# Flowers of the Prison

Flowers of the Prison (Korean: 옥중화; Hanja: 獄中花; RR: Okjunghwa; MR: Okchunghwa) is a 2016 South Korean drama television series starring Jin Se-yeon, Go Soo, Kim Mi-sook, Jung Joon-ho, Park Joo-mi, Yoon Joo-hee, Kim Soo-yeon [ko], Jun Kwang-ryul and Choi Tae-joon. It is MBC's special project drama to commemorate the network's 55th-founding anniversary. The drama also marks the 3rd time collaboration between director Lee Byung-hoon and writer Choi Wan-kyu, after Hur Jun and Sangdo. It replaced Marriage Contract and aired on MBC every Saturday and Sunday at 22:00 (KST) for 51 episodes from April 30 to November 6, 2016.

## Plot

Set during the Joseon dynasty, the series details the story of Ok-nyeo (Jin Se-yeon), a girl who was born and raised in prison, and her adventures with the mysterious Yun Tae-won (Go Soo). She later becomes an advocate for the poor and is unfairly accused through the Waeji-bu, the private litigation system in Joseon.
Lim Kkeok-jeong and Hwang Jin-yi were only mentioned, but they were not helping roles, and there was no appearance of Dae Jang Geum. Rather, it was Yoon Tae-won, Sung Ji-heon, and Myeongjong who helped the most.

## Cast
### Main cast

* Jin Se-yeon as Ok-nyeo/Lee Seo-won
** Jung Da-bin as young Ok-nyeo
* Go Soo as Yun Tae-won
** Jung Yoon-seok as young Yun Tae-won
* Kim Mi-sook as Queen Munjeong
* Jung Joon-ho as Yun Won-hyeong
* Park Joo-mi as Jeong Nan-jeong
* Yoon Joo-hee as Yi So-jeong
* Kim Soo-yeon [ko] as Yun Shin-hye
** Roh Jeong-eui as young Yun Shin-hye
* Jun Kwang-ryul as Park Tae-su
* Choi Tae-joon as Seong Ji-heon, Podocheong's Captain (포도종사관) ; then key person at Ministry of Personnel 이조장랑.

### People of Jeonokseo

Jeonokseo (전옥서, 典獄暑): Royal Prison
* Jung Eun-pyo as Ji Cheon-deuk, Jeonokseo's scribe (서리), Ok-nyeo's adoptive father
* Kim Eung-soo, special appearance, as Jeonokseo's director E01
* Choi Min-chul as Jeong Dae-sik (Jeonokseo's director, 전옥서 주부, rank 6)
* Im Jeong-ha [ko] as Lee Hyo-sung (Jeonokseo's curator, 봉사 rk8)
* Park Gil-soo [ko] as Yoo Jong-hoe (Jeonokseo's assistant curator, 참봉 rk9)
* Ahn Yeo-jin as Yu-geum, kitchen damo
* Goo Hye-ryung [ko] as Deok-boon, jail damo
* Jo Yoon-ho [ko] as Jae-deok (Jeonokseo's jailer)
* Shorry J as Cheon-doong, pickpocket.
* Lee Se-chang [ko] as Jeon Woo-chi
* Joo Jin-mo as Tojeong Yi Ji-ham, philosophy and strategy teacher of Ok-nyeo.
* Lee Jeong-yong [ko] as Go Dae-gil

### Mapo-Songpa merchants

* Lee Hee-do [ko] as Gong Jae-myung
* Kim Hyung-beom [ko] as Do-chi
* Wi Yang-ho [ko] as Jak-doo
* Kim Ik-tae [ko] as Seong Hwan-ok

### People around Jeong Nan-jeong and Yun Won-hyung

* Yoon Yoo-sun, special appearance as Lady Kim, Yun Won-hyeong's legal wife (김씨 부인, 정실). Exiled at Anggukdong 앙국동, then poisoned.
* Maeng Sang-hoon as Jeong Mak-gae, brother of Jeong Nan-jeong.
* Kim Yoon-kyung [ko] as Min Dong-joo, head merchant, wife of Jeong Mak-gae.
* Lee Ip-sae [ko] as Oh Jong-geum, lady in waiting then 'Second Madam' of Yun Won-hyeong
* Heo Ji-eun [ko] as Cheon Sun-geum,
* Yeo Ho-min [ko] as Dong Chang, henchman of Jeong Nan-jeong.
* Yoon Yong-hyun [ko] as Jeong Man-ho (Jeong Nan-jeong's younger cousin)

