K-drama 'Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born', the revival of women's national drama and an emotional finale

tvN Saturday drama 'Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born' ended with a bang on the 17th with the final episode. The drama parted ways with the audience with a hopeful ending, as the Maeran Gugak Troupe, which is in dire financial straits, staged a new Korean drama, Twin Tops. Yun Jeong-nyeon (Kim Tae-ri) was chosen to play the main character Asadal, while her rival Yeong-seo (Shin Ye-eun) impressed the audience with her performance as Dal-bi. Jeong-nyeon established herself as the "new star of Maeran" by showing a different kind of artist's madness than traditional male roles."

The final episode broke its own record with a viewership rating of 17.1% in the Seoul metropolitan area and 16.5% nationwide according to Nielsen Korea. It also swept various box office indicators such as the No. 1 ranking on OTT platforms and the No. 1 YouTube viewership, establishing itself as a hot topic for the second half of 2024. Jungnyei is a drama centered on women's gugak, and it showed its authenticity by devoting more than 30 minutes to the drama. The realistic production and detailed stage props, sounds, and choreography made the show very entertaining for viewers."

The drama was a success because of its authenticity.

The lead actors' performances were also talked about. Kim Tae-ri was praised as "Yun Jeong-nyeon herself" for her perfect portrayal of Yun Jeong-nyeon, while Shin Ye-eun balanced the drama with a coming-of-age narrative as a rival and colleague. Other actors such as Ra Mi-Ran, Jung Eun-Chae, and Kim Yoon-Hye also added depth to the story.

The dreams and frustrations of women in the 1950s, Jeong-nyeon resonated and moved through its diverse female characters. The messages of competition, solidarity, and growth resonated with viewers beyond the limits of the era, making it a well-crafted drama.