Updated: January 27, 2025
Here’s a collection of quotes from the Korean drama, The Tale of Lady Ok (2024):
Episode 1
“They say that there is a slim difference between insanity and artistic ability. If I can be recognized as a talented artist while I am still alive, nothing else would bring me more joy.” – Seo In
“In life, there cannot only be one way to live. If we study the same thing, take the same exam, and have the same positions, how can that be fun?” – Seo In
“It is a signal. It means that we will only have one chance.” – Goo Deok
“We will die one way or the other. If we will die anyway, we might as well go for it. Let’s run away as if our life depends on it.” – Goo Deok
“You have a whole life ahead of you. Why run away?” – Goo Deok’s father
“It is not what I want. It is what my blood wants.” – Seo In
“If being born on this land is a sin, I have sinned.” – Seo In
“We are all humans in this world. So how can there be those who are noble and lowly?” – Goo Deok
“To someone lowly like me, it does not matter whether the performance is good or not. Because life is hard.” – Goo Deok
“People like to hear stories about poor people becoming happy. We imagine days that would never happen to us. We experience satisfaction vicariously.” – Goo Deok
“It gives happiness to those who have worked hard each day. It briefly lets them forget about their worry.” – Seo In
“You have truly enlightened me. Until now, I did not know why I wrote, why I drew, and why I danced. But my head suddenly feels clear. Meeting you today has been such a huge gift for me.” – Seo In
“My dream is dying at an old age. Not getting beaten to death, not starving to death, but dying at a good old age.” – Goo Deok
“I wonder if I would get lucky enough to live in hiding in a small house by the sea with my father.” – Goo Deok
“Why did the first person whoever moved my heart have to be the slave of the woman I am in marriage talks with? What a twist of fate.” – Seo In
“If we were of the same status, I would have expressed how I felt to you.” – Seo In
“When you get used to loneliness, the feeling gets dulled.” – Seo In
“No one deserves to die in this world and you are the one that is dirty.” – Goo Deok
“I am thankful to her as she gave me my freedom. So I want to help her get her freedom as well in any way I can.” – Seo In
“If she and I are meant to meet again, we will cross paths somewhere.” – Seo In
“I cannot be a burden to my daughter. My daughter is the smartest in the world. She will figure something out if she is on her own.” – Goo Deok’s father
“No one is insignificant in this world.” – Lady Ok Tae Young
“I am not superior because I am privileged, but I feel responsible because I am privileged. I became privileged without doing anything, so helping those who are not privileged seems reasonable to me.” – Lady Ok Tae Young
“My name is Goo Deok. My master named me that so that I would live like a maggot.” – Goo Deok
“Why should your status as a slave be a hindrance?” – Lady Ok Tae Young
“My dream is to meet my father again and live in a small house by the sea. Happily.” – Goo Deok
“How can you speak so beautifully and have such noble thoughts?” – Goo Deok
“You must survive and fulfill your dream.” – Lady Ok Tae Young
“That was my first lie.” – Goo Deok
Episode 2
“You did not just steal their riches. You stole their precious dreams, too.” – Goo Deok
“Your name is Ok Tae Young. From now on, live as Ok Tae Young.” – Lady Han
“It will definitely not be easy. You must wear the headpiece skirt for the rest of your life. Become Tae Young from head to toe. Do not let anyone find out.” – Lady Han
“You seem like a lady on the outside, but are you still Goo Deok on the inside?” – Lady Han
“My dream is the sea.” – Lady Ok / Goo Deok
“You are a ray of light that has saved me from deep despair and darkness. And this is my feelings toward you. It is my longing.” – Seo In / Chon Seung Hwi
“How can the depth of my feelings be proportionate to the number of times we met? There is a love that cannot be forgotten even with just one encounter.” – Seo In / Chon Seung Hwi
“I am so happy and proud to know that you have become a storyteller who helps people forget about their worries.” – Lady Ok / Goo Deok
“Run away with me. I will keep you safe.” – Seo In / Chon Seung Hwi
“If we had met as two people of the same status, wed without any problem, and lived under the same roof, how would that have been?” – Seo In / Chon Seung Hwi
“I hope you can live as yourself.” – Seo In / Chon Seung Hwi
“I will protect those I must protect.” – Lady Ok / Goo Deok
Episode 3
“I believe that every living thing, regardless of their status or gender, is precious and equal.” – Lady Ok / Goo Deok
“I only thought women were meant to be protected by men. But I saw a spirit in you that could even protect a man.” – Lord Seong Yun Gyeom
“I will accomplish it. And for helping me, I will save you one day, my lord.” – Lady Ok / Goo Deok