### People of gisaeng house Sosoru

* Oh Na-ra as Hwang Gyo-ha, Head Gisaeng
* Jung Byung-cheol [ko] as Seong Cha-heum, administrator
* Yoon Joo-hee as Yi So-jeong, main cast, 2nd Head Gisaeng, from Songdo
* Lee Ji-seon as Chae-seon
* Son Ga-young [ko] as Da-jeong
* Kim Ji-eun as Myo-hyang
* Son Na-rae as Shin-bi
* Kim Seon-kyung [ko], cameo, as Tae-won's mother ***

### People in the Palace

* Seo Ha-joon as King Myeongjong
* Lee Seung-ah as Court Lady Han (상궁, Myeongjong's palace), former friend of late Ga-bi.
* Ryu Seung-gook as Han Jae-seo (Naegeumwi's Captain, 내금위 종사관, Myeongjong's palace)
* Gong Jae-won [ko] as Chief Eunuch (Myeongjong's palace)
* Kim Mi-sook as Queen Munjeong, main cast
* Kwak Min-ho [ko] as Gi Chun-su (Naegeumwi's Captain, 내금위 종사관, Queen Dowager's palace)
* Kim Min-kyung as Court Lady Kim, (상궁, Queen Dowager's palace)
* Kim Beop-rae [ko] as King Jungjong (Ok-nyeo's biological father)
* Bae Geu-rin as Ga-bi (Ok-nyeo's mother)
* Park Joo-hyung [ko] as Lee Myung-heon (former Naegeumwi's Captain, Jungjong's reign)
* Jung Sung-woon [ko] as Prince Deokheung (son of King Jungjong)
* Kim Hyun-bin [ko] as Prince Haseong (later King Seonjo, third son of Prince Deokheung)
Naegeumwi (내금위, 內禁衛): the Palace Guards

### Special Service (chetamin, 체탐인)

* Jun Kwang-ryul, special appearance, as Park Tae-su, former head of chetamin, then teacher of Chinese and martial arts of Ok-nyeo.
* Im Ho as Gang Seon-ho, current head of chetamin. Undercover as Podocheong's lieutenant, then secretary of the War Minister (Daeyun).
* Seo Beom-sik [ko] as Ju Cheol-gi, instructor. Kills Park Tae-su by order of Yun Won-hyeong. Soyun faction.
* Park Jeong-woo [ko] as Yun Tae-gyu
* Yoon Young-joo [ko] as Min Su-ok, former Court Lady (Jungjong's reign)
* Go Eun-soo as Cho-hee, Ok-nyeo's escort warrior

### People of Podocheong

Podocheong (포도청, 捕盜廳): Agency to Arrest the Thieves
* Kim Tae-young [ko] as Podocheong's Chief (포도대장)
* Choi Tae-joon as Seong Ji-heon, main cast, Podocheong's Captain (포도종사관) until E22
* Yun Jin-ho [ko] as Podocheong's Captain (포도종사관) until E37
* Ahn Shin-woo [ko] as Podocheong's Captain (포도종사관) from E44
* Lee Bong-won [ko] as Yang Dong-gu (lieutenant, 포도부장)
* Jung Woo-shik [ko] as Song Seok-wu (lieutenant, 포도부장)

### People of Pyeongsiseo

Pyeongsiseo (평시서, 平市署): Marketing Control Office
* Sin Guk [ko] as Yi Young-shin, Pyeongsiseo's Superintendent 평시서 제조. Yeonggam ranked. E18, E36sqq
* Yi Jong-gu [ko] as Pyeongsiseo's Superintendent (interim E23)
* Go Soo, as Yun Tae-won, main cast, Pyeongsiseo's Administrator 평시서 주부, rank 6a (E23-E40).
* Kim Kyung-ryong [ko] as Oh Dal-joong, former Pyeongsiseo's Administrator 평시서 주부
* Yi Jae-jun (이재준) as Jo Se-Oh, Pyeongsiseo's assistant
* Gang Jun-yeong (강준영) as Hwang Myeong-geol Pyeongsiseo's assistant

### Extended cast

* Han In-soo [ko] as Lee Jeong-myung, Minister of War
* Kim Jin-ho as Jung Sang-ho, Ministry of Rites, then Minister of Taxation
Hyeongjo (형조, 刑曹): Board of Punishments (Ministry of Justice)
* Son Seon-geun [ko] as Kim Tae-jeong, Ministry of Justice's secretary, 형조참의, rank 3a
Sogyeokseo (소격서): A government office which handled the ritual aspect of Taoism of heaven, earth and stars
* Song Yong-tae [ko] as Sogyeokseo's assistant commissioner
Gamyeong (감영): Provincial Governor's Office
* Cha Geon-woo as Hwanghae-do's governor
* Lee Chan [ko] as Jang Seon-poong (Haeju Provincial Governor's Office's clerk)
* Lee Joo-seok [ko] as Lee Jeong-gook (interpreter)

