Lee Byung-hoon (born October 14, 1944) is a South Korean television
director and producer. Lee is best known for directing period dramas,
notably 500 Years of Joseon (1983-1990), Hur Jun (1999) and Dae Jang
Geum (2003).Lee Byung-hoon began working for broadcasting network MBC
in 1970, and made his solo directorial debut in 1974.In 1983, he and
writer Shin Bong-seung created the landmark eight-year-long series 500
Years of Joseon, which shifted the genre of historical/period dramas
(called sageuk in Korean) from monotonous historical chronicles into
the interpretation of bonafide records like the Annals of the Joseon
Dynasty. His follow-up, Kim Jung-soo-penned contemporary drama My
Mother's Sea (1993) was also popular, with a peak viewership rating of
51.6%.But in 1999 Lee revolutionized the sageuk genre with Hur Jun,
the first Korean period drama to focus on a "commoner" historical
figure instead of royalty and powerful nobles. Jun Kwang-ryul played
Heo Jun, a court physician who wrote Dongui Bogam, one of the pillars
of traditional Korean medicine. Hur Jun reached record-breaking
viewership ratings of 64% (fourth highest rated Korean drama of all
time).
director and producer. Lee is best known for directing period dramas,
notably 500 Years of Joseon (1983-1990), Hur Jun (1999) and Dae Jang
Geum (2003).Lee Byung-hoon began working for broadcasting network MBC
in 1970, and made his solo directorial debut in 1974.In 1983, he and
writer Shin Bong-seung created the landmark eight-year-long series 500
Years of Joseon, which shifted the genre of historical/period dramas
(called sageuk in Korean) from monotonous historical chronicles into
the interpretation of bonafide records like the Annals of the Joseon
Dynasty. His follow-up, Kim Jung-soo-penned contemporary drama My
Mother's Sea (1993) was also popular, with a peak viewership rating of
51.6%.But in 1999 Lee revolutionized the sageuk genre with Hur Jun,
the first Korean period drama to focus on a "commoner" historical
figure instead of royalty and powerful nobles. Jun Kwang-ryul played
Heo Jun, a court physician who wrote Dongui Bogam, one of the pillars
of traditional Korean medicine. Hur Jun reached record-breaking
viewership ratings of 64% (fourth highest rated Korean drama of all
time).
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