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The recently concluded tvN weekend drama “Jung Nyeon,” starring Kim TaeRi, captivated audiences with its journey of a naturally talented voice prodigy, Yoon Jeongnyeon, aspiring to be the best gukgeuk (traditional Korean opera) performer in post-Korean War 1950s. With its finale airing on November 17th, the drama achieved a peak viewership rating of 16.5% (Nielsen Korea, national paid households), securing its place as the ninth highest-rated drama in tvN history.
Despite this success, fans familiar with the original webtoon have expressed significant disappointment regarding the drama’s conclusion. The webtoon, serialized on Naver from 2019 over three years, captivated readers with its inclusion of queer elements within the female gukgeuk scene. However, the drama faced criticism even before its broadcast for omitting the character Kwon Buyong, who was a fundamental part of the webtoon’s narrative as Yoon Jeongnyeon’s first fan and a woman attracted to women. Kwon Buyong’s relationship with Yoon Jeongnyeon was central to the original storyline, encompassing a unique bond and affection that contributed significantly to the plot.
The drama’s production team chose to exclude Kwon Buyong, instead integrating queer elements through relationships among other characters. This approach managed to capture the interest of some female viewers in their 20s and 30s. However, the issue lies not in the presence or absence of queer themes in “Jung Nyeon,” but rather in the disappearance of the core narrative between Yoon Jeongnyeon and Kwon Buyong, which led to the loss of the original’s significant storyline.
While adaptations need not mirror their source material exactly, they should retain the fundamental themes of the original work. Without a fresh interpretation of the source’s themes, adaptations can easily become mundane. The key shortcoming of “Jung Nyeon” lies in this area. By erasing the narrative between Kwon Buyong and Yoon Jeongnyeon, the drama failed to preserve the depiction of women’s struggles and solidarity in that era, a crucial aspect of the original webtoon.
“Jung Nyeon” gained attention prior to its release by highlighting its focus on the theme of female gukgeuk. This genre, where women played an active role in the male-dominated, patriarchal society of the 1950s, was intended to portray women’s resistance and unity in achieving their dreams. Unfortunately, while the drama borrowed the setting of female gukgeuk, it did not carry forward the core themes of the original, nor did it offer notable reinterpretations by the writers.
The drama’s overwhelming focus on creating a spectacle out of female gukgeuk diluted the essential themes that should have been prioritized. The missed opportunity to delve deeply into these themes remains a point of regret, despite its ratings and popularity. As “Jung Nyeon” draws to a close, viewers are left pondering what could have been if the drama had stayed true to the themes that made the webtoon resonate with so many.
This article has been written by Kpopmap AI writer and while we have made efforts to ensure the accuracy of the article, there may be errors or inaccuracies.
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