Kim Yoo Jung Plays A Girl Who Dreams Of Becoming A Gisaeng

At 14, Kim Yoo Jung is already an accomplished actress and has a pretty clear sense of what she wants to achieve in her acting. Known for her roles in "Moon Embracing The Sun" and "May Queen," she is now gradually transitioning into more adult roles. She was recently seen in the drama "Golden Rainbow" with Uee and Jung Il Woo and the film "Commitment" with Big Bang's T.O.P.

In her latest drama "Gok Bi," she plays a girl who dreams of becoming a Joseon-era gisaeng. Gisaengs were officially sanctioned Korean female entertainers and sometimes courtesans. They entertained nobility and had freedoms that many women in the Joseon era traditionally did not have. While some women were forced to become gisaengs, for others it was a choice.

In "Gok Bi," also known as "Drama Special: The Crying Woman," Kim Yoo Jung plays Yeon Sim, a girl who wants to become a courtesan. Yeon Sim was born into a family of funeral singers. Such singers walked in funeral processions and perform heartrending songs of mourning. Kim Yoo Jung's character must become a funeral singer too and although she is especially good at what she does, she rebels against the notion. She has shed so many tears in her short life, that she wants a chance to sing a different kind of song.

When she voices her plan to become a gisaeng, she gets plenty of opposition. It's not considered the noblest calling.

Also starring in the drama is Seo Joon Young, playing the illegitimate son of a nobleman. His mother was a gisaeng. Will he help Yeon Sim realize her odd dream or talk her out of it?

For Kim Yoo Jung, the one-episode drama was a second chance to work with the drama's producer Lee Geon Jun. They worked together four years ago on the KBS drama "Grudge: The Revolt of the Gumiho."

Kim Yoo Jung had nothing to say about her character's desire to become a courtesan but she was happy to wear the costumes required for the drama's historical setting.

"I'm happy to wear beautiful hanbok in the drama," she said. "I'm also thrilled to reunite with chief producer Lee Geon Jun."
Heo Ji Young, who won the grand prize at the 2013 Broadcasting Video Contents Project, wrote the drama. The project was sponsored by the Korea Creative Content Agency, which is dedicated to supporting creative and original drama.