Jung Nyeon (2024)

A Masterpiece in many ways but had missed opportunities

“The path of an artist doesn’t always involve glory.” –The Host
“My voice is my earth and sky! It’s my everything.” – Yoon Jeongnyeon
“You have to take full responsibility for your choice, even if you regret it later.” – Moon Okgyeong
“I’m not here because I wanted to see you off. I had to see you leave with my own eyes to forget you completely.” – Yoon Jeongnyeon

I came in watching this drama knowing absolutely nothing and right away was hooked. The characters, music, production and design was breathtaking and every episode I felt like I was part of a live audience, watching the traditional Korean opera. This did feel like it should have been at least 16 episodes, towards the end the story felt rather rush and I couldn't feel the passion anymore. The ending itself left me wondering if that was really it and what did I just spend the past few days binge watching if this was gonna be the ending, which is why I cannot give this story 10 out of 10.

Story: This is one of the things that drew me in, the story of some country girl going to the big city with nothing but her voice and then we realize she's a very talented actress at that. Her stubborn yet bright personality along with Moon Okgyeong who is known as The Prince of traditional Korean Opera but have become bored with her position until she stumbles upon Yoon Jeongnyeon. I was also interested about an all female troupe during the 1950s, the society pressure that comes with it and how they were going to overcome it. Overall it was good, especially since we were given different performances to judge how much the characters have grown but what ruined the perfect score, once more, is how rush it got towards the end, leaving a rather unsatisfying feeling and I am not too happy with just how much they deviated from the Webtoon.I also wish we had more backstory about Jeongnyeon's family, they gave hints but sometimes it got confusing and overall it left me frustrated that there wasn't more.

Characters and Acting: This is one of the parts that made this drama a masterpiece in my opinion and this might be my longest part;
Kim Tae-Ri did such a phenomenal job playing our loveable 'prince' Yoon Jeongnyeon, everything from the micro expressions like lips trembling slightly, to those bright eyes that could easily turn sorrowful, slipping into different characters while still maintaining the essence of its YJN acting not Kim Tae-Ri and the singing, I truly hopes she wins the equivalent of a Grammy or Oscar in Korea for this role.
Jung Eun Chae who plays the role of Moon Okgyeong, our tragic 'Prince' thats bored of being on the top and comes back to life after meeting YJN deserves another award, I literally kept forgetting that she was a female and would only snap out of it when they'd refer to her character with female pronounces, I thought her portrayal of the tragic genius who seem weighted down by the role was perfect and honestly Moon Okgyeong became my favorite character even though she felt like a mystery to me even at the end.
Kim Yoon Hye played Seo Hye Rang, the 'Princess' of traditional Korean Opera and one who can't let go of her crown no matter what. I love the chemistry with Okgyeong and while I wanted to hate her character, all I could feel was pity. Her voice was beautiful to listen to.
Ra Mi-Ran played the director of the troupe, Kang So Bok who felt like a firm mother trying to handle all those girls, and while she could come off as rather strict, we also got to see what she was willing to sacrifice for her girls. This is my other favorite character.
Woo Da Vi played Hong Ju Ran who from the beginning was one of my least favorite character because she always felt wishy-washy. I think Da Vi did an amazing job portraying such a complex character that is weak yet strong in her own way, I just wish more had been done with this character.
Shin Ye Eun did an amazing job playing Yoon Jeongnyeon's rival, Heo Yeong-Seo who comes from a famous opera singer mother and sister, which leaves her feeling inferior even though she's actually quite talented. I thought her acting was really good but I can't say its one of my favorites, sometimes I wish she would put more emotions or expression instead of the open mouth, wide eyes that she'd do. I just wasn't able to get fully into this character but she's very talented singing.
My other favorite character was Park Cho Rok played by Hyung Seung Hee, at the beginning she was one of those characters that I would roll my eyes at and grumble over but I adore her character development and the singing was absolutely beautiful, I wish she would have gotten more spotlight, its another reason the ending felt so rush.

