Korean Drama - Daughters In Law / Golden Era of Daughter In Law

Channel U has started showing this funny and highly entertaining family drama (131 episodes) in its 7pm weekday time slot. This drama was shown in Korea in July 2008 and is a drama that shows the struggles between young daughters-in-law and their traditional mother-in-laws. This drama intends to cast a topic of conversation about contemporary marriage culture and family relations by portraying, in a comical way, the dynamic power tussle daughters armed with social status and economical power and their mother-in-law, protected by the traditional culture.

Kim Ji-Hoon stars as Lee Boksu. The only son among four sisters, Boksu is the apple of his mother's eye. He is the "jang-son" of his family - the oldest son of the oldest son who is expected to carry on his family's legacy, and he feels the weight of that responsibility on his shoulders. Although he is handsome and graduated from the prestigious Seoul National University, he does not hail from a fancy background, as his family owns a pig's feet ("jok-bal") restaurant.

Lee Soo-Kyung stars as as Cho Mijin, who has such a silly and cute personality that her husband's nickname for her is Dooly. But she is also very ambitious and capable at her job at SOPY Fashion, a clothing design company. She grew up in an affluent family. She meets Boksu at work, and marries him. Although very independent and modern, she abides by tradition and moves in with his family to live behind the pig's feet restaurant, to the dismay of her mother.









Lee Pil-Mo stars as Cho Inwoo, Mijin's older brother. Studied at NYU Stern School of Business, but dropped out and returned to Korea to become a filmmaker. Currently works as a production assistant for a serial drama.








Suh Young-Hee stars as Lee Boknam, Boksu's younger sister. All her life, she felt overshadowed by her brother. Unlike her new sister-in-law Mijin, she doesn't care about her appearance, frequently dressing slovenly, and always wearing her owl-like glasses. Her mother is proud of her, but her grandmother doesn't think any man will marry her. She currently works as a writer for a serial drama where she meets Inwoo.


Kim Eul-Dong stars as Oh Hyangsim, mother of Soogil and Myunghee and grandmother of Boksu and Boknam. As the matriarch, she handles her family with an iron fist, and everyone lives in fear of her. Although she is a scary mother-in-law, she is wise. Holds the secret recipe for the pig's feet dish that she intends to pass down to her children.


Park In-Hwan stars as Lee Soogil, father of Boksu and Boknam. Works at the pig's feet restaurant. Lives in fear of his mother Hyangsim, who he never disobeys. Appears easygoing, but can also have an explosive temper like his mother.


Yoon Yeo-Jung stars as Suh Misoo, mother of Boksu, served her family and raised her children like a good, traditional daughter-in-law for decades. Very devoted to her son, Boksu. When Mijin becomes her daughter-in-law, she looks forward to ordering Mijin around like Hyangsim ordered her around, but things do not go her way.


Kim Hye-Ok stars as Lee Myunghee, daughter of Hyangsim and sister of Soogil. Married into a rich, prestigious family, and uses her status and wealth to get what she wants. Despite her wealth, she takes great pride in how well she serves her husband with meticulous housework and cooking skills. Very disapproving of pretty much everyone. Probably the most abusive mother-in-law in the series and an all-around cold-hearted bitch.






Jang Hyun-Sung stars as Ko Joonmyung, an only child, he is also a doctor who works at his father's hospital. Fell deeply in love with Soyoung, who was a nurse, and married her against his mother's wishes. Soyoung left him after a year of marriage because she couldn't take her mother-in-law's abuse. Then Joonmyung marries Soohyun. Although he tries to be a good husband to his second wife, he remains very resentful towards his mother.








Song Sun-Mi stars as Cha Soohyun, Joonmyung's second wife, and the daughter of a former university chancellor. Soohyun is the head designer of SOPY Fashion, where Boksu and Mijin also work. Soohyun's mother died of illness a few years ago and Joonmyung was her doctor. Her husband praises her for having a calm and patient personality. But although Soohyun loves her husband, she comes to realize that his heart is somewhere else.


(Source:http://u.mediacorptv.sg/programmesdetail.aspx?iid=MDC090730-0000047)
(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daughters-in-law_(TV_series))
(Source: http://www.koreandrama.org/?p=727)
(Source: http://www.hancinema.net/korean_drama_Golden_Era_of_Daughter_in_Law.php)

Updated 15 October 2009: I bought the drama DVD set (English and Chinese Subtitles) today for only $19.92/- at TS VCD/DVD fair at Yishun Northpoint level 1 outside Bonia. There are alot of other Korean drama on sales there :>