“No matter how bad the deed is, a slave must do what the master says. If a slave refuses their master or rebels, they die. No matter how badly they are wronged, if they harm the master, they must die. Even if they are lucky and run away, they must live in hiding forever. If they are caught, they will be killed.” – Lady Ok / Goo Deok
“A legal advocate does not fight on their knees.” – Lady Ok / Goo Deok
“I do not regret it. Even if I cannot see him ever again, the memory of him will not disappear.” – Lady Ok / Goo Deok
“Marriage means uprooting a woman’s whole life and bringing it over, so you had to make up your mind to look after her for the rest of your life.” – Magistrate Seong
“Of all the women I know, I like you the most, my lady.” – Lord Seong Yun Gyeom
“Everybody has a secret. Keep it hidden. No one has to find out.” – Lord Seong Yun Gyeom
Episode 4
“She is far more beautiful than I imagined.” – Seo In / Chon Seung Hwi
“You see, to artists, even pain like this becomes the groundwork for their art.” – Seo In / Chon Seung Hwi
“May I be curious about or ask about the brand on your shoulder?” – Lady Ok / Goo Deok
“When people see someone different than themselves, they harass, beat, and even kill them.” – Lord Seong Yun Gyeom
“I cannot do nothing while children die simply for being different. I will create a world where being different is accepted.” – Lord Seong Yun Gyeom
“From now on on, you are not my son. Leave this place at once. If I ever find you, you will die in my hands as a traitor.” – Magistrate Seong
Episode 5
“Because of my bad fortune, everyone is leaving.” – Lady Ok / Goo Deok
“Do not live as Goo-deok who is always scared of being caught. Live as the real Ok Tae-young.” – Seo In / Chon Seung Hwi
“You must find out the truth. Find it out and get your revenge.” – Seo In / Chon Seung Hwi
“If it is too hard, running away is not a bad idea.” – Seo In / Chon Seung Hwi
“As the eldest daughter-in-law of this family, I will restore Father’s honor and protect this family.” – Lady Ok / Goo Deok
“There is nothing grand about life. We would share something trivial to eat and laugh at awful jokes. When it rains, I would cover your head with my hand. And when you seem gloomy, I would make you smile by your side. You do not have to try so hard to become happy.” – Seo In / Chon Seung Hwi
“Since we cannot light a fire, we can see the stars.”- Seo In / Chon Seung Hwi
“I have nothing to lose. So let me do the sword dance one last time.” – Seo In / Chon Seung Hwi
Episode 6
“You have the power to make people happy.” – Lady Ok / Goo Deok
“This was the late Goo-deok’s thing. She let me live as myself, and she is the woman I loved very dearly.” – Seo In / Chon Seung Hwi
“From now, I will never come to see you again, my lady. May you be happy, Lady Legal Advocate.” – Seo In / Chon Seung Hwi
“Can you pass on a message to the government officer? He was that woman’s first love.” – Lady Ok / Goo Deok
“That is the perfect ending.” – Seo In / Chon Seung Hwi
“I want to be myself at least when I am with you alone.” – Lady Ok / Goo Deok
“Having a drink brings back some memories.” – Lady Ok / Goo Deok
Episode 7
“I will think of this as seeing you in my dreams.” – Seo In / Chon Seung Hwi
“Goo-deok is enough for me. Other women do not have any meaning to me.” – Seo In / Chon Seung Hwi
“I wanted to see you happy like this.” – Lady Ok / Goo Deok
“Must you do something? Can you not just be by my side?” – Seo In / Chon Seung Hwi
“I can give up everything if I could be with you.” – Seo In / Chon Seung Hwi
“I will return and do my best to live as Ok Tae-young. So I hope you become the best professional storyteller and bring honor to Joseon.” – Lady Ok / Goo Deok
“It was a dreamy moment that would never return.” – Seo In / Chon Seung Hwi
“Once I wake up from this dream, I will be alone again. Fate will separate us again. And you will go on living as yourself and I will live as myself.” – Seo In / Chon Seung Hwi
“But I will hold on this memory and try to endure this long darkness as I pine for you for the rest of my life as my sun has set now.” – Seo In / Chon Seung Hwi
“How could you choose to live such a lonely life?” – Young Master Chan Young
“I do not have any time to be lonely. I am so busy.” – Lady Ok / Goo Deok
Episode 8
“He left everything to me. But he just looked away.” – Lady Ok / Goo Deok
“Even though I hate him, I understand him. He took a lonely and righteous path that nobody understood.” – Lady Ok / Goo Deok
“My hate has nowhere to go now. The moment I found out the truth, my heart was emptied.” – Lady Cha Miryeong
“If your heart is empty as you no longer hate me, I would like to fill that heart with the love you have not received until now.” – Lady Ok / Goo Deok
“Did I not promise you? That I would look after you like a mother and a sister?” – Lady Ok / Goo Deok
Episode 9
