The Life of Lee Ok-cheon, the Real Inspiration Behind 'Jeongnyeon-i'

The life of Lee Ok-cheon, the real-life figure behind the drama 'Jeongnyeon-i' (정년이), was revealed in a recent episode of MBN's 'Special Report World' (특종세상) aired on December 19, 2024. Lee shared that he has followed a path similar to the main character of the drama for nearly 60 years. He recounted how his father reacted with alarm when he expressed his desire to learn traditional music, fearing it would lead him down an undesirable path. 'When I said I wanted to learn, my father thought it was a disaster and fought with my mother, saying, 'Are you trying to make him a gisaeng? Why traditional music?' But my father listened to me, and I persisted,' he explained.

Lee was particularly inspired by a performance from Im Chun-aeng, stating, 'I was captivated by the theater. I thought, 'When I grow up, I want to be a cool man like that,' and I studied hard.' He recalled performing 'Bangja Jeon' at an arts festival, where middle school students admired him, calling him 'sister' whenever he was at school.

Having taken on roles such as Lee Do-ryeong, Yun Dong-ju, and Ahn Jung-geun, Lee Ok-cheon has emerged as a star in the realm of women's national theater (여성국극). He affirmed, 'I am indeed the real-life figure behind 'Jeongnyeon-i.' I started as Bangja, then became Lee Do-ryeong, and eventually a prince.'

At 78 years old, Lee's unmarried status surprised many. However, he clarified, 'I have been married twice,' which raised eyebrows. It turned out that these marriages were within the context of his performances. He explained, 'One was in pansori, and the other in women's national theater. Being so masculine, I couldn't fulfill the duties of a wife, so I have no regrets.'

Despite the ups and downs of women's national theater, Lee remained steadfast. He noted, 'No matter how much I loved it, it had to be profitable. When it wasn't, many actors chose different careers. But I loved it, so I decided to keep going and never gave up.'

With the success of 'Jeongnyeon-i,' interest in women's national theater has surged. Lee expressed hope for the future, saying, 'There are talented young kids who excel. If we nurture these gifted children, it could strengthen our women's national theater community, as we don't have many actors.'