### Others

* Kim Ji-eun as Myu-hyang
* Han Da-eun [ko] as Seon-hwa
* Song Young-woong as Oh Jang-hyun, Ming's Eunuch, Joseon-born
* Bong Hye-seon [ko]
* Kim Jeong-seok
* Bang Gil-seung [ko]
* Yang Jae-young
* Yoo Sang-jae [ko]
* Lee Jin-mok [ko]
* Ra Yoon-chan
* Ahn Soo-ho
* Kim Tae-beom
* Min Byung-wook
* Yoon Sung-won [ko]
* Lee Doo-seok [ko]
* Baek Min as Kim Moon-chang
* Lee Joo-seok [ko]
* Jung Jin [ko] as Atayi (Jurchen tribe)
* Jang Moon-gyu
* Kim Dae-heung [ko]
* Yoon Jong-goo
* Kwon Beom-taek [ko]
* Kang Cheol-sung [ko]
* Jung Dong-gyu [ko] as Lee Myung-woo
* Lee Sook [ko] as Yeo Joo-daek
* Sung Chan-ho
* Choi Gyo-sik
* Lee Yoon-sang
* Lee Gyu-seop [ko]
* Jung Eun-sung as Myung-seon
* Maeng Bong-hak [ko]
* Seo Ha-joon as Man-ok
* Park Sung-gyun [ko]
* Baek Seung-cheol
* Kim Yoon-tae [ko]
* Kim Joo-hwang [ko]
* Choi Yoon-joon
* Park Geon-rak [ko]
* Song Jin-woo
* Jang Tae-min [ko]
* Yoo Ha-bok [ko] as bandit boss
* Im Sung-pyo [ko]
* Ri Min [ko]
* Lee Chang [ko]
* Jeon Hae-ryong
* Seol In-ah as young Court Lady Han
* Sung Hyun-mi
* Kim Mi-so as Mong-shil
* Son Gwang-eop [ko]
* Choi Jong-nam [ko] as Ma Chang-do
* Bae Do-hwan [ko]
* Shin Joon-young [ko]
* Jung Hyun-seok [ko]
* Ahn Min-sang
* Na Sung-gyun [ko]
* Moon Cheol-hoon
* Yoon Sung-hyun
* Kim Kwang-tae
* Kim Jin-seo [ko]
* Jo Jeong-moon
* Kang Hak-soo
* Go Han-min
* Uhm Tae-ok
* Park Ik-joon
* Lee Taek-geun
* Mi Seok [ko]
* Ha Soo-ho [ko]
* Park No-sik [ko]
* Yoon Hyuk-jin
* Jang Gyeok-soo
* Song Kyung-eui [ko]
* Min Joon-hyun [ko]

