Empire of Gold (Korean황금의 제국; Hanja黃金의 帝國; RRHwanggeum-eui Jeguk) is a 2013 South Korean television series starring Go Soo, Lee Yo-won, and Son Hyun-joo.[1][2] It aired on SBS from July 1 to September 17, 2013 on Mondays and Tuesdays at 21:55 for 24 episodes.

Empire of Gold
Promotional poster
Also known asGolden Empire
GenrePeriod drama
Political drama
Romance
Written byPark Kyung-soo
Directed byJo Nam-kook
StarringGo Soo
Lee Yo-won
Son Hyun-joo
ComposerPark Se-jun
Country of originSouth Korea
Original languageKorean
No. of episodes24
Production
Executive producerLee Hyun-Jik
ProducersKim Jin-geun
Lee Young-jun
Production locationKorea
Running time60 minutes on Mondays and Tuesdays at 21:55 (KST)
Production companiesStudioS (SBS)
Drama House
Original release
NetworkSBS TV
Release1 July (2013-07-01) –
17 September 2013 (2013-09-17)

Plot

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The series is a multi-generational saga that covers a twenty-year span from 1990 to 2010, and follows one chaebol family as it arises out of the ruins of the 1990s IMF financial crisis that wreaked havoc on the South Korean economy, becoming one of the top conglomerates in the nation. Three people become locked in a power struggle for control of this chaebol empire.[3]

Cast

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Jang Tae-joo comes from nothing, and his ambition is fuelled after witnessing the misfortunes of his poor hardworking father. After their father dies, Tae-joo, along with his mother, raises his little sister Hee-joo on his own, and fights tooth and nail to rise to the top relying on his cunning wits. Smart, passionate, and driven, he endures contempt and humiliation as he works relentlessly towards his dreams of success and wealth. But betrayal and exploitation gradually turn him into a cold-hearted, ruthless mogule. He marries Seo-yoon, although he loves Seol-hee.
The reserved, aloof and second youngest daughter of the chaebol founder and heiress to the business empire, she and Tae-joo get married, although they both don't love each other.
Seo-yoon's cousin and Tae-joo's biggest rival for Sungjin Group's top seat. Choi Min-jae is as ruthless, cunning, and unscrupulous as Tae-joo, lobbying, bribing and arranging backdoor deals with the political elite.
A woman who uses her looks to garner insider information, sets up a real estate consulting firm to sell what she knows. Even though it's a dangerous job, she teams up with Tae-joo to take down the Choi family and their business empire. She falls in love with Tae-joo.
A mob boss who is the antagonist to Jang Tae-joo's start-up business, and becomes a friend of Tae-joo later.
The patriarch and CEO of giant conglomerate Sungjin Group.
Tae-joo's younger sister.
The youngest son of Sungjin Group, whose dream is to become an economist. His family runs the Sungjin Economic Research Institute, where he works.
Tae-joo's mother who took care of her children after her husband died.
  • Nam Il-woo as Jang Bong-ho
Tae-joo's father who died in an antiquated building blast without achieving financial blessing.

Ratings

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Episode # Original broadcast date Average audience share
TNmS Ratings[7] AGB Nielsen[8]
Nationwide Seoul National Capital Area Nationwide Seoul National Capital Area
1 1 July 2013 8.0% 9.7% 8.5% 9.2%
2 2 July 2013 8.2% 9.7% 9.0% 9.9%
3 8 July 2013 7.5% 8.2% 9.3% 10.0%
4 9 July 2013 8.1% 9.2% 9.2% 10.2%
5 15 July 2013 8.2% 10.3% 9.5% 11.4%
6 16 July 2013 8.7% 10.2% 9.7% 11.5%
7 22 July 2013 9.7% 11.8% 10.1% 10.8%
8 23 July 2013 9.4% 11.5% 10.7% 11.9%
9 29 July 2013 9.5% 10.0% 10.4% 11.4%
10 30 July 2013 10.1% 11.2% 10.2% 12.0%
11 5 August 2013 10.3% 12.4% 9.8% 10.9%
12 6 August 2013 10.5% 13.6% 11.0% 12.3%
13 12 August 2013 8.8% 10.3% 10.0% 11.9%
14 13 August 2013 10.8% 13.6% 11.2% 13.2%
15 19 August 2013 8.8% 11.3% 10.7% 12.5%
16 20 August 2013 10.3% 12.9% 11.7% 13.8%
17 26 August 2013 8.5% 11.0% 11.2% 12.9%
18 27 August 2013 8.5% 11.0% 11.4% 13.3%
19 2 September 2013 7.8% 9.8% 11.4% 13.7%
20 3 September 2013 6.8% 8.2% 10.6% 13.1%
21 9 September 2013 7.4% 7.9% 10.8% 12.3%
22 10 September 2013 7.4% 8.4% 11.2% 13.0%
23 16 September 2013 7.7% 9.6% 10.3% 12.6%
24 17 September 2013 8.1% 9.7% 9.7% 11.2%
Average 8.7% 10.5% 10.3% 11.9%

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Recipient Result
2013 Korea Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actress Lee Yo-won Nominated
Top Excellence Award, Actor Go Soo Nominated
Acting Award, Actress Jang Shin-young Nominated
Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Drama Special Go Soo Nominated
Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Drama Special Lee Yo-won Won
Special Award, Actor in a Drama Special Park Geun-hyung Nominated
Jung Han-yong Nominated
Special Award, Actress in a Drama Special Kim Mi-sook Nominated
Jang Shin-young Nominated
Top 10 Stars Lee Yo-won Won
2014 Most Popular Actor (TV) Go Soo Nominated
Son Hyun-joo Nominated

International broadcast

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It began airing in Thailand on digital television MONO29 on May 11, 2015.[10]

References

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  1. ^ Kang, Jung-yeon (24 May 2013). "Ko Soo, Lee Yo-won to Struggle for Power and Money in New TV Series". TenAsia. Archived from the original on 28 March 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
  2. ^ Lee, Sun-min (27 June 2013). "Promoting Empire of Gold". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on 29 June 2013. Retrieved 28 June 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. ^ Jang, Seo-yoon (1 July 2013). "PREVIEW: SBS Mon/Tue Drama Golden Empire". TenAsia. Archived from the original on 28 March 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  4. ^ An, So-hyoun (23 April 2013). "Go Soo to Star in Drama Empire of Gold". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Archived from the original on 24 June 2013. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
  5. ^ Go Soo and Park Geun-hyung reunited with each other after they worked in another SBS TV series Marrying A Millionaire where Park played father of Go Soo's character, Lee Yo-won reunited with Park for the 3rd time in this series after they worked first in another SBS TV series Surgeon Bong Dal-hee and second in KBS series Cruel Love.
  6. ^ Go Soo and Sunwoo Eunsook reunited with each other 1 decade after they worked in another SBS TV series My Fair Lady where Sunwoo portrayed as the mother of Go Soo's character also.
  7. ^ "TNmS Daily Ratings: this links to current day-select the date from drop down menu". TNmS Ratings (in Korean). Archived from the original on 28 November 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  8. ^ "AGB Daily Ratings: this links to current day-select the date from drop down menu". AGB Nielsen Media Research (in Korean). Archived from the original on 26 December 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  9. ^ Lee, Cory (2 January 2014). "Lee Bo-young Grabs 1st Top Prize at the 2013 SBS Drama Awards". TenAsia. Archived from the original on 28 March 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  10. ^ "Empire of Gold โคตรคนโค่นอิทธิพลเดือด". MONO29 (in Thai). 18 August 2015. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
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