Music and Cinematography: I love the music in this drama and how everyone interpreted the same song in a different way, even how certain characters portrayed the same exact song in numerous way according to the emotion needed for the scene, it felt like I was watching it live and left me crying many times, I am looking forward to more traditional Korean Opera. Overall the scenery, costume designs, audio and stage was beautiful but there were some times that the lights felt too sharp and the make up a bit too heavy (especially the last episode where at one point Kim Tae-Ri looked like she had a double chin and bloated face due to the make up, but then it cuts, same scene, and her face looks really feminine.)

There was a lot of hint of girl-love, especially between Moon Okgyeong and Seo Hye Rang who honestly seemed like an old married couple, a kid and big house included but its so subtle that one might think they are imagining it, the other GL hints was with Juran x YJN, Juran x Heo Yeong-Seo, YJN x Chorok, YJN x Okgyeong, YJN x Heo Yeong-Seo, the webtoon is supposed to be GL and this is where the drama drop the ball, even deleting two very important characters from the webtoon, one was Yoon Jeongnyeon's love interest named Bu-yong and the other was Mr.Go who is a women that dresses like a men and is frustrated by the patriarchal and gender discrimination, she ends up teaching YJN the nuance of how to perform male roles, I suppose the closest we got to that character was Moon Okgyeong. The ending of the drama was also a massive letdown, it felt abrupt and like they just ran out of time. Many things felt unfinished, like the story of YJN mother.

Overall I'd give it an 8.5, I'll probably re-watch it in a few years for the beautiful music and amazing acting.

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STAR is not born, but MADE by connections, NEPOTISM

Cutting lead character from Original Web toon
Bu-yong is cut from drama adoption
Her character was cut just to suppress LGBTQ represtation
Devloped nation with undeveloped society.




FL is ungrateful
Ill mannered
Arrogant because she can seduce another crossdressing Woman
and FL is shameless for denying she doesnt come because of connection when she knows she has become a sugar baby
FL is Sugar baby of Moon Ok Gyeong

everything those people say about her is true but then she is FL so
people who question Nepotism are evil idiots
people who question promoting someone by Connection then talent are evil people in this garbage show

i don't see any skill in FL in acting like person who can sing can act to ?
Just like all OLD idols forcing themselves to become actors 🙏🙏
she got in the troupe by her connection through Moon Ok Gyeong but shamelessly denies it
FL is person with NO Morals or respect for others
And is encouraged by her rich sugar Mama


doesn't have any respect toward her seniors or teacher
but she will get private teachinh from Moon Ok Gyeong.

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Kim Tae Ri deserves a Daesang Grand Prize this year for her performance on this drama

Just finished watching this drama. All the actors are superb and show amazing acting skills. They also took on the painstaking task of learning Gukguek and pansori. I also learnt a lot of history from this drama. The script was so well written, every phrase, every line that is spoken shows so much emotional depth and character. I love how Jung Eun Chae portray the role of Ok-gyeong with such gusto and style. She is so handsome as a guy and I believe many girls are smitten by her charm and acting. I like the character of Heo Yeong Seo. Although born rich, she is not a spoilt brat. She is a loyal friend, and willing to admit defeat when others are better than her. Lastly, I would like to give the highest applaud to Kim Tae Ri for her portrayal of Jeong Nyeong. She played the character so well, and is so immersed not only in her character, but the character she is portraying in the Gukguek. This was an extremely difficult character to play, and she did it flawlessly. I am speechless.

Overall fantastic drama!

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Best drama of 2024

This drama is surely going to sweep the awards. From acting, to set design to the music... everything is just top notch. The acting especially wow... Every one of the actors, including the extras showed out. I would say that this genre of dramas require the most of actors; the musical scenes where it is essentially a show within a show requires multi-layered performances that not anyone can pull off. And yet Kim Taeri, Shin Yeeeun and the rest of the cast have done it. Singing (with their REAL voices, might I add) dancing, and the commitment to learn the techniques of the traditional art form...I would be shocked if Kim Taeri does not get a Daesang for this. She absolutely deserves it.

