Recently, I watched the Korean drama “Jeongnyeon” (정년이, Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born), based on a webtoon of the same name. It stars my favorite Korean actress, Kim Tae-ri (김태리) . Interestingly, when the webtoon author created the main character, they were inspired by Kim Tae-ri’s role as a maid, Nam Sook-hee, from the movie The Handmaiden. When Kim Tae-ri was cast for this drama, both the author and fans were excited, calling it a “dream casting.” This is also a work in which the director, screenwriter, and actors are all women.
The story is set in the 1950s and follows Yoon Jeongnyeon, a talented young girl from a fishing village in Mokpo. She discovers a unique form of Korean theater performed by women, which briefly flourished during that time. This inspires her to travel to Seoul alone to become a traditional theater performer.
Since the story revolves around Korean theater, the traditional art of Pansori (판소리) plays a key role. Pansori, designated as an Important Intangible Cultural Heritage of Korea in 1964 and recognized by UNESCO in 2003, combines singing and storytelling. The term “Pansori” comes from “Pan,” meaning stage or space, and “Sori,” meaning song or sound. Performances usually involve one singer and one drummer. The singer must perform multiple characters and mimic various sounds, blending emotions into their voice.
In Pansori, the highest level of vocal mastery is called “得音” , which refers to a hoarse, sorrowful voice filled with depth and emotion. This type of sound captures feelings of “grief” and “longing.” A bright, flawless voice is not enough for Pansori—what matters is a rich, low tone with flexibility. Achieving “Deuk-eum” takes years of rigorous training, as singers often push their voices to the limit.
What makes “Jeongnyeon” special is that all the cast members playing traditional theater performers, including Kim Tae-ri, spent 1–3 years learning Pansori. They sing every scene themselves without relying on voice doubles. Kim Tae-ri said their goal wasn’t just to “look like they were performing” but to truly embody the art.
The actors’ singing teacher, Kwon Song-hee（The woman sitting on the right and singing in the music video）, is a member of the band Leenalchi, which contributed to the soundtrack of Jeongnyeon. Leenalchi is a unique group that blends Pansori with modern music styles, featuring both Pansori singers and renowned instrumentalists. Their reinterpretation of traditional storytelling through contemporary elements has captivated audiences. Check out their song Bird, the ending theme they composed for Jeongnyeon!
This drama can be watched on Disney+ outside of Korea.
More about the band Leenalchi (Traditional Chinese)
https://www.kkbox.com/tw/tc/column/showbiz-0-9599-1.html
