Remember when Goong or Princess Hours was aired in the Philippines? Some people (including me who was only in 4th grade) stayed late just to watch the palace life of Gian, Janelle, and Troy! Admit it, you also loved Rachelle Ann Go and Christian Bautista’s Tagalog version of the drama’s OST titled, ‘Pag-Ibig Nga Kaya’
Now, let’s have a little throwback to check how the casts are doing 13 years after the drama aired!
Main Casts
Yoon Eun Hye
Actress Yoon Eun Hye portrayed Shin Chae Kyung, a normal high school student who was arranged to marry the Crown Prince Lee Shin. She was only 22 when she portrayed the role.
Right after the success of Princess Hours, Eun Hye starred with Gong Yoo on Coffee Prince. She was on hiatus from 2015 and returned on TV last 2018 through the drama, Love Alert. Eun Hye went to Law of the Jungle in Zero Point in 2020.
Ju Ji Hoon
Ju Ji Hoon played the lonely, insensitive and cold Prince Lee Shin. He agreed to marry Shin Chae Kyung when he was rejected by his girlfriend, Min Hyo Rin. Ji Hoon was only 24 years old when he played the role.
Ji Hoon rose to popularity from this role, he took up some roles from the dramas The Devil, Antique and The Naked Kitchen. He enlisted in the army together with Lee Joon Gi last 2011. On 2017 and 2018, he starred the epic film, Along With the Gods, which is considered as the second highest grossing film in South Korea. Since 2019, he currently stars on the Netflix series, Kingdom approaching its third season. He also starred on the 2020 series, Hyena and 2021 series, Cliffhanger.
Kim Jeong Hoon
The singer- actor who played the sweet yet pitiful character of Prince Lee Yul is Kim Jeong Hoon. Prince Lee Yul is supposed to be the one who will marry Chae Kyung but was dethroned when his father died. He was 26 years when he took the role.
After the Princess Hours, he starred some roles from the dramas: Witch Yoo Hee, I Need Romance, Dummy Mummy, and Start Again. His latest project was the Hollywood movie, Pacific Rim last 2018.
Song Ji Hyo
Song Ji Hyo made her acting debut from the film, Wishing Stairs. One of her first television drama role is Min Hyo Rin, the girl who rejected Prince Lee Shin in Princess Hours. She was 24 years old when she took the role.
Like her fellow co-stars, Ji Hyo also rose to fame and even starred Jumong. She is well known for being one of the original casts of the variety show, Running Man since 2010. Ji Hyo worked on Netflix’s Was It Love last 2020 and The Witches Diner this 2021.
Supporting Casts
Royal Family
Kim Hye Ja
Kim Hye Ja portrayed the role of the Dowager Empress known as Tae Hoo Mama. Recently, she is part of the drama, ‘The Light In Your Eyes.’
Park Chan Hwan
He portrayed the role as the father of Prince Lee Shin, the Emperor Lee Hyeon. His recent drama was ‘Sea of The Woman’ aired last 2017.
Yoon Yoo Sun
She was the pair of Park Chan Hwan as the Empress Consort and the mother of Prince Lee Shin. Some of her recent dramas were She Was Pretty, Shopping King Louie, and The Rich Family’s Son aired between 2015-2018.
Shim Hye Jin
Shim Hye Jin portrayed Lady Hwayoung as the mother of Prince Lee Yul. Her most recent dramas are Strong Woman Do Bong Soon and Sunny Again Tomorrow.
Lee Yoon Ji
Yoon Ji portrayed the role of Prince Lee Shin’s sister, Princess Hye Myung. Her recent drama is The Third Charm. She even appeared in The Return Of Superman with her daughter, Lani when they visited Bong Siha and Taegyu last 2018.
Shin Chae Kyung’s Family
Kang Nam Gil
He took the role of the stay-at-home father of Chae Kyung. Now at 60, Kang Nam Gil’s recent dramas were The Rich Family’s Son and The Beauty Inside
Im Ye Jin
Im Ye Jin played Chae Kyung’s hardworking mother. Prior to the role in Princess Hours, Ye Jin also starred in Full House back in 2004. She starred in recent dramas such as A Korean Odyssey and My Only One in 2018.
Kim Seok
Kim Seok was the annoying and funny little brother of Chae Kyung. He left the entertainment industry in 2009 when he became part of the Korean National Equestrian team! This actor turned athlete even competed in the 2010 and 2014 Asian Games!
(P.S Puberty hit him good, mga bes!)
Other Cast
Lee Ho Jae
Lee Ho Jae was the Royal Family’s Palace Officer attending to Prince Lee Shin’s needs. His recent dramas were Doctors and Legend of the Blue Sea back in 2016; Mysterious and Personal Shopper and Mr. Sunshine in 2018.
The actors and actresses from this drama aged gracefully! We can also see that some of them are still part of the recent Korean dramas that we love to watch. While some actors and actresses weren’t that lucky to reach ultimate stardom, some even left the entertainment industry to pursue different careers.
Photo Credits: MBC Entertainment, Salvatore Ferragamo, Soompi, Sisley, JTBC, Yonhap News, Lee Yoonji’s Instagram, spcnet.tv, Hancinema.net, Asianwiki.