The BEST episodes of Jewel in the Palace season 1

Every episode of Jewel in the Palace season 1, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Jewel in the Palace season 1!

'Jewel in the Palace' is set in the middle of the 18th century in Joseon. This was a time when women held little influence in society. It tells the tale of an orphaned kitchen cook who strives to learn the secrets of Korean cooking and medicine and goes on to become the King’s personal physician. It is based on the true story of Jang Geum, the first female royal physician of the Joseon Dynasty.

Last Updated: 11/7/2024Network: MBCStatus: Ended
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Episode 51
star
9.50
6 votes

#1 - Episode 51

Season 1 - Episode 51 - Aired 3/15/2004

The Queen is shocked to find out that her own son, KyungWonDaeGun is suffering from smallpox. The only thing Queen can do to help her son is to hold a sacrifice ceremony wishing her son well. KyungWonDaeGun’s health takes a turn for the worse and Queen calls for JangGeum. JangGeum sincerely delivers treatment for KyungWonDaeGun.

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Episode 48
star
9.50
6 votes

#2 - Episode 48

Season 1 - Episode 48 - Aired 3/2/2004

In front of SaHunBoo, everyone involved in the incident gathers and the testimony of Court Lady Choi and Oh conflicts. Witnesses are called upon and the truth is unveiled. JoaChanSung, newly appointed as a ChooGookGoan, indicts Oh, Court Lady Choi and everyone involved in the incidents. Court Lady Choi escapes but realizes she has been wrong and regrets her past in front of NaIn Park’s grave.

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Episode 45
star
9.43
7 votes

#3 - Episode 45

Season 1 - Episode 45 - Aired 2/23/2004

With help of JangGeum, Court Lady Choi and GeumYoung clear themselves of a false accusation of using poisonous mushroom in the King’s meal. JangGeum and Jung, YoonSoo have conflicting diagnoses and prescriptions, and JangGeum is put in charge of providing treatment to King JoongJong at last. Court lady Choi and GeumYoung firmly believe that Jung, YoonSoo has plotted against them. With YeolI, they plot against Jung…

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Episode 40
star
9.33
6 votes

#4 - Episode 40

Season 1 - Episode 40 - Aired 2/3/2004

Min, JungHo follows JangGeum to save her and finds JangGeum in despair. As they leave the town, they encounter the people who are confined to the village. JangGeum talks to the village people, who are outraged with betrayal, and sends Min out of town to get medicine. However, Min does not return by the time he promised with the village people…

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Episode 44
star
9.29
7 votes

#5 - Episode 44

Season 1 - Episode 44 - Aired 2/17/2004

To unveil the truth about sulfur fed duck incident, they confiscate articles from the royal kitchens and Choi’s business to thoroughly investigate. In GeumYoung’s confiscated spice box, a poisonous mushroom is discovered and Court Lady Choi but GeumYoung strongly protests. On the other hand, JangGeum gets closer to finding out the answers to the doubts about King JoongJong’s diseases.

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Episode 20
star
9.20
5 votes

#6 - Episode 20

Season 1 - Episode 20 - Aired 11/18/2003

Court Lady Choi and GeumYoung serve ManHanJunSuk (all kinds of oily delicacies) to the chief ambassador and Oh, GyumHo asks him to punish Court Lady Han and JangGeum. However, the chief ambassador turns down the ManHanJunSuk and requests that Court Lady Han and JangGeum prepare his meal during his stay. After finding out the medicine she’s been given is slowly poisoning her, Court Lady Jung writes a letter to request Chief Court Lady to visit her residence outside the palace. The Queen mother scolds Chief Court Lady and Court Lady Choi for deceiving her.

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Episode 50
star
9.20
5 votes

#7 - Episode 50

Season 1 - Episode 50 - Aired 3/9/2004

After hearing the news of King JoongJong appointing JangGeum to become his royal doctor in charge, Min hands in a letter of resignation and leaves the palace. Min and JangGeum leave everything behind and take on a journey. Despite Queen, YeonSang, and DoJeDo’s advice, JangGeum carries out the King’s order, which causes upheaval in the royal court…

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Episode 53
star
9.17
6 votes

#8 - Episode 53

Season 1 - Episode 53 - Aired 3/22/2004

King JoongJong is jealous of Min as JangGeum reveals her feelings about Min to the King. On his way to visit Min, JungHo, King JoongJong eavesdrops on JangGeum and Min’s conversation and feels jealous and angry. Through the king, the queen’s mother’s pressure intensifies regarding the demand given to Jagguem. The King has a sword fight with JungHo over a gift given from Janggeum.

