Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born () is a 2024 South Korean television series written by Choi Hyo-bi, starring Kim Tae-ri, Shin Ye-eun, Ra Mi-ran, Jung Eun-chae, and Kim Yoon-hye. Based on a Naver webtoon of the same Korean title by Seo Ireh and Namon, it depicts the story of a girl born with a talent for singing in the 1950s. It aired on tvN every Saturday and Sunday at 21:20 (KST) from October 12 to November 17, 2024. The series is also available for streaming on Disney+ in selected regions.
Synopsis Immediately after the Korean War in the 1950s, Jeong-nyeon, a girl born with a talent for singing, entered the Yeoseong Gukgeuk troupe and grew up in it.
Cast Main Kim Tae-ri as Yoon Jeong-nyeon Shin Ye-eun as Heo Yeong-seo A trainee and excellent at singing, dancing, and acting. She is also Jeong-yeon's rival. Ra Mi-ran as Kang So-bok Director of Maeran Theater Company. Jung Eun-chae as Moon Ok-kyung The prince of Maeran Theater Company and Jeong-nyeon's mentor. Kim Yoon-hye as Seo Hye-rang The princess of Maeran Theater Company.
Supporting Woo Da-vi as Hong Joo-ran A member of Maeran Theater Company and Yoon Jeong-nyeon's close friend. Seunghee as Park Cho-rok A member of Maeran Theater Company. Jeong Ra-el as Seo Bok-sil A member of Maeran Theater Company. Jang Hye-jin as Han Ki-joo Heo Young-seo's mother. Min Kyung-ah as Heo Young-in Heo Young-seo's older sister.
Special appearance Moon So-ri as Seo Yong-rye / Choi Gong-seo Jeong-nyeon's mother who raised her child alone while putting her past as a genius singer behind her. Woo Mi-hwa as Jeong Nam-hee The head of the Women's National Theater Company, "Our Sound Gugak Company".
Production Development In 2020, according to Naver webtoon on the 18th, the series "Jeongnyeon" was going to be produced by Studio N, a subsidiary of Naver Webtoon, and is currently being planned and adapted.
In 2022, it was directed by Jung Ji-in, who directed The Red Sleeve (2021), and written by Choi Hyo-bi, the writer of the Netflix series A Time Called You (2023). The production was jointly handled by Studio N, Management MMM, and NPIO Entertainment.
Casting On November 16, 2022, Kim Tae-ri was confirmed to take the main character Yoon Jeong-nyeon.
On August 10, 2023, Shin Ye-eun was confirmed to play Heo Yeong-seo, Ra Mi-ran was confirmed to be play Kang So-bok, and Moon So-ri was confirmed to play Seo Yong-rye. On September 6, 2024, Moon So-ri explained that she was going to cast as Yoon Jeong-nyeon's mother at Kim Tae-ri's request.
Viewership
+ Average TV viewership ratings Original broadcast date Average audience share(Nielsen Korea)Nielsen Korea ratings:
Nationwide Seoul 1 October 12, 2024 2 October 13, 2024 8.216% 8.911% 3 October 19, 2024 9.223% 8.886% 4 October 20, 2024 12.728% 13.578% 5 October 26, 2024 10.212% 10.182% 6 October 27, 2024 13.383% 13.744% 7 November 2, 2024 10.146% 10.257% 8 November 3, 2024 12.845% 12.952% 9 November 9, 2024 11.995% 12.735% 10 November 10, 2024 14.058% 14.311% 11 November 16, 2024 12.762% 13.460% 12 November 17, 2024 Average In the table above, the represent the lowest ratings and the represent the highest ratings. This drama aired on a cable channel/pay TV which normally has a relatively smaller audience compared to free-to-air TV/public broadcasters (KBS, SBS, MBC, and EBS).
Reception "Jeongnyeon" premiered on October 12, 2024, receiving an initial viewership rating of 4.8%. Following its first episodes, the drama experienced a substantial increase, with ratings soaring to an average of 8.9% and reaching as high as 10.0% in the capital region right after the second episode. This remarkable rise indicates its strong audience engagement and interest in the unfolding narrative.
Despite controversies surrounding the adaptation, including character removals and scheduling issues, the drama has captivated audiences with its storytelling and performances. Kim Tae-Ri's portrayal of Yoon Jeong-Nyeon has been frequently praised for her emotional depth and singing talents, contributing significantly to the drama's appeals.
In the fifth week of October, Good Data Corporation's TV-OTT drama buzzworthiness report showed Jeongnyeon maintaining its top rank for four consecutive weeks. The series led across VON (Voice of Netizens), SNS, video categories, and even the search response survey. Moreover, its topicality score consistently rose, setting new records weekly. In TV-OTT drama performer buzzworthiness, Kim Tae-ri also held the number one spot for four consecutive weeks. For the fifth week, other cast members in the top 10 included Shin Ye-eun (3rd), Jung Eun-chae (4th), Woo Da-bi (6th), and Kim Yoon-hye (7th).
Adaptation Differences The drama was adapted to center on Yoon Jeong-nyeon, while also developing the stories of the characters around her and the internal dynamics of the Maeran Theater Company. Director Jung Ji-in and writer Choi Hyo-bi settled on this direction through several script meetings, focusing on Jeong-nyeon's growth and the story of the Maeran Theater Company within the limited number of episodes.
One of the major differences from the original webtoon was the removal of the character Kwon Bu-yong. In the original, Kwon Bu-yong is Yoon Jeong-nyeon's most devoted fan and plays an important role in the story. Jung Ji-in explained that Bu-yong was excluded during the adaptation process because she believed the drama needed to focus on the relationship between Yoon Jeong-nyeon and Heo Yeong-seo. The emotional qualities and some of the roles associated with Kwon Bu-yong were incorporated into other characters as part of the adaptation.
Accolades Award ceremony Year Category Nominee Result APAN Star Awards 2024 Grand Prize (Daesang) Kim Tae-ri Drama of the Year Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born Best Director Jung Ji-in Best Screenwriter Choi Hyo-bi Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Kim Tae-ri Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Jung Eun-chae Shin Ye-eun Asian Television Awards 2025 Best Drama Series Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born Best Direction (Drama) Jung Ji-in Baeksang Arts Awards 2025 Best Director Jung Ji-in Best Actress Kim Tae-ri Best Supporting Actress Oh Gyeong-hwa Jung Eun-chae Best Technical Achievement Jang Yeong-gyu (Score) BANFF Rockie Award 2025 Best Scripted Limited SeriesJeongnyeon: The Star Is Born Bechdel Day 2025 Bechdel Choice 10 Placed ContentAsia Awards 2025 Best Drama Series Made in Asia for a Regional or International Market Cable TV Broadcasting Awards 2025 Grand Prize (Daesang) for Drama Category
Listicles + Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement Publisher Year Listicle Placement South China Morning Post 2024 The 15 best K-dramas of 2024 The New York Times 2024 Best International Shows Time Magazine The 10 Best K-Dramas of 2024
References
External links
Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born at Naver Webtoon