Mirror of the Witch

Mirror of the Witch (Korean: 마녀보감; RR: Manyeobogam) is a South Korean television series that aired on JTBC from May 13 to July 16, 2016. The fantasy historical drama consists of 20 episodes and was broadcast on Friday and Saturday evenings. The series is loosely inspired by the Dongui Bogam, a famous medical text compiled by the royal physician Heo Jun.

Plot

The story follows the life of the historical figure Heo Jun (played by Yoon Si-yoon) and a fictionalized character named Seo-ri (Kim Sae-ron). In the narrative, Queen Sim, unable to conceive, seeks the help of a shaman named Hong-joo. Through the use of black magic, the Queen gives birth to twins. However, the daughter, Seo-ri, is afflicted by a curse and is abandoned in the mountains, where she eventually encounters Heo Jun.

Production

The first script reading for the series was held on March 11, 2016, at the JTBC building in Sangam, Seoul. During the production, actor Choi Sung-won, who was cast as the character Dong-rae, withdrew from the series after being diagnosed with leukemia in May 2016. The production team noted that his illness was identified in its early stages.