
Hanja
Revised RomanizationArangsattojeon
McCune–ReischauerArangsattochŏn

Arang and the Magistrate (Korean: 아랑사또전; Hanja: 阿娘使道傳; RR: Arang Sattojeon; also known as Tale of A-rang) is a 2012 South Korean historical television drama (sageuk), starring Lee Joon-gi, Shin Min-a, and Yeon Woo-jin. The period horror-romance is based on the folklore of Arang, who died unjustly and returns as a ghost in order to reveal the circumstances surrounding her death.[1][2][3] It aired on MBC from August 15 to October 18, 2012 for 20 episodes.[4]

Synopsis

[edit]

A nobleman named Kim Eun-oh (Lee Joon-gi) comes to town searching for his mother after hearing a rumor that she is staying at the village of Miryang. He has the special ability to hear, see and touch spirits, but pretends he doesn't because he gets annoyed when they pester him to help them.

Arang (Shin Min-ah) lost all her memories when she became a ghost and is unable to rest in peace until she finds out how she died. After appearing to three magistrates, none of them survive the fright of seeing her. Some local officials, desperate over the fact that no one wanted to take up the position for so long, coerce Eun-oh into becoming the new magistrate. When she finds out that Eun-oh is able to see her, and has been appointed as the new magistrate, she begs for his help.

At first, Eun-oh rejects her request. However, he changes his mind after seeing that Arang somehow has a distinctive hairpin that he gave his mother at their last meeting. He believes that if he helps her, Arang will regain her memories and give him information about his mother. He exasperatedly (then affectionately) nicknames her "Amnesia". As the town's newly installed magistrate, he teams up with her to investigate the circumstances surrounding her death, which may involve the mysterious nobleman Joo-wal. Along the way, they must prevent Arang from being captured by Mu-young (Han Jung-soo), the leader of the local grim reapers. Eun-oh also uncovers a long history of corruption by a local nobleman and decides to use his new position as magistrate to bring justice and order.

Arang and Eun-oh's actions, meanwhile, are being tracked by the Jade Emperor and Yeom-ra themselves, who fear that events in Miryang are much more horrifying than they appear.

Cast

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Main

[edit]

Supporting

[edit]

Background

[edit]

The drama is based on famous folklore, as most ghost stories are: During the Joseon era in the city of Miryang, Arang was the pure, beautiful, goodhearted daughter of a magistrate. She grew up without a mother and was raised by a wicked caretaker who conspired to have her raped and ruined by a servant, Baekga. He attacked and she resisted, so he stabbed and killed her, and left her body to rot in the woods. Her father, the magistrate, just believed that she dishonorably eloped with a man and so resigned his position swathed in shame. Thus the legend goes that every time a new magistrate comes to Miryang to fill the position, Arang's vengeful ghost shows up to tell him her story and he flees in terror. But one day a new magistrate comes to town — a young man by the name of Lee Sang-sa. Arang appears to him like every other magistrate before him, but this man doesn't flee, and instead sympathizes with Arang, and promises to find her killer and avenge her death. Lee Sang-sa has Baekga seized and executed, and thereafter, Arang's spirit ceased to trouble the town.[19]

Production

[edit]

It was Lee Joon-gi's comeback acting project after being discharged from military service in February 2012.[5][20][21] This also marked the first historical drama for Shin Min-ah and return to television since My Girlfriend Is a Nine-Tailed Fox in 2010.[22][23]

The series was filmed at MBC Dramia in Gyeonggi Province.[24] The first behind-the-scene photos were released on show of June 22, 2012, filming scenes shot on location in Namyangju on May 23.[25] This was followed by more teaser photos released on July 11, 2012, showing action scenes and an intimate scene of the two leads, Lee and Shin laying down together.[26]

Ahead of the series' premiere, MBC aired the special episode How to Enjoy Arang and the Magistrate 100 Times More on August 8, 2012. It included never-before-seen clips, special behind-the-scenes stories, and detailed the characters and their relationships. It was the first drama special produced by MBC in five years since The Legend in 2007.[27]

The drama's rights was sold to Japan for a record-breaking ₩200 million per episode, which amounts to ₩4 billion for the 20-episode series,[28] the highest per episode for MBC, surpassing the previous record set by Moon Embracing the Sun.[29]

