Han Baek-young/Lady Han As one of the sanggungs working in the royal kitchen (soorakgan), she possesses a talent in culinary art and is able to identify the source of the ingredients in a dish. Best friend to Jang-geum's mother, she often misses and regrets not being able to save her friend. She is a rigorous, steadfast person who is not to be swayed from her purpose. Although obdurate in nature, she is actually very kind-hearted. Jang-geum's presence allows her to open up and she treats her as both a strict teacher and a kind mother figure. Kyeon Mi-ri as Choi Seong-geum/Lady Choi Choi Pan-sul's younger sister and Geum-young's aunt. With her family hierarchy and bloodline, she is expected to be the successor of the soorakgans highest sanggung rank. She learned and was being taught about the delicacy of food from a young age. Arrogant and too proud, she has a fierce need to get what she wants and will stop at nothing until she gets what she wants. Sharp-minded and quick to act, she is always a step ahead of plotting against Jang-geum and Lady Han. She hasn't been nice to Jang-geum, Jang-geum's mother and Lady Han. Supporting characters Early life Park Chan-hwan as Seo Cheon-soo - Jang-geum's father and a former royal guard. Kim Hyeseon as Park Myeong-yi - Jang-geum's mother and a former kitchen lady. Im Hyun-sik as Kang Duk-gu - Ju-Daek's husband. Jang-geum's adoptive father and a palace chef. Geum Bo-ra as Na Ju-daek - Duk-gu's wife and Jang-geum's adoptive mother. She and Duk-Gu earn a living by selling wine. Time as a palace chef Park Eun-hye as Lee Yeon-seng/Royal Noble Consort Suk-won of the Lee clan, the 8th wife of King Jungjong - Jang-Geum's best friend. Naive, cheerful and lovely, she got the King's attention when the King saw her crying and playing the King's dog. She became the King's concubine when she was pregnant the princess to King's child. Lee Ip-sae as Yoon Young-roh - niece of Yoon Mak-Gae and a loyal person to Choi family. Her loyalty to the Choi clan fruits, when she became the Attendant Lady of Lady Choi. Her life goes to jeopardy when Lady Choi asked her to hide while the Right State Councilor asked her to reveal the story between Lady Choi and Jang-Geum in exchange of Lady Choi's position. Kim So-yi as Min Gwi-yeol - the mentor of