“Do not worry about me. You had better worry about your own safety, Magistrate.” – Lady Ok / Goo Deok
“Do you think I am afraid of you? I am Goo Deok.” – Lady Ok / Goo Deok
“I will survive and fulfill my dream.” – Lady Ok / Goo Deok
“Dearest. I am back.” – Lord Seong Yun Gyeom
“Ten months of a mother’s rearing is better than ten years of a teacher’s teaching.” – Young Master Do Gyeom
“You are the only person who looks at me that way.” – Lady Ok / Goo Deok
“I suppose one cannot hide love and sneezes.” – Seo In / Chon Seung Hwi
“He knew how dangerous it was, and he knew he would be killed if he got caught, but he said it did not matter if he could protect you. So do not cast him out and let him in. Now, he is truly your husband.” – Soe Ddung / Man Seok
Episode 10
“I cannot go back anymore. Just think of your brother as dead.” – Lord Seong Yun Gyeom
“I am doing this so as not to reverse it.” – Seo In / Chon Seung Hwi
“The man who abandoned his family for his own work is not my brother. This man, who sacrificed his life for you, is my brother.” – Young Master Do Gyeom
“Perhaps, being a legal advocate has become my dream, not yours, seeing how sad I am now, my lady.” – Lady Ok / Goo Deok
“Can I be selfish just once? Can you be my husband and live here with me while I do what I want to do?” – Lady Ok / Goo Deok
“You say that everyone must be treated equally, so why are you so harsh on yourself? Do not just help others, stop sacrificing, stop forgiving, and please do what you want to do.” – Seo In / Chon Seung Hwi
“I just jumped on the best stage of my life. I became the hero of the story and am married to you now. You could say I accomplished my dream, too.” – Seo In / Chon Seung Hwi
“These past few days with you were the happiest I have been in my life.” – Seo In / Chon Seung Hwi
“My husband.” – Lady Ok / Goo Deok
Episodes 11-14
“Even if you hate me, please become a good father to our child.” – Lady Cha Miryeong
“How is it that my heart is like a child that always run ahead of yours and pester yours to catch up? I am truly ashamed. I will not press you from now on, so do not worry. But if you ever summon me, I will run to you in socks.” – Seo In / Chon Seung Hwi
“I thought I knew you well, but the more I get to know you, the more admirable you are.” – Seo In / Chon Seung Hwi
“I have lived a difficult life so I simply know how difficult their lives are.” – Lady Ok / Goo Deok
“I like her but resent her, I miss her but do not want to see her. I am happy when I see her, but I resent her, too. It is driving me insane.” – Young Master Do Gyeom
“I was worried you left me.” – Lady Ok / Goo Deok
“Where would I go? Even if you are always mean to me, I will not go anywhere.” – Seo In / Chon Seung Hwi
“Please be by my side, dearest.” – Lady Ok / Goo Deok
“I do not care if you approached me on purpose, about what you did, or whose daughter you are. I love you.” – Young Master Do Gyeom
“The happiest days of my life were passing by. We had no idea what was waiting for us. We were simply indulgijng ourselves in happiness.” – Lady Ok / Goo Deok
“Is the love that I show you daily not enough?” – Young Master Do Gyeom
“And for the sin of surviving instead of Lady Tae-young, I must fulfill her dream of helping those in need by living as a legal advocate.” – Lady Ok / Goo Deok
“Have I ever told you how much I loved you?” – Lady Ok / Goo Deok
Episodes 15-16
“You are my friend. My one and only friend.” – Seo In
“What fun would it be to live without you?” – Soe Ddung / Man Seok
“I am sorry I cannot be by your side to the end.” – Seo In
“The wound from losing Man-seok will never heal, though. He was small in stature, but his absence feels very big.” – Seo In
“Even if I could turn back time, I would go back to meet you again. You are the greatest gift of my life and every single day I spent with you has left me with such precious memories.” – Seo In
“This is not a story about a sad woman who lost her husband. This is a story about a strong woman who was born a slave but became a strong legal advocate like steadfast aloe to help out people despite all kinds of hardships.” – Seo In
“No matter what anybody says, you are a sister and a mother to me.” – Young Master Do Gyeom
“I have no regrets, my lord.” – Lady Ok / Goo Deok
“Dearest. Did I provide a good ending for your novel?” – Lady Ok / Goo Deok
“Yes. It is the perfect ending. My dearest.” – Seo In
Genre: Historical, Romance
Also known as: Tale Of Mrs. Ok; The Story of Lady Ok
Synopsis: Set in the Joseon Dynasty, a woman fakes her name and status to become a mistress, while a man of prestigious family falls in love with her.
No. of episodes: 16
Cast: Lim Ji-yeon, Choo Young-woo, Yeonwoo, Kim Jae-won
Screenwriter: Park Ji-sook
Director: Jin Hyuk
Network: JTBC
Streaming platform: Netflix
Date: November 30, 2024
English subtitle translation: Netflix
Images: JTBC
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