## Ratings

In the table below, the blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and the red numbers represent the highest ratings.
| Episode # | Original broadcast date | Average audience share | Average audience share | Average audience share | Average audience share |
| Episode # | Original broadcast date | TNmS Ratings | TNmS Ratings | AGB Nielsen Ratings | AGB Nielsen Ratings |
| Episode # | Original broadcast date | Nationwide | Seoul National Capital Area | Nationwide | Seoul National Capital Area |
| Special | April 27, 2016 | 8.3% (18th) | 8.9% (14th) | 8.7% (17th) | 10.5% (7th) |
| Official broadcast ||||||
| 1 | April 30, 2016 | 16.2% (2nd) | 17.3% (3rd) | 17.3% (2nd) | 18.8% (2nd) |
| 2 | May 1, 2016 | 18.4% (2nd) | 20.1% (2nd) | 20.0% (2nd) | 21.9% (2nd) |
| 3 | May 7, 2016 | 16.6% (2nd) | 19.2% (2nd) | 16.9% (2nd) | 19.2% (2nd) |
| 4 | May 8, 2016 | 17.6% (2nd) | 20.7% (2nd) | 19.5% (2nd) | 21.7% (2nd) |
| 5 | May 14, 2016 | 18.7% (2nd) | 20.9% (2nd) | 20.3% (2nd) | 22.1% (2nd) |
| 6 | May 15, 2016 | 17.9% (2nd) | 20.6% (2nd) | 19.8% (2nd) | 21.7% (2nd) |
| 7 | May 21, 2016 | 15.9% (2nd) | 18.5% (2nd) | 16.5% (2nd) | 17.7% (2nd) |
| 8 | May 22, 2016 | 15.8% (3rd) | 16.9% (2nd) | 17.7% (2nd) | 19.0% (2nd) |
| 9 | May 28, 2016 | 15.4% (2nd) | 16.5% (2nd) | 17.2% (2nd) | 18.5% (2nd) |
| 10 | May 29, 2016 | 16.4% (2nd) | 17.9% (2nd) | 18.7% (2nd) | 19.7% (2nd) |
| 11 | June 4, 2016 | 15.9% (2nd) | 16.3% (2nd) | 16.8% (2nd) | 17.7% (2nd) |
| 12 | June 11, 2016 | 15.2% (2nd) | 16.7% (2nd) | 16.9% (2nd) | 17.9% (2nd) |
| 13 | June 12, 2016 | 15.2% (3rd) | 16.7% (2nd) | 19.0% (2nd) | 20.6% (2nd) |
| 14 | June 18, 2016 | 14.8% (2nd) | 16.1% (3rd) | 17.3% (2nd) | 17.8% (2nd) |
| 15 | June 19, 2016 | 16.0% (3rd) | 17.2% (3rd) | 18.7% (2nd) | 19.1% (2nd) |
| 16 | June 25, 2016 | 14.8% (2nd) | 16.4% (2nd) | 17.2% (2nd) | 18.2% (2nd) |
| 17 | June 26, 2016 | 15.9% (3rd) | 17.8% (2nd) | 18.3% (2nd) | 19.0% (2nd) |
| 18 | July 2, 2016 | 15.8% (2nd) | 16.2% (2nd) | 19.0% (2nd) | 20.1% (2nd) |
| 19 | July 3, 2016 | 16.7% (3rd) | 17.7% (2nd) | 18.7% (3rd) | 19.9% (3rd) |
| 20 | July 9, 2016 | 15.4% (3rd) | 16.4% (2nd) | 18.4% (2nd) | 20.1% (2nd) |
| 21 | July 10, 2016 | 16.7% (3rd) | 17.6% (2nd) | 18.9% (2nd) | 20.6% (2nd) |
| 22 | July 16, 2016 | 15.8% (3rd) | 17.2% (3rd) | 19.6% (2nd) | 21.3% (2nd) |
| 23 | July 17, 2016 | 15.8% (3rd) | 15.3% (4th) | 19.9% (2nd) | 21.5% (2nd) |
| 24 | July 23, 2016 | 18.1% (2nd) | 18.9% (2nd) | 19.7% (2nd) | 21.9% (2nd) |
| 25 | July 24, 2016 | 18.5% (2nd) | 18.6% (2nd) | 19.8% (2nd) | 20.7% (2nd) |
| 26 | July 30, 2016 | 18.7% (2nd) | 21.2% (2nd) | 19.6% (2nd) | 21.0% (2nd) |
| 27 | July 31, 2016 | 18.9% (2nd) | 19.7% (2nd) | 21.1% (2nd) | 21.8% (2nd) |
| 28 | August 7, 2016 | 17.7% (2nd) | 17.1% (2nd) | 19.0% (2nd) | 19.6% (2nd) |
| 29 | August 21, 2016 | 16.7% (4th) | 16.7% (4th) | 19.4% (3rd) | 20.7% (3rd) |
| 30 | August 27, 2016 | 15.5% (2nd) | 15.3% (3rd) | 18.5% (2nd) | 20.2% (2nd) |
| 31 | August 28, 2016 | 17.6% (3rd) | 17.5% (3rd) | 19.9% (2nd) | 21.5% (2nd) |
| 32 | September 3, 2016 | 17.0% (2nd) | 17.9% (3rd) | 18.3% (2nd) | 19.8% (2nd) |
| 33 | September 4, 2016 | 17.5% (2nd) | 18.5% (2nd) | 20.0% (2nd) | 21.1% (2nd) |
| 34 | September 10, 2016 | 16.9% (2nd) | 17.7% (3rd) | 20.0% (2nd) | 21.0% (2nd) |
| 35 | September 11, 2016 | 18.0% (2nd) | 18.6% (2nd) | 21.3% (2nd) | 22.9% (2nd) |
| 36 | September 17, 2016 | 15.0% (3rd) | 15.4% (3rd) | 18.0% (2nd) | 18.2% (2nd) |
| 37 | September 18, 2016 | 19.3% (2nd) | 17.8% (2nd) | 22.0% (2nd) | 22.6% (2nd) |
| 38 | September 24, 2016 | 17.4% (2nd) | 17.1% (2nd) | 20.6% (2nd) | 21.7% (2nd) |
| 39 | September 25, 2016 | 19.6% (2nd) | 19.5% (2nd) | 20.8% (2nd) | 21.6% (2nd) |
| 40 | October 1, 2016 | 18.0% (2nd) | 19.0% (2nd) | 19.9% (2nd) | 21.4% (2nd) |
| 41 | October 2, 2016 | 20.1% (2nd) | 20.9% (2nd) | 21.4% (2nd) | 22.3% (2nd) |
| 42 | October 8, 2016 | 18.9% (2nd) | 19.3% (2nd) | 21.0% (2nd) | 21.6% (1st) |
| 43 | October 9, 2016 | 19.4% (2nd) | 18.5% (2nd) | 21.7% (2nd) | 22.0% (2nd) |
| 44 | October 15, 2016 | 18.7% (2nd) | 18.8% (2nd) | 21.4% (2nd) | 22.3% (2nd) |
| 45 | October 16, 2016 | 19.7% (2nd) | 21.6% (2nd) | 21.7% (2nd) | 22.6% (2nd) |
| 46 | October 22, 2016 | 17.6% (2nd) | 17.9% (2nd) | 21.0% (2nd) | 22.3% (2nd) |
| 47 | October 23, 2016 | 18.9% (2nd) | 19.5% (2nd) | 21.2% (2nd) | 21.4% (2nd) |
| 48 | October 29, 2016 | 18.8% (2nd) | 20.0% (2nd) | 20.8% (2nd) | 21.8% (2nd) |
| 49 | October 30, 2016 | 20.3% (2nd) | 20.6% (2nd) | 22.6% (2nd) | 23.8% (2nd) |
| 50 | November 5, 2016 | 17.5% (2nd) | 17.8% (2nd) | 20.3% (2nd) | 21.4% (2nd) |
| 51 | November 6, 2016 | 19.5% (2nd) | 20.0% (2nd) | 22.6% (2nd) | 23.2% (2nd) |
| Average | Average | 17.31% | 18.19% | 19.53% | 20.72% |