Original soundtrack

[edit]
Album Track listing
Part 1
  • Released: August 15, 2012
Track listing
  1. "Fantasy" – Jaein Jang
  2. "Fantasy" (instrumental)
Part 2
  • Released: August 22, 2012
Track listing
  1. "Butterfly Dream (My Secret Dream)" – Yoon Do-hyun
  2. "Black Moon" – Shin Min-ah[30][31]
  3. "Black Moon" (harmonica)
  4. "My Secret Dream" (instrumental)
  5. "Black Moon" (instrumental)
Part 3
  • Released: August 29, 2012
Track listing
  1. "Surprised" – Kim Bo-kyung
  2. "Surprised" (instrumental)
  3. "Arang Love Theme"
  4. "Arang Legend"
  5. "Who Am I?"
  6. "New World"
Part 4
  • Released: September 5, 2012
Track listing
  1. "Love and Love" – Baek Ji-young[32]
  2. "Love and Love" (instrumental)
Part 5
  • Released: September 13, 2012
Track listing
  1. "Mask Dance" – MC Sniper[33]
  2. "Mask Dance" (instrumental)
Part 6
  • Released: September 19, 2012
Track listing
  1. "One Day" – Lee Joon-gi[34]
  2. "One Day" (instrumental)
Part 7
  • Released: September 26, 2012
Track listing
  1. "Love Is You" – K.Will[35]
  2. "Love Is You" (instrumental)
Part 8
  • Released: October 3, 2012
Track listing
  1. "Mirage" – Yoo Seung-chan
  2. "Mirage" (instrumental)
  3. "Eun-oh"
  4. "The White Stairs"
  5. "셜븐살매"
  6. "The Dream of Arang"
Part 9
  • Released: October 10, 2012
Track listing
  1. "Shout" - Lee Ki-chan[36]
  2. "Shout" (instrumental)
Special Edition
  • Released: October 17, 2012
  • Artist: Various artists
  • Format: 2CD
Track listing
CD1
  1. "Fantasy" – Jaein Jang
  2. "Butterfly Dream (My Secret Dream)" – Yoon Do-hyun
  3. "Black Moon" – Shin Min-ah
  4. "Love and Love" – Baek Ji-young
  5. "Surprised" – Kim Bo-kyung
  6. "Mask Dance" – MC Sniper
  7. "One Day" – Lee Joon-gi
  8. "Love Is You" – K.Will
  9. "Shout" - Lee Ki-chan
  10. "Mirage" – Yoo Seung-chan
  11. "One Day" (instrumental)
  12. "Love Is You" (instrumental)
  13. "Shout" (instrumental)
  14. "Mirage" (instrumental)
CD2 - Background music
  1. "아랑 전설"
  2. "아랑 Love theme"
  3. "A Garden of Heaven"
  4. "셜븐살매"
  5. "New world"
  6. "나는 누구인가"
  7. "서털구털"
  8. "산책"
  9. "아랑의 추억"
  10. "Destiny"
  11. "은오"
  12. "아랑의 꿈"
  13. "The White Stairs"
  14. "Murderous"
  15. "덕호들"
  16. "대무녀"
  17. "다소니 혜윰"

