Overview
New Tales of Gisaeng (; also known as New Gisaeng Story) is a 2011 South Korean television series starring Im Soo-hyang, Sung Hoon, and Han Hye-rin. Written by Im Sung-han and directed by Son Moon-kwon, it aired on SBS from January 23 to July 17, 2011, on Saturdays and Sundays at 21:45 for 52 episodes. It is based on Lee Hyun-su's novel of the same name.
Plot
"Gisaeng" was the Korean equivalent of a geisha or courtesan knowledgeable in poetry, dance, music, culture and politics, who entertained noblemen and royalty of the Joseon period. This series explores the premise that gisaeng still existed in modern-day Korea. Dan Sa-ran (Im Soo-hyang) lost her mother at a young age, and never quite got along with her stepmother and stepsister. Despite her humble background, she carries herself with pride and grace, majoring in classical dance during college. Drawing the attention of Buyonggak's head gisaeng with her dancing talent and classic beauty, Sa-ran enters Korea's sole traditional gisaeng house, an exclusive establishment that serves only VIP guests. Ah Da-mo (Sung Hoon) is a cocky second-generation chaebol with his own set of daddy issues. He can't be bothered to give any woman the time of day... until he meets Sa-ran.
Main characters
* Im Soo-hyang as Dan Sa-ran * Sung Hoon as Ah Da-mo * Han Hye-rin as Geum Ra-ra * Kim Bo-yeon as Oh Hwa-ran * Kim Hye-sun as Han Soon-deok ** Jung Han-bi as young Soon-deok
Supporting characters
;Dan family * Baek Ok-dam as Dan Gong-joo * Kim Joo-young as Dan Chul-soo * Lee Sook as Ji Hwa-ja ;Geum family * Han Jin-hee as Geum Eo-san ** Park Jin as young Eo-san * Seo Woo-rim as Lee Hong-ah * Lee Jong-nam as Jang Joo-hee * Lee Dong-joon as Geum Kang-san * Lee Dae-ro as Geum Shi-jo * Lee Sang-mi as Shin Hyo-ri ;Ah family * Im Hyuk as Ah Soo-ra * Kim Hye-jung as Cha Ra-ri * Ahn Young-joo as Park Ae-ja ;Buyonggak * Lee Mae-ri as Lee Do-hwa * Choi Sun-ja as Hwa-ran's mother * Park Joon-myun as Noh Eun-ja * Seo Dong-soo as Ma Dan-se * Song Dae-kwan as Seo Saeng-kang * Oh Ki-chan as Oh Bong-yi * Kang Cho-hee as Han Song-yi * Kim Yul as Baek Soo-jung * Seol Yoon as Jang Soo-jin * Yoon Ji-eun as Song Hye-eun * Kim Eun-sun as Ye-rang * Lee Sun-ah as Lee Ji-hyang * Oh Ji-yeon as Kim-sshi * Ha Na-kyung ;Extended cast * Jeon Ji-hoo as Son-ja * Jin Ye-sol as Jin Joo-ah * Lee Soo-jin as Sung Ah-mi * Park Yoon-jae as Oh Jin-ahm * Kim Ho-chang as Yoo Tae-young * Michael Blunck as Kyle * Shin Goo as Master Joong-bong * Jun Sung-hwan as Master Jung-do * Lee Hyo-jung as Ma Yi-joon (CEO Joon Entertainment) The Midas * Kim Joon-hyung as Do-suk * Son Ga-young as Choi Young-mim * Won Jong-rye as Young-nim's mother * Kim Sun-il as Min-jae * Min Joon-hyun as manager
International broadcast
It aired in Japan on cable channel KNTV from September 9, 2012, to March 3, 2013, with reruns on cable channel BS Japan beginning February 20, 2013. In 2015, Hong Kong's HKTV also played this drama.