Saimdang, Memoir of Colors

Saimdang, Memoir of Colors (also known as Saimdang, Light's Diary) is a South Korean television drama series that aired on SBS from January 26 to May 4, 2017. The series explores the life of the historical figure Shin Saimdang, a renowned artist, calligraphist, and poet who lived during the Joseon Dynasty.

Plot

The narrative follows a modern-day art history lecturer, played by Lee Young-Ae, who discovers the diary of Shin Saimdang. Through this discovery, she begins to unravel the mysteries surrounding a portrait, bridging the gap between contemporary academic life and the historical legacy of the 16th-century artist.

Production

The series was directed by Yoon Sang-Ho and written by Park Eun-Ryeong. It marked a significant return to television for lead actress Lee Young-Ae, who had not appeared in a drama series since 2003's A Jewel in the Palace. The production was originally planned for 30 episodes but was ultimately shortened to 28.

Filming for the series commenced on August 10, 2015, and concluded on June 4, 2016. An early working title for the project was Saimdang, the Herstory. The first script reading took place on August 4, 2015, at the SBS Ilsan Production Center.

Cast

Lee Young-Ae portrays two characters: the modern-day lecturer Seo Ji-Yoon and the historical figure Shin Saimdang. Song Seung-Heon stars as Lee Gyeom. The cast also includes Oh Yoon-Ah as Whieumdang Choi, Choi Cheol-Ho as Min Chi-Hyung, and Choi Jong-Hwan as King Joongjong.