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Episode 34
star
9.14
7 votes

#9 - Episode 34

Season 1 - Episode 34 - Aired 1/13/2004

While diagnosing patients’ illnesses with SinBi, JangGeum realizes that she has been solely relying on her limited knowledge of medicine rather than diagnosing the illnesses with humbleness to get the complete picture. JangGeum gets a second chance to take the exam of distinguishing medicines. Shin advises her that a medical doctor needs to be a thoughtful person rather than a smart person. After this, JangGeum thrives on the training of becoming a royal doctor. However, not taking part in official discipline, JangGuem and SinBi are on the verge of failing the class…

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Episode 36
star
9.14
7 votes

#10 - Episode 36

Season 1 - Episode 36 - Aired 1/20/2004

JangGeum questions the result of examination of pulse and prescription for the Queen. Eventually the Queen complains about the pain while YoulI is performing acupuncture. JangGeum speaks of her doubts and the result of the pulse examination. At last, JangGuem and YoulI feel the pulse for diagnosis in front of the royal doctors, but their opinions conflict. JoaChangSung and Min, JeonHo pressure Oh, GyumHo to reduce the amount of GongSinJeon (paddy fields and dry fields awarded to government officials) to overcome the financial problems. Driven into a corner, Oh and his associates feels threatened and plots a conspiracy…

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Episode 37
star
9.14
7 votes

#11 - Episode 37

Season 1 - Episode 37 - Aired 1/26/2004

The Queen Mother refuses all medical treatment and loses her temper with the King. The Chief Court Lady Choi takes advantage of the situation and uses Queen Mother to take care of the GongSinJeon issue. Discharged official Lee, HyunWoo takes Queen Mother’s side to plot against JoaChangSung and Shin, IkPil and to go against King JoongJong’s will. With every effort to save her teacher, JangGeum wages her life on a bet with the Queen Mother. To win the bet, GeumYoung and Court Lady Choi join Queen Mother…

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Episode 54
star
9.14
7 votes

#12 - Episode 54

Season 1 - Episode 54 - Aired 3/23/2004

The Final Episode

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Episode 24
star
9.13
8 votes

#13 - Episode 24

Season 1 - Episode 24 - Aired 12/2/2003

Queen announces the rematch between Court Lady Choi and Han to the palace and decides the subject for the competition should be rice cooking. Only two of them are left in the competition field to carry out the competition. To fairly decide the winner, Queen decides to have Court Ladies to vote the winner. To further investigate the ill practices of Choi, PanSool and Oh, GyumHo, Min, JungHo transfers to SaHunBoo. He examines the account book and starts investigating SoJooBang where Choi supplies the goods.

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Episode 32
star
9.00
6 votes

#14 - Episode 32

Season 1 - Episode 32 - Aired 1/6/2004

JangGeum is taken to the royal military guard office for interrogation. Min, JungHo visits the royal military guard office to prove JangGeum’s services in defeating Japanese pirates, knowing that JeJe Island’s governor has made a false report. Min stays at the royal military guard offices as ordered by the chief officer, and JangGeum and GooMan return to JeJu Island. On their way to JeJu Island, JangGeum tries to build a mound over the grave where the Court Lady Han is buried. JangGeum encounters a strange boy who orders her to exhume and bury the body in another place, as the ground is not for graves. However, JangGeum notices the boy’s illness and treats him kindly…

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Episode 35
star
9.00
7 votes

#15 - Episode 35

Season 1 - Episode 35 - Aired 1/19/2004

GeumYoung is surprised to see JangGeum at an office of eunuch department. Court Ladies from the royal kitchen and royal medical department gather at the palace as the Queen begins showing symptoms of miscarriage. JangGeum follows them to the palace as well. The Queen discharges the blood and JangGeum is in charge of taking care of her. Court Lady Choi, who has become the Chief Court Lady, enters the palace and finds JangGeum, to her surprise. JangGeum calmly greets her…

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Episode 30
star
9.00
7 votes

#16 - Episode 30

Season 1 - Episode 30 - Aired 12/23/2003

JangGeum finds out the only way for a government slave to return to the palace and goes to JangDug to learn medicine. JangDug teaches the medicine skills to JangGeum, who strives to learn more. King JoongJong finds YeonSaeng crying for her dear friend JangGeum and sympathizes with her. At last, YeonSaeng sleeps with the King and become one of many king’s women. JangDug and JangGeum search for the doctor who sold ginseng to a patient with a high body temperature…

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Episode 21
star
9.00
7 votes

#17 - Episode 21

Season 1 - Episode 21 - Aired 11/24/2003

Court Lady Han looks back up on her days spent with NaIn Park, JangGuem’s mother, and decides the dish she will prepare for the Royal Culinary Competition. Court Lady Choi is confident about the competition and prepares for it. But Choi, PanSool plots another consipiracy. The night before the competition, Court Lady Choi and Han return to their residence after preparing all the ingredients. However, an unfortunate incident happens at Court Lady Han’s kitchen and she leaves the palace hastily. The ingredients are damaged by domestic animals and Court Lady Han leaves the palace to shop for ingredients again. Court Lady Han does not return in time and the competition begins…

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Episode 46
star
8.88
8 votes

