Kim Tae-ri joins a women's performing troupe in Jung-nyun

7 August 13, 2023August 12, 2023

Kim Tae-ri joins a women’s performing troupe in Jung-nyun

by Jenzy

Clockwise: Kim Tae-ri, Shin Ye-eun, Moon Sori, Ra Mi-ran

Production on period drama Jung-nyun is in full swing, and they’ve found their titular character in Kim Tae-ri (Revenant) and main cast in Shin Ye-eun (The Secret Romantic Guesthouse), Ra Mi-ran (Cold Blooded Intern), and Moon So-ri (Race).

Based on the webtoon of the same name, the story follows Jung-nyun, a young girl in 1950s postwar Korea, as she follows her dreams to join an all-female gukgeuk, or musical theater troupe. For those that don’t know what gukgeuks are (a.k.a., me before I did some googling), they’re dramatic performances where women would play both male and female roles (think: a gender-swapped Shakespeare), allowing them to band together, financially support themselves, and break into the male-dominated theatrical space. That is, before government interference in the 70s forced many of these performances to halt, wiping them from the cultural zeitgeist.

It’s in that brief pocket of Korean history when gukgeuk flourished that our story takes place. It all starts when a traveling troupe, led by Kang So-bok (Ra Mi-ran), visits Jung-nyun’s hometown. Inspired to become a performer herself, Jung-nyun stows away in the troupe’s train bound for Seoul and joins them as a trainee. But it’s not all spotlights and applause for Jung-nyun, especially when she has to compete with her rival, the multi-talented ace Heo Young-seo (Shin Ye-eun).

Rounding out the main cast, Moon So-ri plays Jung-nyun’s mother, a retired pansori singer and single mother who abandoned her dreams in favor of raising Jung-nyun. I just know many tears (mainly mine) will be shed at the portrayal of their mother-daughter relationship.

With all this girl power on the page, I’m interested to see how this drama will navigate its themes of girlhood, ambition, and female solidarity in this unique historic context. Written by Choi Hyo-bi (A Time Called You) and directed by Jung Ji-in (The Red Sleeve Cuff), Jung-nyun will air sometime next year.

Via Newsis

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1 Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️

August 13, 2023 at 6:51 PM

I liked the sound of this when it was first discussed a few months ago and the more I hear about it the more fascinating it sounds. What a shame these groups got wiped out without the cause of their existence being addressed.

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2 indyfan

August 13, 2023 at 7:36 PM

I am familiar with all-male troupes because of prohibitions around women performing, but all-female, not so much. I’m sure they’ll address the systemic issues within which the personal story is embedded.

KTR sure picks interesting projects.

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3 Kurama

August 14, 2023 at 12:25 AM

Moon So-Ri will play Kim Tae-Ri's mother... She's not that old though.

I like the plot and the casting!

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4 Dorotka

August 14, 2023 at 12:51 AM

That's a powerful casting!
The plot sounds interesting (and I will have some tissues ready).

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5 john

August 14, 2023 at 7:34 AM

Based on a webtoon .

Just how close do networks follow webtoons original content ?

Webtooners don’t typically have K drama endings* do they ?

* Head scratching fumbles of stories.

A wonderful cast, an interesting topic, let’s hope for the best !

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6 ladynightshade wants to be gazed at by namgoong min

August 14, 2023 at 7:24 PM

This sounds freaking incredible. That entire cast of women is like a dream come true for me. And an all-female acting troupe is fascinating; I’ve heard of all-male acting troupes across the world throughout history, but this is rare. Such a shame that forces of conformity and patriarchy wiped out so many of these independent communities of women.

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7 JillofAllTrades

August 17, 2023 at 12:14 PM

"That is, before government interference in the 70s forced many of these performances to halt, wiping them from the cultural zeitgeist. " this line broke my heart. Countries not respecting their cultural heritage is a sore point in my heart. I am however curious why this was done.

But I guess this was also the time of lack of political freedom and any performing art is watched by governments cautiously lest they show something which is a message which they do not want to be shown. But this might also be because suppressing women with voices or visibility is a good way to control.