Kim Tae-ri Reflects on the Journey of 'Jeong Nyeon' as the Drama Concludes

The much-debated drama 'Jeong Nyeon' has come to an end. Kim Tae-ri shared her thoughts, saying, "In a condensed narrative, I had to create stepping stones to make each subsequent scene believable. This led to the Jeong Nyeon we see today. I often wondered if I should have maintained a lovable portrayal of the protagonist despite all logic. Although I didn't find a concrete answer, I believe that acknowledging my choices and possibilities is growth enough."

tvN's weekend drama 'Jeong Nyeon' is set in post-Korean War 1950s and follows the journey of Jeong Nyeon, a naturally gifted sound genius, as she competes and grows to become the top national theater actress.

In the drama, Kim Tae-ri plays Jeong Nyeon, who moves from Mokpo to Seoul to become a national theater actress. Her portrayal, which included mastering sound, choreography, and dialect, earned her the label 'irreplaceable.'

Following the finale on the 17th, Kim Tae-ri shared her thoughts and gratitude towards fans and viewers in a Q&A session.

Q. How do you feel now that 'Jeong Nyeon' has concluded?
A. The challenge of mastering sound and stage performance, the four major stages, and the 1950s setting seemed nearly impossible. Yet, this drama miraculously gained immense love from viewers in a short time. I am deeply grateful to the viewers and to the cast and crew who dared to create this miracle.

Q. What was your initial reaction to 'Jeong Nyeon'?
A. I only thought, 'This will be fun.' I wasn't anxious about the challenge. I immediately started practicing sound, and it was more enjoyable than expected. I hoped many would find joy in this through the drama.

Q. When you think of 'Jeong Nyeon,' sound, choreography, and dialect come to mind. What efforts did you make in these areas?
A. Teachers in each field put in tremendous effort. We started from the basics. Since pretending to be good wasn't the goal, I asked for techniques to appear skilled when I couldn't achieve it despite my efforts.

With sound teacher Kwon Song-hee, we exchanged sounds from the first class in 2021. I also took lessons from her teacher, Kim Soo-yeon. Kwon Song-hee supported me like a parent, kneeling beside me. Before recording scenes, we practiced for hours without drinking water. Her encouraging messages were comforting during tough times.

Choreography teacher Lee Yi-seul was great at drawing out good things even from mistakes. She worked tirelessly to find movements that suited me. Even after late-night shoots, she would hold classes. I remember her saying that the actors of the Mae-ran National Theater felt like her students.

Dialect was guided by actress Jung Soo-jung from Mokpo, who was present from pre-production to post-production ADR. Thanks to her, I memorized all my lines, which was unprecedented. With Gwangju-born actress Oh Kyung-hwa, we worked on making the dialect authentic and fitting the character's personality.

Q. The concept of female national theater might be unfamiliar to modern audiences. What attracted you to it?
A. The world of female national theater depicted in the original work was fascinating. The plays created with our sound, the short-lived peak despite immense popularity, and the legendary stories... The context and history of female national theater felt valuable, and I was curious about the charm of women playing male roles.

Q. What is your favorite scene or line from 'Jeong Nyeon'?
A. I would choose the scene where mother Gong Sun (played by Moon So-ri) sings 'Chuwolmanjeong' at the beach as the sun rises. It washes away the mother-daughter conflict and melts Gong Sun's sorrows into Jeong Nyeon's heart and the world. The sound was raw yet beautiful.

Q. You worked closely with Shin Ye-eun, Jung Eun-chae, and Woo Da-bi. How was the chemistry?
A. As seen in the making-of, the atmosphere on set was great with all the actors. Joo-ran (played by Woo Da-bi) was crucial to Jeong Nyeon, and Da-bi and I shared many stories. Throughout filming, Joo-ran always supported Jeong Nyeon with loving eyes. Da-bi was the same, and I worked with most actors for the first time, including Eun-chae.

In dramas, actors gradually fit into their roles, but Eun-chae was different. She was a prince from the start to the end, which greatly helped with immersion. I often thought how visually pleasing the shoot was.

Ye-eun seemed to have a strong will. She would collapse after practice, saying her goal was too far, but always returned for the next session. I believe self-awareness is crucial for actors, and Ye-eun seemed to constantly battle herself. It was a great synergy, and I think she created a wonderful Young-seo.

I also enjoyed working with all the Mae-ran National Theater members. We shared laughs, jokes, and encouragements. After each performance, we hugged and whispered praises. Seung-hee, who played Chorok, conveyed maximum emotion even when it wasn't her scene. I'm grateful to all the actors and want to say they did an amazing job.

Q. How was working with Moon So-ri and Oh Kyung-hwa, who played your family?
A. They felt like home. After our first shoot, I eagerly awaited the next time we could act together. When we met during shoots, we shared our experiences and received comfort. They were my emotional anchors and gave me incredible strength. Kyung-hwa is a friend I can't help but love. I feel I've gained a reliable and brilliant friend for my acting journey.

Q. Any memorable reactions from family, friends, or viewers?
A. I heard my grandmother couldn't watch 'The Devil' because it was too scary. While preparing for 'Jeong Nyeon,' I was excited thinking she would find it easy and enjoyable. My family and friends, who heard me practice sound everywhere, seemed to enjoy it more. Viewers' reactions like "I love the sound..." and "I don't know why, but tears flow when I hear the sound" were memorable.

Q. 'Growth' seems to be a key theme in 'Jeong Nyeon.' How did you grow through the drama and the character?
A. Even if I poured everything into it, I felt a weekly regret wondering if I could have done more. Condensing a webtoon of over 100 episodes into 12 was a challenge for everyone. In this condensed narrative, I had to create believable transitions for each scene. This led to the Jeong Nyeon we see today. During the airing, I often wondered if I should have maintained a lovable portrayal of the protagonist despite all logic. Although I didn't find a concrete answer, I believe that acknowledging my choices and possibilities is growth enough.

Q. Any words for 'Jeong Nyeon'?
A. Jeong Nyeon, how much have you grown beyond those stormy times? Thanks to you, I realized that perhaps heart is more important than talent and effort. It was an honor to portray you!

Q. Any final words for the viewers who loved 'Jeong Nyeon'?
A. Thank you for staying with us until the end. We'll meet again with another story in another world. Thank you so much, viewers!

Tae Yuna, TenAsia Reporter youyou@tenasia.co.kr