Abstract

The aim of this study is to analyze the mode of characterization in the television series entitled “Hur Jun.” The method of characterization in “Hur Jun” is differentiated from that of other historical dramas, in that the complex and dynamic arrangement of the real-life figures and fictional characters allows a variety of dramatic functions to be configured. The characters that appear in this drama are largely divided into historical (actual) and fictional characters. The historical characters reinforce the realism of the drama, facilitating the acceptance of stories related to Hur Jun by viewers as true facts, while the fictional characters help further flesh out the character of Hur Jun. Though the historical characters shape the story framework of “Hur Jun,” the writer bolsters the ideological implications of the drama through its subplots featuring complex groupings of the fictional characters. First, the central narrative revolves around Hur Jun and Yoo Ui-tae, the historical characters who actually existed. The main plot focuses on the evolution of Hur Jun from a seoja (illegitimate son) maturing into a hero through the repeated pattern of episodes, namely, ‘Hur Jun given a task à trial à tension (crisis) à overcoming.’ Yoo Ui-tae discovers Hur Jun’s talent and supports him through the training of his skills as a doctor and as a person. The scenes of training of Hur Jun by Yoo Ui-tae were built on an appeal to humanism, which met viewers’ expectations and subsequently elicited viewer engagement and empathy. Next, the fictional characters in “Hur Jun” serve as supporters of Hur Jun. The episodes connected with the supporting characters constitute the subplots and each of such episodes strengthen and reinforce the overarching theme of the drama. Not only do these supporting roles enrich the drama as a whole, but they also add substance to the character of Hur Jun. The dramatic structure that feature the diverse supporting characters helps lighten the mood and turn this otherwise serious and somber historical drama into a more light-hearted drama. It also allows viewers to better understand the story and make inferences about what will happen just by having the supporting characters appear because the supporting characters are clearly delineated. The functions of the female supporting characters are particularly worthy of note: In “Hur Jun,” there are Da-hee, Hur Jun’s wife, and Lady Ye-jin, a nurse. Unlike previous historical dramas featuring male characters as protagonists, Da-hee and Ye-jin are actively involved in the growth of the male character Hur Jun. Da-hee, a supporting character in the domestic sphere, and Ye-jin, a supporting character in the public sphere, each play a pivotal role in the success of Hur Jun as a doctor. Dae-hee makes up for the deficiency of Hur Jun’s role as the head of their household, while Ye-jin aids Hur Jun’s growth in his medical career. If these female supporting characters were only the love interests of Hur Jun, it would have been difficult for the drama to remain faithful to the overall theme and maintain tension. In the drama “Hur Jun,” melodramatic and comedy-dramatic elements, which seldom coexist in other historical dramas, are realized in the characterization of such fictional characters as Da-hee, Ye-jin, Im Oh-geun, and Hong Chun. These characteristics of the drama allowed “Hur Jun” to be recognized as a new form of historical drama that offers viewers messages and entertainment at the same time.