Suzy Bae Plays A Talented Pansori Artist

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Suzy Bae
Ryu Seung Ryong
Kim Nam Gil
Dorihwaga

Miss A's Suzy Bae has finished filming "Dorihwaga," a movie about a Joseon-era singer. In the film she plays Jin Chae Sun, a gifted student of pansori or traditional narrative singing. The film is based on the story of the real-life pansori singer Jin Chae Sun and her teacher, Shin Jae Hyo. 

Shin Jae Hyo, a famous pansori writer, was the first to train women as pansori artists. Jin Chae Sun was his favorite student and she eventually became the country's first formal female pansori singer. But that prominence also created problems for her. Her beauty and talent attracted the interest of the nation's ruler Heungseon Daewongun. He was not actually the king but rather the father of King Gojong, who was too young to rule. Although he did not wear the crown, he ruled on his son's behalf and his orders had to be obeyed.

Heungseon Daewongun, played by Kim Nam Gil, uses his power to keep Jin Chae Sun close to him, even though she is in love with her teacher, played by Ryu Seung Ryong. Heungsoon Daewongun wants to make Jin Chae Sun his concubine. Powerless to stop him, Shin Jae Hyo writes a song called Dorihwaga to mourn her fate.

Acting in "Dorihwaga" presented some challenges for Suzy. She was already used to dressing up in period costumes as she occasionally wore a hanbok in her role as Dam Yeol Wol in "Gu Family Book." That was the easy part. Despite being a singer, she also had to learn the art of pansori.

"It was hard to live as Jin Chae Sun," she said in a press release that announced the last day of filming. "I tried hard to show a new side of me though this film."

Suzy Bae joined the girl group miss A in 2010 and shortly thereafter also launched an acting career. She became a k-drama favorite after starring in the musical drama "Dream High" with Kim Soo Hyun and 2PM's Ok Taecyeon. She also had a role in "Big" with Gong Yoo and Lee Min Jung. But her biggest drama hit may be "Gu Family Book" which landed her multiple endorsement deals.

She won praise for her performance in her very first film "Architecture 101," which was released in 2012. "Dorihwaga," her second film, will be released later this year.

Lee Bong Sil directed the film and Song Sae Byuk co-stars as a famous pansori artist.

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