Jeongnyeon: Recap of The Star Is Born Episodes 3 & 4 – Heo Young-seo Discovers Yoon Jeong-nyeon Violating Troupe Rules by Singing at a Cafe

In the third episode of Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born, Yoon Jeong-nyeon (played by Kim Tae-ri) turns down Moon Ok-gyeong’s (Jung Eun-Chae) proposition to take the official script for Jamyunggo.

On her way back to the dormitory with Hong Joo-ran (Woo Da-vi), Yoon Jeong-nyeon encounters a traditional street dancer, which sparks her inspiration to portray the character of Bangja on stage. Her performance as Bangja exceeds the expectations of both her fellow trainees and Moon Ok-gyeong, drawing enthusiastic applause from the audience.

In the latest episodes of Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born, Yoon Jeong-nyeon takes a job as a waitress at a café where she also shares her singing talent. During one of her shifts, Heo Young-seo (Shin Ye-eun) visits the café and witnesses Yoon Jeong-nyeon’s performance. Notably, she aims to make a living showcasing her abilities, even while facing recent challenges with the Maeran All-Female Theater Troupe, from which she was expelled for violating their rules.

Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born: Yoon Jeong-nyeon’s Pursuit of Her Dreams Amidst Family Pressure

In this episode, Yoon Jeong-nyeon discovers that Hong Joo-ran is working at the café to support her sister’s treatment for tuberculosis. When Hong Joo-ran injures herself during a sword-fighting practice, Yoon Jeong-nyeon decides to take over her shifts at the café.

The café owner learns from a patron about Yoon Jeong-nyeon’s affiliation with the Maeran All-Female Theater Troupe. In need of a performer, she persuades Yoon Jeong-nyeon to sing, but Jeong-nyeon refuses due to the troupe’s regulations. However, the café owner threatens to dismiss both Yoon Jeong-nyeon and Hong Joo-ran, putting her in a difficult position.

Previously, Yoon Jeong-nyeon impressed an audience with her singing, attracting the attention of television producer Park Jong-guk (Kim Tae-hoon), who handed her his business card encouraging her to reach out if she considered a career in television.

As Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born episode 4 unfolds, Seo Yong-rye (Moon So-ri) seeks out Yoon Jeong-nyeon to bring her back to Mokpo, where she encounters Kang So-bok (Ra Mi-ran).

Kang So-bok refers to Seo Yong-rye as Gong-seon, revealing Seo’s past as Choi Gong-seon, a well-known pansori singer, who spent her youth with Kang So-bok. Seo Yong-rye attempts to take Yoon Jeong-nyeon home, but she stands her ground against her mother’s wishes. Kang So-bok protects Yoon Jeong-nyeon by stating that she is part of the troupe and can only leave if she wishes to—which she firmly asserts.

Seo Yong-rye is determined to prevent Yoon Jeong-nyeon from pursuing a career as a guk-geuk actress, fearing her daughter might experience the same failures she faced as a pansori singer. However, when she hears her daughter’s singing, she recognizes shades of her own youth in Yoon Jeong-nyeon. Despite this connection, Seo Yong-rye makes it clear that she will no longer see Yoon Jeong-nyeon as her daughter if she continues to follow her dreams. Yoon Jeong-nyeon watches her mother leave, resolute in her ambition.

Later in the episode, Heo Young-seo visits the café to spend time with her renowned soprano sister, Heo Young-in, and unwittingly witnesses Yoon Jeong-nyeon’s performance. Disturbed, she leaves immediately. Back at the dormitory, Kang So-bok confronts Yoon Jeong-nyeon, accusing her of exploiting Maeran’s reputation for personal gain. To protect Hong Joo-ran, Yoon Jeong-nyeon doesn’t disclose the true motivators behind her decisions.

After dining at a local stall and finding herself unable to pay due to a theft, Yoon Jeong-nyeon faces police detention over the incident. She attempts to seek help from the Maeran office but receives no response. Remembering Park Jong-guk’s offer, she calls on him for assistance.

Eventually, after meeting with Park Jong-guk, Yoon Jeong-nyeon opts to pursue a singing career and venture onto television, as returning to Maeran or her home in Mokpo is not an option. Park Jong-guk then connects her with Patricia Kim (Lee Mi-do) for training as a pop singer. Yoon Jeong-nyeon signs a contract but struggles to comprehend its complex legal language.

Park Jong-guk takes Yoon Jeong-nyeon to Heo Young-in’s recital, where she encounters familiar faces from the Maeran All-Female Theater Troupe, including Moon Ok-gyeong, Kang So-bok, and Heo Young-seo. Kang So-bok, however, appears to turn a cold shoulder to Yoon Jeong-nyeon.

In this unfolding drama, Moon Ok-gyeong supports Yoon Jeong-nyeon’s choices but also longs for her continued pursuit of guk-geuk. Meanwhile, Heo Young-seo attempts to clarify a misunderstanding regarding her supposed betrayal but is cut short. Yoon Jeong-nyeon already knows there was no malice in Young-seo’s actions, given her nature of protecting secrets.

As episode 4 draws to a close, fatigued from wearing heels, Yoon Jeong-nyeon finds a quiet corner to rest. There, she overhears Heo Young-seo’s mother vocalizing her disappointment in Young-seo for not following in her sister’s footsteps and for choosing to pursue pansori and guk-geuk instead. Heo Young-seo realizes that her mother’s embarrassment about her dreams weighs heavily on their relationship. When she asks for support, her mother dismisses her outright.

Frustrated, Heo Young-seo takes her anger out on Yoon Jeong-nyeon. Exhausted, Yoon Jeong-nyeon attempts to excuse herself, only to be slapped by Young-seo. In a moment of defiance, Yoon Jeong-nyeon retaliates and asserts that she no longer has to tolerate disrespect, especially after leaving the troupe.

Stay tuned to Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born, airing every Saturday and Sunday on tvN and Disney+, to discover what happens next.

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