Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born, featuring talented actors like Kim Tae-ri, Shin Ye-eun, Moon So-ri, and Ra Mi-ran, debuted with its initial episodes on October 3, 2024, on tvN. The drama, set in the 1950s, centers around Yoon Jeong-nyeon, portrayed by Kim Tae-ri, a young girl who aspires to achieve fame and fortune through her singing talent, much to the dismay of her mother, Seo Yong-rye, played by Moon So-ri.
Yoon Jeong-nyeon assists her mother in selling clams and fish in Mokpo to support their household. After attending a theater performance directed by Kang So-bok (Ra Mi-ran), she resolves to pursue her singing dreams. Jeong-nyeon leaves Mokpo for Seoul to join the Maeran All Female Theater Troupe, aspiring to become a theater artist. In the second episode of Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born, she successfully passes the audition but is assigned the role of an understudy trainee.
Highlighting Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born — Yoon Jeong-nyeon’s Journey Begins with Moon Ok-gyeong
The first episode of Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born opens in 1931 in Gyeongseong, where a young girl named Choi Geong-seon (Lee Ga-eun) and her father are seen outside a house during a snowy evening. Her father requests that the noblewoman, Im Jin (Kang Ji-eun), allow them to stay for a few nights.
Im Jin graciously agrees and asks Choi Geong-seon if she would like to go to school. Instead, she shares her passion for learning Pansori, an expressive storytelling form through music and dance, and sings a traditional folk song that captivates the noblewoman.
The narrative then transitions to Mokpo in 1951, where Yoon Jeong-nyeon is gathered with other women, harvesting clams while singing a folk tune. Seo Yong-rye arrives to take her daughter away, urging her to refrain from drawing attention with her singing.
Later, while Yoon Jeong-nyeon and her sister, Yoon Jeong-ja (Oh Gyeong-hwa), are at the market selling fish and clams, Yoon Jeong-nyeon defies her mother’s warning and sings for a large crowd. She insists she will sing more, only if they buy her fish and clams.
Moon Ok-gyeong (Jung Eun-Chae), a renowned actress known for her roles in male characters within Maeran All Female Theater productions, happens to be present at the market. She expresses her willingness to purchase, prompting Yoon Jeong-nyeon to perform another song. Following this, Moon Ok-gyeong presents her with two tickets to her performance in Mokpo.
Once home, Yoon Jeong-nyeon’s mother learns about her singing at the market and, in a fit of rage, punishes her. Yoon Jeong-nyeon promises to stop singing. That night, Seo Yong-rye is seen holding a photo of her teenage self alongside Kang So-bok, adding an element of intrigue.
The subsequent day, after witnessing Moon Ok-gyeong’s theatrical performance, Yoon Jeong-nyeon visits the boarding house where the theater troupe is based. She is inspired by their art and yearns to delve deeper into Gukgeuk (dramatics).
Moon Ok-gyeong encourages her to train for the Maeran All Female Theater Troupe entrance exam, and despite her apprehensions about her mother, Yoon Jeong-nyeon begins her training.
A few days into her training, Seo Yong-rye discovers Yoon Jeong-nyeon’s commitment to Gukgeuk and retaliates angrily, warning that her pursuits of Pansori and Gukgeuk are futile. However, Yoon Jeong-nyeon is intent on succeeding and improving their family’s financial situation. In a fit of anger, Seo Yong-rye confines her to the house.
By the conclusion of Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born episode 1, Moon Ok-gyeong informs Yoon Jeong-ja that the sisters must escape soon, as the entrance exam is scheduled for the following morning. With her sister’s assistance, Yoon Jeong-nyeon successfully runs away to Seoul with Moon Ok-gyeong. At the Maeran Theater Troupe, she gains attention for being scouted by the celebrated Moon Ok-gyeong, who plays the male lead in Jamyunggo.
In episode 2 of Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born, despite facing a shoulder injury, Yoon Jeong-nyeon excels in her dancing, singing, and acting evaluations but is designated as an unofficial understudy trainee. There, she meets the talented Heo Young-seo (Shin Ye-eun), a performer who is also the daughter of a well-known soprano singer.
Yoon Jeong-nyeon seeks to befriend Heo Young-seo during their first class, where their instructor, Kang So-bok, pairs them for a duet. However, Heo Young-seo has preconceived notions about Yoon Jeong-nyeon and underestimates her since she comes from a humble background. Unbeknownst to them both, Heo Young-seo becomes her roommate afterward.
As the episode progresses, Yoon Jeong-nyeon faces contempt from her peers who assume she is favored due to her connection with Moon Ok-gyeong. One of the trainees challenges her to procure an audition script for Jamyunggo to validate her position; failing this task would mean her departure from the troupe.
Yoon Jeong-nyeon acquires the unofficial script of Chunhyangjeon, as the officer at Maeran agrees to provide her with the formal Jamyunggo script if she earns a spot on stage for the practice play.
Although others in the troupe are reluctant to cast her, Heo Young-seo surprisingly assigns Yoon Jeong-nyeon a pivotal role in Bangja, despite the others’ disdain. The next day, Yoon Jeong-nyeon struggles with her lines, while Heo Young-seo steps in to help her grasp the character effectively.
When Yoon Jeong-nyeon approaches Heo Young-seo to express her gratitude, doubts about her talent arise as she realizes the role of Bangja may be too advanced for her skill set. She discovers that Heo Young-seo had intentionally chosen a challenging role for her to ensure her struggle. By the end of episode 2, Yoon Jeong-nyeon is summoned by Moon Ok-gyeong at her residence.
Accompanied by fellow trainee Hong Joo-ran (Woo Da-vi), Yoon Jeong-nyeon seeks advice from Moon Ok-gyeong about portraying a male character convincingly. Moon Ok-gyeong emphasizes that it’s more about understanding and interpreting the role for the audience. She provides Yoon Jeong-nyeon with an essential resource, the official script of Jamyunggo, recognizing her potential and acknowledging her as both a future rival and successor.
Will Yoon Jeong-nyeon embrace this opportunity by accepting the script? The anticipation builds for what lies ahead in Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born.
Catch Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born every Saturday and Sunday on tvN and Disney+.
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