This is one of the rare few dramas where I actually wanted MORE of. 12 eps is simply not enough to do tie up all the lose ends and it shows. The last episode was horribly rushed and left me with more questions than answers. I'm seeing calls for a season 2 but as much as I like this show, I'm not sure another is necessary. The ending, while less than desirable, does paint a historically accurate picture of Yeosong gukgeuk. Its popularity died down in the 1960s after the advent of film/tv. It seems like there was a revival after but it was short-lived (please correct if I'm wrong). Part of the reason was also due to the fact that it wasn't designated as a "National Intangible Culture Heritage" like pansori and changgeuk was, which probably led to the lack of funding and successors. I can't imagine what story a season 2 would tell. The overaching plot of the rise and fall of Yeosong gukgeuk has mostly been covered. The traditional 16 ep length would have been perfect though, and would have allowed more time for all the loose ends to be tied up.

This show is largely based on the webtoon of the same name, though with rather significant changes to the plot. I have not read the original webtoon, but a central character, Buyeong - Jeongnyeon's original love interest was removed. In the drama, it has been largely replaced by Jooran, though the GL elements have been toned down significantly. There is subtext hinting at their "more than friends" relationship but at the same time its not overt enough and there's still a degree of plausible deniability. To me, it also seems more like a one-sided love from Jooran. Jeongnyeon does not seem to reciprocate in a romantic way. The relationship between Okyeong and Hyerang is more overt with them literally pressing their foreheads together in ep 2(?) and in general being more touchy feely. However, if you're expecting more than that, you would be disappointed.

I was honestly thisss close to giving it a 10/10, but I really felt like the the last episode was a letdown. I'm personally NOT a fan of leaving unanswered questions, and did not like the fact that the director/scriptwriter decided to write out Okyeong and Jooran, giving them 0 scenes at the end while at the same time dropping the fact that Hyerang actually is a mother. The existence of her niece/daughter was inconsequential to the plot and was only brought up sporadically so I'm not sure what kind of point the director/scriptwriter was trying to highlight right at that last moment with this reveal. Whereas Jooran and Okyeong had huge parts to play in driving the plot forward but they basically drop off the face of the earth. Hell, even PATRICIA, Jeongnyeon's jazz singing teacher turned up to watch her, and Okygeong/Jooran didn't? I honestly couldn't fathom it. On a side note, I also didn't like how the whole Hyerang/accountant embezzling money plot was explained and wish they had gone down another route to explain Maeran's financial downfall instead.

With that being said, these are just somewhat minor grouses in the grand scheme of things. I haven't seen a drama so well thought out and beautifully acted in ages, and I would definitely recommend this to anyone who's interested in musicals, or learning more about traditional korean gukgeuk. and of course, fans of Kim Taeri should not miss this as well! On a side note, I do want to see Kim Taeri in another GL after the handmaiden, too bad they toned it down so much in this show...

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What "The Devil Judge" is to BLs, "Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born" is to GLs

My heart stopped so many times I might actually have to see a doctor. If you like it, you should read The Ballet Ships by Noel Streatfeild. It has a similar vibe. There is an old lesbian couple too. Although it is just a kids' book.


It's a beautiful, heartwarming and tearjerking story about women's friendship, love and rivalry. Watching this will make you want to scream at the characters, laugh and cry with them, cheer for them and wish them all the worst. It'll make your head feel dizzy, your heart skip a bit and your stomach clench.

