Set in the 1950s, Jeongnyeon The Star is Born offers a glimpse into the vibrant world of gugak, a traditional Korean musical form.
The series follows the inspiring journey of Yoon Jeong-nyeon, a young woman with an extraordinary talent for singing. Born into a humble family in Mokpo, Jeongnyeon dreams of escaping her small-town life and pursuing her passion for music. With unwavering determination and a natural gift for singing, she sets out for Seoul to chase her dream of becoming a renowned gugak actress.
The drama is based on a popular Naver webtoon of the same name, written by Seo I-re and illustrated by Namon. From the moment the production was announced, the attracted significant attention for its unique focus on women’s gugak, specifically a branch known as changgeuk, which gained immense popularity in the 1950s during the Korean War, with all roles performed by women. The story follows Jeongnyeon’s journey as she overcomes various challenges to become a star in a gugak troupe.
Notably, Jeongnyeon The Star is Born boasts an impressive lineup, with director Jung Ji-in, who won the “PD of the Year” award at the 34th Korea PD Awards for The Red Sleeve, and a cast that includes Kim Tae Ri as Yoon Jeong-nyeon, Shin Ye Eun as Heo Young-seo, Ra Mi Ran as Kang So-bok, Jung Eun Chae as Moon Ok-kyung, and Kim Yoon Hye as Seo Hye-rang. Special appearances by Moon So-ri as Seo Yong-rye and Lee Deok-hwa as Gong Seon-bu add to the star-studded ensemble, making this a “dream lineup” that has generated considerable buzz.
Among the cast, Kim Tae Ri’s portrayal of the title character, Yoon Jung-nyeon, has particularly heightened expectations. Yoon Jeong-nyeon is a naturally gifted singer who leaves her hometown to pursue her dream of becoming a national theater actress in Seoul. Jeong-nyeon possesses all the qualities of a great singer, including a natural tone, rich vocal volume, a wide range, and the ability to convey deep emotions. She is also characterized by her strong will, tenacious spirit, and friendly demeanor, which makes her endearing and relatable to everyone she meets.
In newly released stills, Kim Tae Ri is shown selling fish in a Mokpo fishing village, dressed in a plain hanbok jacket with short hair, exuding a strong presence as the leader of the alley. Her transformation into the character is evident. In other stills, she is seen sitting in the audience of a national drama, her eyes sparkling with fascination as she is completely absorbed in the performance, capturing the hearts of viewers. Another image shows her practicing dance under the blue sky, where her awkward yet captivating charm is on full display, highlighting her potential as a rising star.
The original creators of Jeongnyeon The Star is Born, Seo I-re and Namon, have expressed their strong confidence in Kim Tae-ri’s portrayal of Yoon Jeong-nyeon. Upon learning the actress whom they consider the muse of the original work, had confirmed her role, they remarked, “We couldn’t believe it. It still feels unreal.” Director Jung Ji-in also praised Kim Tae-ri’s performance, noting that while Yoon Jung-nyeon is a character who deviates slightly from traditional gukgeuk, Kim Tae-ri brings a unique charm to the role. He added, “She acted exceptionally well. It felt like I was witnessing an artist from beyond the horizon,” further cementing Kim Tae-ri’s reputation as a “trustworthy and watchable actress.”
Jeongnyeon The Star is Born, which aims to revive the golden age of “women’s gugak,” is set to premiere on tvN on Saturday, October 12, at 9:20 p.m.
