Kim Tae-ri's 'Jeong Nyeon' Will Revive the Forgotten Story of Gukgeuk Artists

A woman-dominated narrative of aspirations, passion, affirmation, concurrence, and love-most significantly, illuminating an invaluable Korean cultural treasure that has lain dormant for decades

- DEBASHREE DUTTA

Jeong nyeon sticks out a mile for two reasons: first, it features a diverse cast; second, it is an unusual period piece that serves as an ode to a fascinating moment in Korean entertainment history—it explores the story of a forgotten genre in Korean art and its performers—the Gukgeuk artists. Primarily put on by women, their acts infused pansori (Korean musical storytelling by a singer and a drummer), dance, and acting, which sparked an uprising in Korea during the 1940s, reaching a peak in the 1950s.