Saimdang's first 2 episodes hit high ratings.

Saimdang Light's Diary was Lee Young Ae's first drama after been on hiatus for 14 years. Her breakthrough drama Jewel in the Palace (Dae Jang Geum) was a massive hit that pusher her and co-actor Ji Jin Hee to Hallyu stardom around Asia and other parts of the world.

As I watched the first 2 episodes of Saimdang, it was quite interesting to know the drama wasn't purely on Joseon dynasty period but it has many scenes in the modern era. Lee Young Ae plays two characters- in modern era she is a historical researcher Seo Ji Yoon  who struggled to clear her name from the horrible Professor Min who wanted to outcast her after an incident. Ji Yoon discovers that the painting Geumgangsan wasn't a real one and behind the story, there was a mysterious portrait which she discovers in Italy. The mysterious portrait led her to reveal the real life story of famous poet and artist Shin Saimdang and her lover, Lee Gyeom.


Song Seung Hun plays the fictional character Lee Gyeom in this drama where he is a devoted lover to Saimdang even after her marriage. All those years, he cannot forget her and is always yearning for her. It seems as though Ji Yoon and Saimdang are sort of related or reincarnated as she could feel what the other party is doing in the past- as if like a dream.
Ji Yoon's present husband lost everything in his business so she had to move out from their luxurious home to rent a small flat in a poor neighbourhood.


Yang Se Jong plays as two roles as well in the drama- the teen Lee Gyeom and the current student Han Sang Hyun who is also a junior to Ji Yoon. He's always lurking around Ji Yoon's area and ends up assisting her in translating Chinese characters.


I must say Lee Young Ae still radiates her beauty in this drama...she hasn't aged a bit and still looked elegant. Her features and complexion were suitable for those noble ladies in the Joseon dynasty drama. As for Song Seung Hun, well due to his weird beard on his face, he doesn't look dashing at all and to be honest I am looking forward to see the story unfold as how Ji Yoon gets back at Professor Min for ill-treating her.