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The Great Merchant

This drama is based on a real life figure Kim Man-deuk who was living in Jeju Island. She goes through a lot of changes in her life; at first she becomes a Gisaeng but turned herself into a merchant, and then becomes one of the biggest philanthropists in Joseon Dynasty. Man-deuk gets adopted by Granny at a young age. With great efforts, she becomes a Gisaeng who has outstanding talents in various areas. However, she gives up everything and runs away with her lover Jeong Hong-soo. She gets caught and sends to the transitory wards for epidemics for one year. When she came out from the wards, she starts to take care of the Gisaengs who are suffering from illness. Man-deuk goes into a business and restores the business ethics in Jeju. Meanwhile, Moon-sun, who used to be a friend of Man-deuk, feels a sense of inferiority and competes with Man-deuk’s business.

Director(s)

Kim Seong-yoon

Cast & Crew

Goh Doo-shim

Goh Doo-shim

Granny

Kim Kap-soo

Kim Kap-soo

Kang Kye-man

Oh Yeon-seo

Oh Yeon-seo

Lee Eun

Lee Mi-yeon

Lee Mi-yeon

Kim Man-deok/Yi Hong

Kim Seong-yoon

Kim Seong-yoon

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Kim Kyu-chul

Kim Kyu-chul

Steward Oh

Shim Eun-kyung

Shim Eun-kyung

Yi Hong (young)

Han Jae-suk

Han Jae-suk

Jung Hong-soo

Do Ji-han

Do Ji-han

Hong-soo (young)

Park Sol-mi

Park Sol-mi

Oh Moon-seon

Jo Byung-Gi

Jo Byung-Gi

Lee Bang

Ha Seok-jin

Ha Seok-jin

Kang Yoo-ji

Yoo Yeon-mi

Yoo Yeon-mi

Kkot-nim

Lee Dal Hyung

Lee Dal Hyung

Kim Dong Joo

Seasons Guide

Details

GenresDrama
Seasons1
Episodes30
Runtime~50 mins
Total Runtime~25h 0 mins
Languageko
Produced InSouth Korea

Reviews

ParkMin

3/10

There was an attempt to create something but we got this. There was absolutely no need to have the first 5 episodes about her childhood then followed by another 6 episodes adulthood update. Her journey to become a merchant doesn't start until episode 12, almost halfway through!! Once again, the advertised theme doesn't get the intended focus it deserves, instead it gets bloated by redundant elements that take away rather than adding to the drama, case in point the love triangle. Why not delve deeper into the world of traders/merchants and explore all the intricacies surrounding it, it would make a much more stimulating experience. Anyway, the male cast performance wasn't good.