Goo Hae-ryung is the 26-year-old main protagonist of Rookie Historian, portrayed by Shin Se-kyung. She is a bright, outspoken, and confident noblewoman, who enjoys reading foreign literature and astronomy. Raised by Goo Jae-gyeong, she disagrees with the expectation of having to marry, determined in her role as a apprentice historian in the Office of Royal Decrees. She is known to have a strong sense of right and wrong, is headstrong in her goals, and speaks honestly.
Biography[]
As a child, Goo Hae-ryung was already studious. Although a noblewoman, likes to work as a book-reader in order to discuss literature. However, her preference for foreign literature and distaste for romance works against her. At home, she enjoys drinks with her older brother, Jae-gyeong and asks not to take bridal lessons anymore, not wishing to get married.
She asks her future groom Lee Seung-hoon to call off their arranged marriage in Episode 2, using the opportunity to take the Civil Servant's Exam to become a female historian. She answers with brutal honesty, displaying her knowledge of astronomy and impertinence by telling Crown Prince Jin that he is wrong to conduct rituals to stop eclipses. However, she passes and becomes an apprentice.
Although treated badly with her fellow apprentices at the Office of Royal Decrees, Goo Hae-ryung is prepared to be hazed in order to be officially initiated. She wins a drinking contest against the First Historian.
Goo Hae-ryung continues to work, despite several professional missteps. Upon being reprimanded for attempting to expose the corruption behind receiving their wages, she takes full responsibility and undertakes the workload of the clerks with little complaint. She wins a battle of wills against the King, who grants her wish of giving historians permission to enter all chambers without being refused. Additionally, she clashes with Officer Min Woo-won when he puts principles above people, but still works hard beneath him as a mentee.
She also falls in love with Prince Dowon throughout the series. First meeting when she criticizes Maewha's new novel, she ends up spending more time with him as she fulfills her duty as an apprentice.
SPOILERS:[]
Goo Hae-ryung's father is Seo Moon-jik, nicknamed Yeongan, the Dean of Seoraewon (a revolutionary school that taught Western studies, medicine among them). She was forced to flee to Qing with Goo Jae-gyeong and changed her name from Seo Hee-yeon., and returned to Joseon when she was older as Jae-gyeong's sister although they are not blood related.
At the end of the series, Goo Hae-ryung finds the hidden daily records of Kim Il-mok, which reveals what truly happened in the year that the previous king was dethroned, helping to prove Second State Councilor Min Ik-pyeong's treachery. She becomes a historian and has a happy, comfortable romantic relationship with Yi Rim.
Personality[]
She often disagrees with several societal expectations of women in the Joseon era - not wanting to enter into an arranged marriage, speaking out against injustices, and working in the palace as a government official.
She has a large sense of right and wrong - defending a poor slave boy, leaving medicine and food for a sick mother and daughter, and taking responsibility when her actions hurts others.
Goo Hae-ryung is not afraid to speak up and act - early in the series she is ready to confront thugs from abusing a young boy, argues with Historian Min Woo-won over the King's order to burn banned books, and submitting a petition concerning wage corruption even as an apprentice historian. She can be stubborn in her beliefs, as with her dislike of romance novels, refusing to disclose the contents of her sachaek even when threatened, and maintaining that she is right despite being scolded.
She enjoys drinking and has a high alcohol tolerance.
Hae-ryung is intelligent, observant, and witty with a slightly mischievous sense of humour - leaving erotic novels to be discovered by a nobleman after his wife refuses to pay her and scaring Prince Dowon by pretending to be a tiger.
She is also very pragmatic. She scoffs at the story of Rapunzel for being too unbelievable, and when Prince Dowon offers to leave everything behind and go with her somewhere faraway, she responds that he doesn't know how to do any housework and will have to do it all herself.
Relationships[]
Prince Dowon (Ye Rim/Maewha)
Goo Jae-gyeong
Officer Min Woo-won
Seol-geum
Apprentices Heo Ah-ran, Oh Eun-im, Song Sa-hui