Controversial Ending of 'Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born' Sparks Debate

《Tae Yuna's Drama Insights》
Tae Yuna from TenAsia brings you in-depth analysis of dramas based on firsthand observations. In an era flooded with dramas across numerous channels, we aim to be your eyes and ears.

---

Was it an attempt to reflect the realistic era while spotlighting the 1950s women's national theater troupe? The protagonist's growth story vanished without a trace, and the portrayal of independent women ultimately culminated in marriage. The drama concluded with a hollow ending, erasing the growth and success of its protagonists.

tvN's weekend drama 'Jeong Nyeon' concluded with a peak viewership rating of 16.5%, marking a successful end. 'Jeong Nyeon' captivated audiences throughout its run with its fresh theme of women's national theater, the solid performances of actors like Kim Tae-ri, Shin Ye-eun, Ra Mi-ran, and Jung Eun-chae, and its diverse spectacles on the national theater stage.

From the start, 'Jeong Nyeon' faced challenges. Before its confirmation on tvN, MBC, which had considered airing 'Jeong Nyeon', filed for an injunction against the production companies, citing unfair competition and breach of contract negotiations due to the alleged misappropriation of work-related achievements. The court's acceptance of this request sparked controversy.

MBC claimed significant losses despite actively participating in pre-production processes such as research, location scouting, and casting. However, the production companies countered, stating, "MBC did not enter into any contracts, including verbal agreements, related to 'Jeong Nyeon', and the production companies were never explicitly informed of a confirmed airing." This rebuttal temporarily settled the dispute.

There was also controversy over the removal of queer elements during adaptation. The character Buyong, who formed a subtle romantic line with Yoon Jeong Nyeon in the original work, was omitted. Critics questioned whether this was a forced adaptation to cater to viewers uncomfortable with queer themes. The production team explained that due to the need to condense the extensive original content into 12 episodes, it was inevitable to remove certain elements, and they planned to incorporate Buyong's essence into other characters. As stated, Buyong's queer essence was integrated into the character Juran.

Viewers also expressed dissatisfaction with the character Jeong Nyeon. Her meddlesome and self-centered behavior, causing trouble for those around her, hindered immersion in the drama. This led to divided opinions among the audience regarding the work.

However, the most significant controversy was the ending of 'Jeong Nyeon'. The drama's conclusion diverged from the original work. While the original depicted Jeong Nyeon, Youngseo, and Juran becoming national theater stars with the success of 'Twin Towers Legend', and the Maeran National Theater moving to a new building, the drama opted for an open-ended, sad conclusion. The epilogue portrayed the decline of the national theater, with characters pursuing different paths as courtyard play actors, singers, and movie stars. Jeong Nyeon, the new prince of Maeran, concluded with a single performance of 'Twin Towers Legend'.

Particularly troubling was the depiction of Director Sobok (played by Ra Mi-ran) selling the Maeran National Theater building to a Japanese-style brothel to secure funds, and Juran leaving the theater to marry for her family's livelihood, undermining the women's narrative built throughout the series. In the original, Buyong did not marry and reunited with Jeong Nyeon, breaking away from the passive portrayal of women at the time, earning applause. However, the drama concluded with both Juran and Youngseo's sister ending their careers to marry, leaving a sense of emptiness. The setting of the Maeran National Theater building becoming a brothel was also discomforting. The fact that the buyer was a former national theater actress who became a wealthy man's concubine added to the discomfort.

While it may reflect the era, 'Jeong Nyeon' is a fictional drama. The original work likely understood the flow of the times. The original author's intention to depict the growth and empowerment of women was erased, leaving only the harsh reality faced by women. One must question whether this was truly the conclusion 'Jeong Nyeon' intended to convey.

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