Studio Dragon’s Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born tops charts in Asia, drawing international attention to Korean theater and traditional music
Studio Dragon’s drama “Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born” has garnered enthusiastic responses worldwide.
Set in the 1950s, in the wake of the Korean War, it follows the titular character Jeongnyeon, a “vocal prodigy” who dreams of becoming the top female gukgeuk (traditional Korean theatrical art) performer. The series, currently airing on CJ ENM‘s tvN network, its OTT platform TVING, and Disney+, explores her journey through intense competition and camaraderie as she experiences personal growth within the world of traditional Korean theater.
According to the global content ranking service FlixPatrol, “Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born” ranked 6th in the Disney+ global TV show category as of November 5, steadily rising since first entering the TOP 10 on October 31. The show has gained widespread popularity, ranking No. 1 in the Disney+ TV show category in Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, and Hong Kong. In Japan, it has ranked fourth and remains in the top 10 charts.
Major international media outlets are closely following the “Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born” phenomenon, especially its focus on female gukgeuk. Japanese media outlet ORICON News recently recommended “Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born” as “a must-see this fall,” adding that “the gukgeuk performance scenes, in particular, are unforgettable, thanks to the remarkable spirit of the actors.” Forbes also featured the show with an article titled, “In The K-Drama Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born, The Real Star Is Pansori,” noting that the “theatrical version of pansori* became popular and by the early 20th century troupes of female performers flourished, some of which were commercially successful.”
* Pansori is a traditional Korean performing art that combines singing, narration, acting, and dramatic gestures to tell a story.
Episode 12 of “Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born,” aired on tvN on November 17, ranked first in the cable-general service category in Korea, with a nationwide average viewership of 16.5% and a peak of 18.2%. The episode averaged 17.1% in the metropolitan area, with a high of 18.8%. Additionally, “Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born” topped the TV-OTT integrated drama topical rankings for the sixth consecutive week, according to FUNdex, the official platform of GOODDATA Corp, a leading K-content research firm. Kim Tae-ri, the actress playing the main character, also claimed the top spot for the fifth week in a row.