Jeongnyeon is a perfect protagonist for that kind of story. Joyful, kind of naive but well-meaning, passionate and loving, always there for her friends and dramatic when the plot needs her to be. But damn, when she is acting like a boy, let me tell you, she could turn a straight woman into a lesbian for sure. She just has that perfect masc energy. Honestly, the best example of healthy masculinity I've seen in a drama in a very long time. When she was practicing with Jooran, when she held her chin up- my heart stopped. Like for real. Kim Taeri the woman you are.

No wonder Jooran panicked. Our poor closeted lesbian, forced into marriage with some guy. She truly deserved better. What do you mean they didn't kiss in the 11the episode? I'm sure as hell they did. Someone needs to go on ao3 and write fix-it when they meet after that last performance. Also, she looked so cute like that crybaby princess.

Yeongseo was just so good as rival turned friend. That scene when they hugged after Jeongnyeon won the audition? Lovely, just lovely. Her sister was amazing too. I'm glad our girl finally got to hear some nice words. Deserved.

Okay, when it comes to Okgeyong, I support women's rights and women's wrongs. I know she acted selfishly leaving like that, but hell it's always 'your mental health matters' until someone does stupid shit because they are depressed and suicidal. Her last performance, when she stopped acting before the dying scene, telling Hyerang all those things? And then dying, going away to that prince is going over song? Ohhh, I love some good symbolism.

The same could be told about Hyerang, but making Jeongneyon lose her voice was a step too much. Feminine women are often antagonized, so I was going to cut her sluck, not after that thought. It was sad seeing our lesbian marriage falling apart, like they had a kid together and everything, but there are so many girls like Hyerang, not ready to let go, possessive and manipulative. Crazy, really. As someone who was in a similar to Okgeyong situation (minus the kid obvi), I understand and support the decision to leave. It was for the best but maybe, just maybe, help your old coworkers, hmm, Okgeyong? How about that? [they totally uhauled]

What I really love about it is the music, but I don't know shit about music, so I can't say much about that besides it was good.

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Wasn't going to write a review but this was too good not to be talked about even for a little

If there was a rating more than ten I would give it. It was WHOLESOME, that's what we call a masterpiece, a hidden gem. It lives for its name. Even words can't describe the feelings we lived through while watching this show.
Great acting, great chemistry, great cast or rather ARTISTS, great producing, and great story. That's REAL art. Many don't like female centered dramas as they don't have the classic couple falling in love with each other and the repetitive events, even here they showcased this as the prince/princess story. The amount of life lessons this show gives is really amazing; family, friendship, camaraderie, fame, money, love (svt xD, don't mind me), pride, loyalty, confidence, perseverance, determination........ Whatever comes in the way there will always be a solution.
I know this isn't much but I don't have any words left.

"Life is long, thus the stage is forever"
"The stars have merely dispersed not disappeared, and they will shine on the vast night"
-YOON JEONGNYEON

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Did I watch a theatre play or a TV drama?

What a masterpiece. «Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born» («정년이») gave us an unforgettable finale, and Kim Taeri (김태리), Shin Yeeun (신예은), and Woo Davi (우다비) absolutely delivered. These three? My absolute favourites.

Here's why it stood out:

1. The editing? Flawless.
2. They filmed the theatre scenes as if it was a real performance. It didn’t just feel authentic—it _was_ authentic.
3. Every scene mattered. No fluff, no fillers. Just storytelling that hits hard.
4. They focused on what’s real: the relationships, the struggles, the rawness of being an actor, singer, or dancer. It wasn’t just about glitz and glamour. It was blood, sweat, and tears.

Now, about that finale. If you’re going to watch it, do it right. Big screen. Full volume. No distractions. It felt so much like a real theatre experience I caught myself clapping with the fictional audience, tearing up, and giving them a standing ovation.

Honestly, I don’t know if I just watched «Jeongnyeon» or an actual stage play. That’s how good it was.

100 over 10 stars to the cast, crew, writer, and everyone who brought this story to life. And a huge salute to every artist out there who pours their soul into their craft. You are seen. You are celebrated.