### Remarks

* Episode 12 wasn't aired on Sunday June 5 due to broadcast of the football friendly match between Czech Republic and South Korea. This episode was aired on Saturday June 11, 2016.
* Episode 28 wasn't aired on Saturday August 6 due to broadcast of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This episode was aired on Sunday August 7, 2016.
* Episode 29 wasn't aired on August 13, August 14 and August 20 due to broadcast of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This episode was aired on Sunday, August 21, 2016.

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result |
| 2016 | 11th Seoul International Drama Awards | Outstanding Korean Drama | The Flower in Prison | Won |
| 2016 | 5th APAN Star Awards | Grand Prize (Daesang) | Go Soo | Nominated |
| 2016 | 5th APAN Star Awards | Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Serial Drama | Go Soo | Nominated |
| 2016 | 9th Korea Drama Awards | Best Production Director | Lee Byung-hoon, Choi Jeong-kyu | Nominated |
| 2016 | 9th Korea Drama Awards | Excellence Award, Actress | Jin Se-yeon | Nominated |
| 2016 | 9th Korea Drama Awards | Best New Actor | Seo Ha-joon | Won |
| 2016 | MBC Drama Awards | Grand Prize (Daesang) | Jin Se-yeon | Nominated |
| 2016 | MBC Drama Awards | Drama of the Year | The Flower in Prison | Nominated |
| 2016 | MBC Drama Awards | Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Special Project Drama | Go Soo | Nominated |
| 2016 | MBC Drama Awards | Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Special Project Drama | Kim Mi-sook | Nominated |
| 2016 | MBC Drama Awards | Excellence Award, Actor in a Special Project Drama | Seo Ha-joon | Won |
| 2016 | MBC Drama Awards | Excellence Award, Actor in a Special Project Drama | Choi Tae-joon | Nominated |
| 2016 | MBC Drama Awards | Excellence Award, Actress in a Special Project Drama | Jin Se-yeon | Won |
| 2016 | MBC Drama Awards | Golden Acting Award, Actor in a Special Project Drama | Jung Joon-ho | Won |
| 2016 | MBC Drama Awards | Best Young Actress | Jung Da-bin | Won |
| 2016 | MBC Drama Awards | Best Couple Award | Seo Ha-joon and Jin Se-yeon | Nominated |