[3][4] Dong Yi was a hit across Asia and recorded the highest ratings for Korean dramas on Japanese network NHK.

Set during the reign of King Sukjong in the Joseon dynasty, the series is based on real-life historical figure Choe Suk-bin.

Dong-yi hides her identity and enters the palace as a servant for the Bureau of Music, determined to reveal her family's innocence and find the true orchestrators of the noblemen's deaths.

Dong-yi rises from the humble position of a servant to a court lady inspector through her shrewd investigative skills and relentless drive for justice.

Dong-yi vows to find the evidence that proves the Deposed Queen's innocence and bring her back into the palace.

While investigating the Royal Treasury, Dong-yi discovers proof that Jang Hee-jae bribed officials and apothecaries to frame Queen Min.

Dong-yi escapes Hee-jae and returns to the capital with proof that he planned to expose matters of state interest to a foreign government.

She realizes that Lord Oh Tae-suk had murdered his fellow Southerners in order to consolidate power and had framed the Sword Fraternity, resulting in the death of her father and brother.

He murders Oh Tae-suk and blames the Sword Fraternity for his death, and sets a trap for Dong-yi into trying to help the injured Gae-dwo-ra.

The Southerners petition to have her executed; however, in light of the death of Dong-yi's newborn son, Prince Yeongsu due to measles, the King exiles her from the palace but allows her to keep her title.

However, she suddenly collapses from an illness, and Hui-bin uses a shaman and black magic to make sure Queen Min dies.

The Ministers initially pushed for Hui-bin to become queen but then rumors spread throughout the palace that Crown Prince Yun is infertile due to an undisclosed condition.

She cites all the chaos Hui-bin has caused in court, and she asks the King to pass a new law preventing concubines from becoming Queen in hopes that similar power struggles do not occur.

However, Queen Kim adopts Yeoning, giving him royal protection and ensuring that he will follow Crown Prince Yun to the throne after his death.

Dong-yi decides to leave the palace so that she can help the poor commoners and so that Queen Kim can be a mother to Prince Yeoning.

Dong-yi's son later becomes the 21st monarch of Joseon, King Yeongjo, the father of Crown Prince Sado and grandfather of Yi San.