Ratings

[edit]
  • In the table below, the blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and the red numbers represent the highest ratings.
  • According to AGB Nielsen Media Research, the premiere episode achieved a nationwide rating of 13.3 percent in viewership, almost doubled rival To the Beautiful You on SBS with 7.4 percent for its premiere episode but behind Bridal Mask on KBS with 19.4 percent. It was also 4.2 percent higher than the last episode of its predecessor I Do, I Do.[37]
Ep. Original broadcast date Average audience share
Nielsen Korea[38] TNmS[39]
Nationwide Seoul Nationwide Seoul
Special August 8, 2012 4.9% 8.0% 5.1% 5.4%
1 August 15, 2012 13.3% 15.1% 14.4% 16.8%
2 August 16, 2012 13.2% 14.4% 14.3% 16.5%
3 August 22, 2012 13.2% 14.2% 16.0% 19.3%
4 August 23, 2012 14.4% 15.7% 16.2%
5 August 29, 2012 12.4% 13.7% 12.1% 13.3%
6 August 30, 2012 13.0% 14.4% 14.0% 16.3%
7 September 5, 2012 11.7% 12.8% 13.1% 14.6%
8 September 6, 2012 10.9% 11.9% 11.7% 14.2%
9 September 12, 2012 14.1% 15.3% 17.0% 19.5%
10 September 13, 2012 14.5% 15.1% 20.5%
11 September 19, 2012 13.8% 14.9% 15.3% 17.2%
12 September 20, 2012 13.1% 14.0% 14.9% 16.0%
13 September 26, 2012 11.7% 12.9% 13.9% 15.9%
14 September 27, 2012 12.5% 13.0% 14.3% 16.0%
15 October 3, 2012 13.3% 14.5% 15.0% 17.7%
16 October 4, 2012 12.9% 14.4% 13.9% 16.2%
17 October 10, 2012 12.6% 13.8% 13.0% 15.2%
18 October 11, 2012 11.4% 12.1% 13.5% 15.1%
19 October 17, 2012 12.4% 14.0% 13.2% 14.7%
20 October 18, 2012 12.4% 13.8% 13.8% 16.5%
Average 14.3% 16.5% 12.8% 14.0%

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Award Category Recipient Result
2012 20th Korean Culture and Entertainment Awards Best Supporting Actor Kwon Oh-joong Won
MBC Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Lee Joon-gi Nominated
Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Shin Min-a Nominated
Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Yoo Seung-ho Nominated
Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Hwang Bo-ra Nominated
Best New Actor Yeon Woo-jin Nominated
Best Couple Award Lee Joon-gi and Shin Min-a Won
2013 Seoul International Drama Awards Excellent Korean Drama Won
Outstanding Korean Drama Actor Lee Joon-gi Won

