Ep 1. Dong Yi 1

Dong Yi is a Korean historical drama television series that depicts the life of Dong Yi, a slave who ultimately becomes a powerful royal concubine during the reign of King Sukjong of the Joseon dynasty. The series portrays the turbulent political and social landscape of the era, as Dong Yi navigates numerous challenges and obstacles on her path to success.

The first episode of the series, titled Dong Yi 1, sets the stage for the story by introducing the main characters and establishing the historical context of the period. The episode begins with a young Dong Yi being sold into slavery by her father to pay off his debts. She is taken to the household of a wealthy nobleman, where she becomes a servant along with several other young girls.

Meanwhile, in the royal palace, King Sukjong is faced with a crisis as his queen is unable to conceive a child. The king's mother, Queen Dowager Jeongseong, is determined to secure a heir for the throne and begins plotting to remove the queen and install a new royal concubine in her place.

One of the potential candidates for the position is Lady Jang, a beautiful and ambitious noblewoman who has caught the eye of Queen Dowager Jeongseong. Lady Jang is determined to win the favor of King Sukjong and become his concubine, despite his initial reluctance to take a new lover.

At the same time, Dong Yi and the other girls in the nobleman's household are subjected to harsh treatment by their mistress, who favors her own daughter and treats the young servants as little more than slaves. Dong Yi is determined to rise above her lowly status and make something of herself, and she begins studying on her own and practicing writing in secret.

One day, Dong Yi catches the eye of Chun-soo, a young scholar who is a regular visitor to the nobleman's household. Chun-soo is impressed by Dong Yi's intelligence and spirit, and he encourages her to continue pursuing her studies despite the obstacles in her way.

As the episode progresses, the various characters become more entwined in each other's lives as the political machinations of the palace become more complicated. Queen Dowager Jeongseong sets her sights on Lady Jang as a potential concubine for the king, while King Sukjong struggles to balance his responsibilities as ruler with his personal desires.

Dong Yi continues to work hard and study in secret, determined to find a way to improve her position in life despite the challenges she faces. As the episode draws to a close, her hard work and perseverance begin to pay off as she catches the eye of another prominent figure in the palace.

Overall, Dong Yi 1 sets up the complex political and social landscape of the series while also introducing the main characters and establishing their motivations and desires. It's a promising start to a series that promises to be full of intrigue, drama, and romance.