The highly anticipated new tvN drama Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born, starring Kim Tae Ri, may face a delayed premiere ahead of its scheduled October 12th debut due to a legal dispute with MBC.
On September 12th, reports revealed that the Seoul Central District Court accepted MBC’s request for an injunction against Studio N, Management mmm (which also represents Kim Tae Ri), and NPO Entertainment, all co-producers of Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born, aka Jeongnyeon.
In response, tvN’s production team stated, “We are checking into the situation,” with an official announcement expected after further review.
MBC filed for the injunction, citing unfair competition and breach of contract negotiations, claiming significant damages. According to MBC, they were actively involved in pre-production work, including research, location scouting, and casting, but lost out when the project shifted to tvN, resulting in substantial financial losses.
Following the success of MBC’s hit historical drama The Red Sleeve, director Jeong Ji In, who was set to helm Jeongnyeon, even left the network during the pre-production phase. If the ongoing dispute leads to a full legal trial, the drama could face indefinite delays.
The production switch from MBC to tvN reportedly came down to financing. Sources indicate that while MBC offered around 2 billion KRW per episode (approx. $1.5 million USD for the 12-episode series), Studio N opted for tvN’s offer through its parent company, CJ ENM, which raised the budget to 2.8 billion KRW per episode.
Jeongnyeon boasts an impressive cast, including Kim Tae Ri, Shin Ye Eun, Jung Eun Chae, Ra Mi Ran, Moon So Ri, Kim Yoon Hye, and Seunghee. Based on the popular webtoon, the series explores the unique world of female national theater—a genre that saw all roles played by women. It follows Jeong Nyeon, a natural vocal talent, as she strives to become the top national theater actress amid fierce competition and deep bonds.
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