Organization Conflict and Queer Deletion 'Jeongnyeon' First broadcast today (12th), shall we call 'Kim Tae-ri Magic' again

Oct 12, 2024

Organization Conflict and Queer Deletion 'Jeongnyeon' First broadcast today (12th), shall we call 'Kim Tae-ri Magic' again



Amid much controversy, tvN's new Saturday-Sunday drama 'Jungnyeon' will finally be released today (12th). Attention is focusing on whether Kim Tae-ri's passionate performance of the "Star of Gukgeuk" will bring about another 'Kim Tae-ri Magic'.

'Jungnyeoni' is based on the Naver webtoon of the same name (writer Seo Yire/Namon), and is a drama that depicts the competition, solidarity, and brilliant growth of the 'natural sound genius' who challenges the best national drama actor after the Korean War in the 1950s. Director Jung Ji-in, who directed 'Women's Gukgeuk', drew attention with the fresh material of 'Women's Gukgeuk', grabbed a megaphone, and Kim Tae-ri (played by Yoon Jeong-nyeon), Shin Ye-eun (played by Heo Young-seo), Ra Mi-ran (played by Kang So-bok), Jung Eun-chae (Moon Ok-kyung), and Kim Yoon-hye (Seo Hye-rang), and solid actors such as Moon So-ri (played by Seo Yong-rye) and Lee Deok-hwa (played by Gongseon Boo) joined forces to attract expectations.

Among them, 'Jungnyeon' unveiled a still from the scene that depicts the decisive moment when the main character Yoon Jeong-nyeon (played by Kim Tae-ri) encounters Gukgeuk for the first time ahead of the first broadcast. Attention is focused on the prelude to the brilliant period of national drama star growth that 'Jungnyeoni' will write in the future.



In the still released, Young-soo and his sister Jeongja (played by Oh Kyung-hwa) came to see the performance of the most popular national theater company of the time, the Maeran National Theater Company. After discovering the Gukgeuk Theater in the middle of the bustling downtown of Mokpo, Young-soo Lee raises his hand with a bright smile and cannot hide his excitement. After the full-fledged performance began, Moon Ok-kyung, a male actor, and Seo Hye-rang, a female actor, catch the attention of viewers with their colorful visuals and desperate performances, of which the expression of retirement age, who cannot take his eyes off the stage for a moment, is overwhelming. Young-soo, who fell in love with the ecstasy unfolding in front of him, shows a fateful moment in love with Gukgeuk as if he forgot how to breathe.

On the other hand, in the first episode of 'Jeongnyeoni', Ko Min-yong, who was born with the talent of a singer but just makes a living by selling fish in a fishing village market, has a special relationship with Moon Ok-kyung, the star of 『Maeran Gukgeuk Company" who toured Mokpo, his hometown, and has a heartbreaking dream of becoming a Gukgeuk actor for the first time in his life. Among them, the retirement age will be in conflict with the mother Yong-rye, who opposes the path of a singer. As a result, attention is being paid to the first broadcast of tvN's new Saturday-Sunday drama 'Jungnyeon' to see how Lee's first step toward becoming a next-generation Gukgeuk star will be depicted.



Organization Conflict and Queer Deletion 'Jeongnyeon' First broadcast today (12th), shall we call 'Kim Tae-ri Magic' again
On the other hand, 'Jeongnyeon' faced many issues even before the start. First of all, MBC filed a provisional seizure application against Studio N, Management mmm, and NPO Entertainment, the producers of tvN drama 'Jungnyeoni'.

Previously, 'Jungnyeoni' was known to be broadcast on MBC, but earlier this year, tvN's programming was confirmed. Producer Jeong Ji-in, who was a member of MBC, was planning and developing 'Jungnyeon' with MBC, and there were constant rumors that MBC would continue the lawsuit. A month before the broadcast, this conflict was once again revealed to the surface.



'Jungnyeoni' is a masterpiece with a production cost of 2 billion won per episode, and it is known that there was a disagreement with MBC. As a result, production companies joined hands with CJ ENM-affiliated Studio Dragon, and the organization was changed. In addition, the problem arose further as PD Jeong Ji-in left MBC at the same time as the organization of 'Jeongnyeon'.

In response, director Jeong Ji-in "I know there are problems that have not been sorted out, but I am not exactly aware of the details. Since there are legal issues. First of all, I think it's quite fortunate that the broadcast can go out well, and I think I thought of the work first. I don't know what to do with this work. I decided to leave the company with the idea of communicating with the actors and making good works with them, and I'm glad that I was able to broadcast it safely" made a statement.

Organization Conflict and Queer Deletion 'Jeongnyeon' First broadcast today (12th), shall we call 'Kim Tae-ri Magic' again
Also controversial among viewers was the removal of the Buyong character, one of the main characters with the retirement age and 'queer code'. Director Jung Ji-in said "I know that I had concerns about Boo-yong's character even before I came in. In the process of consulting with the original author, I, the writer, and I had to delete the main character in order to understand how to focus on the 12-episode episode and to make viewers who have not seen the original work understand. Instead, I think the story was told so that it could be focused on the Maeran Guk Theater Company and the actors who starred in it.

Then "Buyong's symbolism was great in the original. There was the identity of the fan, the identity of the queer code, and the subjectivity to move forward as a subjective woman, but rather than being included in any one character, there are parts that can be shown in our drama as a whole by consulting with the writer and consulting with actors on the spot. You'll find out if you watch the drama," he added.



olzllovely@sportschosun.com