Director Jeong Ji-in on 'Jeongnyeon-i': Kim Tae-ri as the Driving Force, and a Desire to Keep Shin Ye-eun Close

The tvN drama 'Jeongnyeon-i' has concluded its run, achieving a remarkable milestone by ranking ninth in the network's history for viewership ratings. While the series' ending, which diverged from the original webtoon, sparked mixed reactions, the performances of the cast were universally praised.

'Jeongnyeon-i' (directed by Jeong Ji-in, written by Choi Hyo-bi, produced by Studio Dragon, Studio N, Management MMM, and NP Entertainment) tells the story of Jeongnyeon, a 'natural-born sound genius,' who strives to become the top actress in the world of women's gukgeuk (traditional Korean opera) in the aftermath of the Korean War in the 1950s. The show explores themes of competition, solidarity, and personal growth.

The unique subject of 'women's gukgeuk' was brought to life by the cast, with Kim Tae-ri receiving accolades for her performance, while Shin Ye-eun delivered a portrayal that surpassed her previous work in Netflix's 'The Glory.' Jung Eun-chae found her defining role as Ok-gyeong, and Kim Yoon-hye as Seo Hye-rang and Woo Da-bi as Hong Joo-ran also made strong impressions.

The narrative follows the protagonist, Yoon Jeongnyeon, as she joins the prestigious Maeran troupe and embarks on her journey to become the best gukgeuk actress, navigating competition and camaraderie along the way. The portrayal of women's dreams during that era resonated deeply with viewers, evoking empathy, nostalgia, and inspiration.

However, some fans expressed disappointment over the series' ending, which differed from the webtoon. In the original, many characters prioritize their dreams, conveying hope for women, but the finale saw Hong Joo-ran and Young-seo (played by Min Kyung-ah) choosing marriage, leaving some viewers puzzled. This led to criticisms among original fans who felt the female narrative was compromised.

In a written interview with OSEN, director Jeong Ji-in addressed these concerns, stating, "We had to consider viewers who hadn't read the original, so we had many discussions. Ultimately, I believe we focused on the characters and the actors to convey the story. The character of Bu-yong had a strong identity as a fan, queer, and independent woman in the original, but instead of confining it to one character, we aimed to reflect it throughout the drama in collaboration with the writer and actors."

Here are some highlights from the interview with director Jeong Ji-in:

- What are your thoughts on the success of 'Jeongnyeon-i' and the most memorable viewer reactions?

I am incredibly happy that the hard work of the cast and crew has been met with such love. I am especially grateful to the viewers who supported and cherished 'Jeongnyeon-i.' One of the most memorable reactions was the audience's comments about gukgeuk, with some asking if it was okay to pay to watch something like this at home. I truly appreciate that.

- What was your main focus in directing 'Jeongnyeon-i'?

I was most concerned about how to introduce the unfamiliar genre of women's gukgeuk to modern viewers. I wanted to create an experience that allowed our audience to feel the same joy and escape that audiences of the past experienced. I aimed to evoke the excitement and anticipation of entering an amusement park when the curtain rises. From the beginning, I worked with the cast and crew to find ways for both the audience in the drama and the viewers at home to share that feeling.

Given the unique subject matter, I made efforts to ensure that the story and characters had universal appeal. We also put significant effort into casting to ensure that the vibrant characters from the original would resonate with viewers. Thankfully, with talented and passionate actors like Kim Tae-ri joining us, we were able to complete this challenging project successfully.

- What scene did you put the most effort into filming, and what was the behind-the-scenes process?

The gukgeuk scenes were where everyone—cast and crew—put in their utmost effort. Typically, we filmed two to four times a week, while the rest of the days were spent rehearsing and preparing for the gukgeuk scenes.

We conducted camera and dress rehearsals a day before the actual filming. This allowed us to confirm the actors' movements, camera and equipment placements, lighting setups, and costume and makeup arrangements, ensuring we were well-prepared for the main shoot. The filming was divided into stage-focused shots, audience-inclusive shots, and CG audience source shots, usually taking about a week to ten days for each production.

The scene I focused on the most outside of the gukgeuk was the ending of episode 10, where Yong-rye sings 'Chuwolmanjeong' for the first time. We found the perfect location just before filming, and I calculated the sunrise and tide times months in advance, resulting in two separate filming sessions. It was my first experience preparing for a single scene for such an extended period. Thanks to the excellent emotional performances of the two actors, we were able to create a truly memorable moment.

- The performances of actors like Kim Tae-ri, Shin Ye-eun, Ra Mi-ran, Jung Eun-chae, and Kim Yoon-hye have been a hot topic throughout the airing.

Kim Tae-ri's passion and dedication were a significant driving force behind our project. During challenging moments, I found strength in thinking about Jeongnyeon. Shin Ye-eun also provided many surprising moments during filming. While I would jokingly tell her to return to Young-seo when she was being playful, I secretly wished I could keep her in my pocket and take her home. Ra Mi-ran embodied a gentle charisma, transforming from a cheerful high school girl with the troupe to a focused performer during filming, which captivated me multiple times. Jung Eun-chae and Kim Yoon-hye will be remembered as the prince and princess of Maeran. I felt a deep sadness when filming the final scene of Ondal and Pyeonggang, realizing that their last performance together was coming to an end. It brought tears to my eyes, thinking about how rare it is to see such a combination of actors again. I feel honored to have worked with all of them and everyone else involved.

- How would you like viewers to remember 'Jeongnyeon-i'?

If viewers happen to hear a note or a line from the show and think, 'Oh, I’ve heard this somewhere before; it’s from Jeongnyeon-i,' I would consider that enough.

- Regarding the decision to remove the character of Bu-yong and how you filled the narrative gaps:

The discussions about Bu-yong began even before I joined the project. By the time I came on board, a decision was imminent. I had many discussions with writer Choi Hyo-bi and the original author about how to focus the story within the 12 episodes. We had to consider viewers who hadn’t read the original, so we had extensive discussions. Ultimately, I believe we focused on the characters and the actors to convey the story. The character of Bu-yong had a strong identity as a fan, queer, and independent woman in the original, but instead of confining it to one character, we aimed to reflect it throughout the drama in collaboration with the writer and actors.

As our cast and crew became deeply immersed in the charm of gukgeuk and sound, I hoped that energy would resonate with the audience. I believe the diverse female characters and their relationships also contributed to the show's popularity among viewers.

- What are your thoughts on witnessing the actors' performances and singing up close, and what are you grateful for?

From the very first actor to join, Kim Tae-ri, to the special appearances by Moon So-ri and all the other actors, everyone approached this project with a strong sense of responsibility. There was a collective desire for this female-led drama to achieve widespread success. It was a challenging endeavor, but everyone worked together with a shared purpose. I believe this was a unique collaborative performance that we may never see again, and I want to give a big round of applause to everyone involved. Thanks to all of them, we were able to create a wonderful piece of work. I hope to meet them again in another great project in the future.