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Oh, Jean (August 12, 2012). "Shin Min-a returns to supernatural in 'Tale of Arang'". The Korea Herald. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  2. ^ Suk, Monica (May 21, 2012). "Lee Joon-gi, Shin Min-ah attend script reading session for upcoming fantasy melodrama". 10Asia. Archived from the original on February 3, 2014. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  3. ^ Suk, Monica (June 18, 2012). "Lee Joon-gi reveals teaser for new TV series, says "going more romantic in new show"". 10Asia. Archived from the original on February 3, 2014. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  4. ^ "Fervent Viewers Solving the Mysteries". MBC Global Media. September 4, 2012. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
  5. ^ a b Kim, Yeon-ji (November 15, 2012). "Actor fights for spotlight after Army". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on January 26, 2013. Retrieved November 20, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. ^ Park, Eun-jii (August 7, 2012). "Actor Lee Joon-gi also a stuntman". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on August 10, 2012. Retrieved October 15, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  7. ^ Kang, Hye-in (August 11, 2012). "Arang and the Magistrate Lee Joon-gi "I hope this will become a standard"". StarN News. Retrieved October 15, 2012.[permanent dead link‍]
  8. ^ "Interview: Tale of Arang's Lee Jun-ki". MBC Global Media. September 5, 2012.
  9. ^ Lee, Kyung-nam (July 2, 2012). "What Role will Shin Min Ah's New Tattoo Play in 'Arang and the Magistrate'?". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Archived from the original on January 29, 2013. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  10. ^ Suk, Monica (June 20, 2012). "Shin Mina talks Lee Joon-gi's 1st impression". 10Asia. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  11. ^ Ho, Stewart (June 27, 2012). "Yeon Woo Jin Dons Hanbok in 'Arang and the Magistrate' Previews". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Archived from the original on January 29, 2013. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
  12. ^ Ho, Stewart (August 1, 2012). "Yeon Woo Jin is a Cold 'Flower' Scholar in New Still Cuts". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Archived from the original on January 28, 2013. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
  13. ^ Ho, Stewart (June 29, 2012). "Character Still Cuts From Lee Joon Gi′s 'Arang and the Magistrate' Posted". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Archived from the original on January 28, 2013. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  14. ^ Sunwoo, Carla (May 16, 2012). "Kwon Oh-joong to team up with Lee Joon-gi and Shin Min-a". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on January 26, 2013. Retrieved October 15, 2012.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  15. ^ Ho, Stewart (July 19, 2012). "Han Jung Su Hunts Ghost Shin Min Ah in 'Arang and the Magistrate'". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Archived from the original on January 29, 2013. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  16. ^ Suk, Monica (April 27, 2012). "Yoo Seung-ho confirms cast in Lee Joon-gi's upcoming TV series". 10Asia. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  17. ^ a b Ho, Stewart (July 20, 2012). "Yoo Seung Ho′s and Park Jun Gyu′s Stills for 'Arang and the Magistrate' Released". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Archived from the original on January 28, 2013. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  18. ^ Hong, Grace (August 14, 2012). "Yoon Do Hyun Cameos for 'Arang and the Magistrate'". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Archived from the original on January 29, 2013. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  19. ^ Lim, Ju-ri (August 27, 2012). "Jokes replace goose bumps as TV audience no pushover". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on September 22, 2012. Retrieved October 15, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  20. ^ 이준기, '아랑사또전'으로 안방컴백…"열정 불태울 것" [Lee Joon-gi to come back with Arang and the Magistrate]. Nate (in Korean). February 20, 2012. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  21. ^ Ho, Stewart (June 18, 2012). "Lee Joon Gi's Character Still Cut for Arang and the Magistrate Revealed". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Archived from the original on January 29, 2013. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  22. ^ 신민아, 2년 만에 `아랑사또전`으로 드라마 복귀 [Shin Min-ah to return with Arang and the Magistrate]. Nate (in Korean). February 24, 2012. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  23. ^ Lee, In-kyung (April 22, 2012). "Lee Joon Gi Makes Shin Min Ah Uncomfortable?". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Archived from the original on January 28, 2013. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  24. ^ "Dramas Shot in Dramia". MBC Dramia. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  25. ^ Suk, Monica (June 22, 2012). "Lee Joon-gi, Shin Mina reveal behind-scene footages for new TV series' 1st shooting". 10Asia. Archived from the original on February 3, 2014. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  26. ^ Sunwoo, Carla (July 13, 2012). "Lee Joon-gi and Shin Min-a in bed together for a teaser". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on January 26, 2013. Retrieved October 15, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  27. ^ Ho, Stewart (August 8, 2012). "MBC Releases Drama Poster for 'Arang and the Magistrate'; Will Air Preview Special Tonight". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Archived from the original on January 30, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  28. ^ Suk, Monica (August 29, 2012). ""Tale of Arang" most expensive TV series sold of all time on MBC". 10Asia. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  29. ^ Sunwoo, Carla (August 29, 2012). "Lee Joon-gi's drama breaks Japanese sales record". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on January 27, 2013. Retrieved October 15, 2012.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  30. ^ Hong, Grace Danbi (August 22, 2012). "Shin Min Ah Lends her Voice for Arang and the Magistrate OST". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Archived from the original on January 28, 2013. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
  31. ^ Sunwoo, Carla (August 23, 2012). "Shin Min-a to sing on drama OST". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on January 27, 2013. Retrieved October 15, 2012.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  32. ^ Ho, Stewart (September 3, 2012). "Baek Ji Young Sing Lee Joon Gi, Shin Min Ah's Love Theme Song for Arang and the Magistrate". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Archived from the original on January 29, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  33. ^ Ho, Stewart (September 13, 2012). "MC Sniper Takes Part in 'Arang and the Magistrate' OST". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Archived from the original on January 29, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  34. ^ Ho, Stewart (September 19, 2012). "Lee Joon Gi to Sing for 'Arang and the Magistrate' OST". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Archived from the original on September 23, 2012. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  35. ^ Ho, Stewart (September 26, 2012). "K.Will Sings 'Love Is You' For 'Arang and the Magistrate' OST". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Archived from the original on January 29, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  36. ^ Ho, Stewart (October 10, 2012). "Lee Gi Chan Sings for 'Arang and the Magistrate' OST". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Archived from the original on January 29, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  37. ^ Jeon, Su Mi (August 16, 2012). "Arang and the Magistrate Gets Double the Ratings for To the Beautiful You". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Archived from the original on January 3, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  38. ^ "AGB Daily Ratings: this links to current day-select the date from drop down menu". AGB Nielsen Media Research (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 26, 2013. Retrieved August 8, 2012.
  39. ^ "TNMS Daily Ratings: this links to current day-select the date from drop down menu". TNMS Ratings (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 28, 2013. Retrieved August 8, 2012.
[edit]
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