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A must watch with an open ending

Does this drama has its own shortcomings? Yes, definitely. The reason was it's broadcasting station.

However, this drama was something new, which is purely dominated by male leads, romance and lovestories. Jeongnyeon brought us women centric drama that comes to us once in a blue moon. This show was such a breath of fresh air.

Few of the main leads definitely had a very unsettling kinda ending and it was rushed like Juran, Hyerang and Okyeong's stories.

I was definitely wishing to see our prince, Okyeong for the last time but her appearance abruptly ended after episode 10 without a proper closure to her character.

If Hyerang had a short backstory as to why she is so obsessed with Okyeong and all maybe many of us wouldn't have had detested her like how we do right now. Her story lacked sympathy from the viewers cause we couldn't connect with her at all. With no proper reason, she was acting like b****.

Juran's story was cutoff as well. But at least she had a better ending than those 2. It was sad though, that her dreams was completely brushed off by her mother so her other child could survive, killing off the happiness of her other child.

Jeonyeon was such a character that you would feel for her. Kim Taeri did an amazing job by bringing the character from the page to a breathing, living person for us to connect with. Her dreams became our dreams, her passion became ours, her pain and sufferings became ours and her tears and happiness became ours. Even with her broken voice, her passion to become something never died. Her voice got taken away by someone's greed, but that severe jealousy couldn't take away one thing that made her who she was and that was her passion and courage.

Yeongseo was my favorite in this whole drama who never chose a path where she could have easily chosen just to be no. 1. She was always the right minded person, no matter she won or lost. It was always righteous choice and her hard work. Without JeongNyeon we know Yeongseo wouldn't have enjoyed gukgeuk as much as she did as the story progressed. She was only driven by her want to be seen by her mother, to be acknowledged by her star mother at least once in her life. That became her motivation to be a gukgeuk star. But once JeongNyeon appeared in her life, she started loving the stage, enjoyed the performance, put her everything into her acts and that's how she started appreciating her one and only rival, realizing her dream. Those two pushed each other to become better than yesterday and still will always make each other a better self for the future. That's what a real rivalry looks like, without any dirty tricks.

Ran Miran a veteran actress. No one can actually top her in this segment. Especially her outbreak when her students started to leave Maeran. She showed how broken the director was. Ran Miran portrayed this strict woman who held her students dearly as her pride, but would never stand any nonsense. With everything going on towards the end her only worry was what would her girls, the students would do if something happened to Maeran, where would they go. Ran Miran literally showed the director's dilemma of where to ask for help, being a helpless girl who was completely lost, who has no idea who to trust anymore, not knowing what to do when everything around her was crumbling down, the helplessness she felt when the most trusted people around her betrayed her and left her with nothing but just pile of debts.

Also how can we forget our new princess in the last act. When Park Chorok started singing. Damn that was too sad. It brought tears to my eyes. Her acting was sentimental, the shake in her voice...

All the actors involved in this drama gave their all and that was a perfect performance even with a lacking script.any of them deserve daesang this year for exceeding the expectation and their acting journey. Hope all the casts, directors and production team gets their deserved rest cause definitely preparing and going through the filming wouldn't have been an easy job.

It was such a nice, memorable ride. Another brilliant performance and an engaging script chosen by Kim Taeri.

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Breathtaking and affecting.

Kim Tae Ri as Yun Jeong Nyeon ate this role. In every scene she captured attention.
Her character was very flawed, arrogant, headstrong, prideful and joyous, and generous. Awestruck with her singing ability, she remained true to herself throughout.
Ultimately Jeong Nyeon was on a mission and her voice was her ticket to freedom from mediocrity and her determination was the candle she had fired up. At times it was painful to watch and I kept hoping someone would save her from her actions. There are others in this story and I felt that all of them let her down in their own way.

This was so unlike any other drama I had watched and this female lead was truly a hero, if only onstage. She starred in her own life production as the star.

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