Shin Ye Eun recently sparked excitement through an interview, raising expectations for her upcoming performance and brilliant on-screen rivalry with Kim Tae Ri in the highly anticipated drama Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born.
tvN’s new weekend drama Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born, which will premiere on October 12, explores the intense competition, solidarity, and personal growth of a group of women in the 1950s, focusing on Jeong-nyeon, a naturally gifted vocalist who strives to become the best national theater actress in Korea after the Korean War.
This fresh and unique story, set against the backdrop of the women’s national theater, has already attracted attention. Adding to the buzz is the involvement of director Jung Ji-in, known for his work on The Red Sleeve. The drama’s impressive cast includes some of Korea’s most talented actors, such as Kim Tae Ri, who plays the protagonist Yoon Jeong-nyeon, Shin Ye Eun as Heo Young-seo, Ra Mi Ran, Jung Eun-chae, Kim Yoon-hye, with special appearances by Moon So-ri and Lee Deok-hwa.
Shin Ye Eun is set to portray Heo Young-seo, a standout member of the Maeran Theater Troupe. Heo Young-seo is admired by all for her exceptional skills in singing, dancing, and acting, along with her privileged family background. In this role, Shin aims to achieve perfect character synchronization, bringing Heo Young-seo’s complexity to life.
In a written interview ahead of the premiere of Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born, Shin shared her excitement and anticipation. “Every time a teaser is released, memories from filming rush back,” she said. “Since I’ve given it my all and have no regrets, I’m now waiting for the first episode with excitement. I hope the viewers who have been eagerly waiting for Jeongnyeon will see it as a well-crafted project because we’ve all worked incredibly hard.”
Reflecting on her decision to take on the role, Shin explained that she was drawn to the challenge it presented. “Because this project required a lot of preparation, I thought the sense of accomplishment and joy that would come from completing it would be immense. I also wanted to push myself, knowing that any difficulties along the way would become valuable learning experiences, especially with the opportunity to work alongside such respected senior actors.” She added that she approached the role with a sense of gratitude, believing that the chance to experience different genres is a great blessing for any actor.
Shin also spoke about her character, Heo Young-seo, explaining how she developed the role. “Young-seo may seem cold and detached on the outside, but I think she’s actually a warm-hearted person. She struggles with giving love because she’s never really received it herself, and she has a strong desire to be acknowledged. She’s a perfectionist, which makes her stand out, but also means she often feels inadequate because she can’t see her own strengths.”
To add depth to her portrayal, Shin carefully considered how Heo Young-seo’s emotional coldness would influence her interactions with others, particularly the male characters in the national theater. She explained that she worked to convey Young-seo’s more mechanical, restricted tendencies, ensuring that this aspect of the character came across in her performance.
Interestingly, Shin revealed that she saw some personal parallels between herself and Heo Young-seo. A key moment of realization came when her friend Woo Da-vi, who also stars in Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born and was a classmate in high school, pointed out that Shin shared some traits with the character. “Woo Da-bi told me that I was very similar to Young-seo back in school—always wanting to do better and thinking that I had to succeed. Those words gave me a lot of confidence and helped me understand the character on a deeper level.”
Shin also shared her experiences working with director Jung Ji-in, crediting him with helping her fully develop Heo Young-seo. “Creating Young-seo alongside director Jung Ji-in was a deeply memorable process. From the way Young-seo speaks to how she carries herself, every detail was carefully crafted.” Shin noted that Young-seo doesn’t use a relaxed or everyday manner of speech, but rather maintains a cold, detached tone. Through numerous conversations with the director, Shin was able to establish a speech style that fit the character perfectly.
She also mentioned how much effort went into portraying the traditional Korean musical aspects of her role, filming practice videos and sharing them with the director to receive feedback. “At first, it felt awkward and a bit embarrassing, but over time, I found it fun and rewarding because I could check my own progress and hear the director’s thoughts.”
Shin’s character, Heo Young-seo, is set to develop a captivating rivalry with Kim Tae Ri’s character, Yoon Jeong-nyeon, creating one of the most exciting dynamics in the drama. This rivalry is expected to be a central focus of the storyline.
Shin expressed her pride in working with Kim Tae Ri, saying, “I’ve respected her as an actress since before my debut, so I was really proud and excited to work alongside her. Even on days when we weren’t filming, I continued to practice, and I met with Tae-ri almost daily to train. We shared our thoughts and experiences as actors, and I learned so much from her. I believe the chemistry between us that viewers will see in Jeongnyeon The Star is Born was built through those times we spent together.“
As the drama approaches its premiere, Shin shared her anticipation for a particular part of the story. “I’m especially fond of the third and final production that the Maeran National Theater Company puts on in the drama. It showcases a different side of Young-seo, and viewers will see her grow and change in ways they may not expect. I had so much fun filming those scenes, not just as Young-seo, but as Shin Ye-eun, and I hope that feeling comes across on screen.”
She also encouraged viewers to keep an eye out for the actors’ transformations in the series, noting, “Every actor in Jeongnyeon The Star is Born has worked so hard that I’m sure viewers will be surprised to see a new side to them. You’ll also enjoy the way the national theater is depicted, along with the stage designs that beautifully recreate the era. The styling of the characters is another element that brings the story to life.“
Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born is set to captivate viewers when it premieres on October 12 at 9:20 PM.