#18 - Episode 46

Season 1 - Episode 46 - Aired 2/24/2004

JangGeum’s prescription betters the King’s health and wins King and Queen’s hearts. Min has found a clue which will unveil Oh, GyumHo’s wrongdoings and concentrates on the matter. The erroneous diagnosis of Jung is discovered and as things go against their will, Oh, GyumHo and Choi, PanSool decide the fate of Jung, who knows secrets about them

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Episode 31
star
8.86
7 votes

#19 - Episode 31

Season 1 - Episode 31 - Aired 1/5/2004

Unable to forgive herself for making a mistake in performing acupuncture on JangDug, JangGeum studies hard to better herself. Min, JungHo leaves JeJu Island with JangDug to escort 300 horses. During JangDug’s absence from the JeJu medical center in a government office, JangGeum takes charge. While Min is away, Japanese pirates take over JeJu Island and governing officials flee, leaving soldiers and government servants behind. Japanese pirates search for a medical doctor to treat their commander. At last, JangGeum has no choice but to feel the pulse for diagnosis and perform acupuncture on theJapanese commander…

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Episode 11
star
8.75
8 votes

#20 - Episode 11

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 10/20/2003

A cold noodle dish cooked with mineral water is highly praised by King JoongJong, and GeumYoung and JangGeum win recognition from Court Lady Han. Court Lady Min and JoBang are held responsible for the food poisoning and not allowed to access ToiSunGan (One of the Royal kitchens in the palace). This gives JangGeum the chance to access ToiSunGan, where her mother has hidden a recipe book she has written. JangGeum is excited with the idea of retrieving the recipe book her mother has left her. Court Lady Choi orders GeumYoung to hide a talisman, which will force the pregnant Queen to have a princess, for the welfare of Choi family. YeonSang witnesses JangGeum and GeumYoung coming in and out of ToiSunGan looking for or hiding something. JangGeum is accused of hiding the talisman and gets locked up in a storehouse. Because NaIn Park has told her that under no circumstances should she reveal her recipe book and the letter, JangGeum is unable to prove her innocence. YeonSaeng testifies that she saw GeumYoung hiding something in ToiSunGan. GeumYoung also gets locked up in the storehouse and the Choi family faces a crisis as a result.

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Episode 16
star
8.75
8 votes

#21 - Episode 16

Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 11/4/2003

Court Lady Choi and GeumYoung are stunned when King JoongJong speaks very highly of the whale meat dish JangGeum has cooked. Court Lady Choi suggests that JangGeum be tested whether she should stay at the Royal kitchen despite the fact that her culinary skills are outstanding. The Queen mother carefully suggests to King JoongJong that his plan to personally appoint the Chief Court Lady in charge of the Royal Kitchen is not the best idea. Then King JoongJong suggests to the Queen mother that she appoint one on his behalf. The Royal Culinary Competition, selecting the best Court Lady of the Royal Kitchen, will begin on the day of the eldest prince’s birthday ceremony.

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Episode 8
star
8.71
7 votes

#22 - Episode 8

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 10/7/2003

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Episode 41
star
8.71
7 votes

#23 - Episode 41

Season 1 - Episode 41 - Aired 2/9/2004

JangGeum visits Court Lady Choi’s residence to provide medical treatment for food poisoning. Even though he has no alternative, Court Lady Choi feels uneasy about having JangGeum treat her. Oh, GyumHo petitions the King regarding Min’s disobedience and Min is discharged from his duties. However, an appeal from the village where the epidemic has broken out gets delivered to the King and he learns about Min and JangGeum’s active engagement in curing the disease. YoenSaeng becomes SookWon, one of the titles given to women who have slept with the king and become one of many king’s women. Court Lady Choi and YeolI plot together and YeolI looks after YeonSaeng…

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Episode 49
star
8.71
7 votes

#24 - Episode 49

Season 1 - Episode 49 - Aired 3/8/2004

JangGeum leaves the palace to look after the community health center. Having tried her best to follow her mother and Court Lady Han’s will, JangGeum sincerely delivers treatment to her patients while dating Min. One day, JangGeum is called upon by the King JoongJong and is ordered to carry out an act she is not able to as a royal doctor. On the other hand, the Royal Culinary Competition is being held to select the best Court Lady of the Royal Kitchen. Court Lady Min enters as a contestant…

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Episode 52
star
8.67
6 votes

#25 - Episode 52

Season 1 - Episode 52 - Aired 3/16/2004

Despite the opposition of JoaWeeJung and WooWeeJung, Min carries out King JoongJong’s order and creates a doctrine. Although she was one of her pupils, Shin, IkPil wishes to serve JangGeum as his superior officer out of pure admiration. King JoongJong visits JangGeum at the royal doctor’s office. While taking a short walk with JangGeum, JoongJong talks about his troubles as a King and his faith as a person. Queen Mother becomes very angry at the King and tells him to make JangGeum one of the royal concubines.

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