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Korea Herald
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
With dreamlike underwater realm, fresh emotional lens, latest Simcheong story brings new depth to beloved folktale
Jeongdong Theater dance production 'Pure Heart' runs until June 28 At the prow of a boat amid crashing waves, a small girl plunges into a vast ocean. The iconic scene of Korean folktale "Simcheong" is the epitome of filial devotion: The girl casts herself into the Indangsu Sea to restore her blind father's sight. In 'Pure Heart,' the National Jeongdong Theater's latest reinterpretation of this age-old tale, after plunging into the shadowy abyss Simcheong awakens not in darkness or deep blue, but in soft pink light and waves, in a glowing, luminous undersea realm. The Dragon Queen — not the Dragon King of the original tale — gently lifts and welcomes Simcheong. Dressed in flowing robes of rose and blush and holding a a lotus-shaped fan, a court of handmaidens circles her in synchronized harmony. There is no suffering here, no sorrow, no pain. Simcheong beams and leaps lightly across the stage — radiant, embraced by this new, gentle world. Directed by Jung Ku-ho and choreographed by Jeong Hye-jin — the creative team behind sold-out success 'One Dance' — 'Pure Heart' is a dance drama that strips back the traditional narrative to focus on Simcheong's emotional journey. 'We wanted the sea to feel like a place of warmth and welcome (to Simcheong). And we wanted to give her that motherly love she had long been missing," Jung said during a press conference on Thursday, adding that the Dragon Queen serves as a maternal figure for Simcheong, who lost her own mother at birth. 'We asked ourselves: How do we remake this folktale in a way that feels different and fresh?' said Jung, a fashion designer-turned-creative director known for visually striking interpretations of Korean tradition in works like 'The Banquet' and 'Scent of Ink,' both rare sold-out successes in the Korean dance scene. 'We chose to follow Simcheong's emotions closely,' he added. So rather than beginning with her childhood, the performance opens on the night before her sacrifice. On a sparse stage, Simcheong wrestles with her decision. Her inner doubts take form as a shadowy double in black, echoing her hesitation and fear. 'Even if filial duty was considered absolute in the past, would Simcheong truly have been content to give herself up?' Jung mused. 'We wanted to separate her outward actions from her inner voice — and follow that voice, too. Every scene is selected based on Simcheong's emotional perspective, with minimal storytelling.' Veteran screen actor Chae Shi-ra makes her stage dance debut as the Dragon Queen, leading a nearly 15-minute sequence of graceful, sweeping movement. Dressed in flowing pastel silks, Chae anchors the fantasy with elegance and gentleness. 'I never imagined the word 'dancer' would be attached to my name,' Chae said, laughing. 'This felt like training for a new profession. The rehearsal process was grueling — I'd call it more training than practice. Choreographer Jeong (Hye-jin) worked tirelessly to guide me.' If Act II is a dream, Act III returns to solid ground. Here, Simcheong is brought back to life and rewarded with royal marriage. The final act is a visual homage to Korean heritage, featuring costumes inspired by 1920s royal court dress and stylized interpretations of state ceremonies. 'Each act has its own tone and texture,' said choreographer Jeong. 'Because the narrative is carried almost entirely through dance, the costumes and visual language had to be expressive. In the final act, we wanted to highlight the beauty of Korean tradition, blending historical references with a modern sensibility.' 'Pure Heart' runs from Thursday to June 28 at the Jeongdong Theater, with 50 performances by two alternating casts scheduled over two months — an unprecedented run for a national performing arts company in Korea. 'We believe traditional performances can resonate with contemporary audiences — and with international visitors as well. I hope a longer run gives more people the chance to see it,' said Jeongdong Theater CEO Choung Soung-sook.
Korea Herald
13-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Actor Chae Si-ra steps on stage as dancer in 'Pure Heart'
Jeongdong Theater to retell Korean folktale with creators of sold-out show 'One Dance' Veteran actor Chae Si-ra, celebrating her 40th year in entertainment, is making an unexpected return to the stage -- as a dancer. Chae will appear in a special role in "Pure Heart," a new traditional dance production by the National Jeongdong Theater, running May 8 to June 28 at Jeongdong Theater in central Seoul. "Pure Heart" sheds light on the classic Korean pansori folktale "Simcheong-ga," in which the heroine, Sim Cheong, sacrifices herself so her blind father can see and ventures into the underwater Dragon Palace. Chae will portray the Queen of the Dragon Palace. The acclaimed creative team of "One Dance" had said at a February press conference announcing Jeongdong Theater's lineup for the 2025 season that the production would center on Sim Cheong -- her thoughts and internal struggles -- rather than strictly following the original narrative. Fashion designer-turned-creative director Jung Ku-ho, known for his visually striking interpretations of Korean traditional dance in productions such as "The Banquet," "Scent of Ink" and "One Dance," which achieved rare sold-out success in the Korean dance scene, will collaborate once again with choreographer Jung Hye-jin. Jung, a former artistic director of the Seoul Metropolitan Dance Theater, was also one of the choreographers behind "One Dance." Chae's casting adds to anticipation for the production. The 56-year-old actress has frequently expressed her love for dance. In 1995, she earned critical acclaim for her portrayal of legendary dancer Choi Seung-hee in an MBC drama named after the dancer. More recently, she served as an ambassador for the 45th Seoul Dance Festival, performing briefly on stage. At a press event during last year's festival, Chae said, 'I always dreamed of becoming a dancer, before becoming an actress. I've lived my life believing that I carry the spirit of a dancer within me.' "Pure Heart" is the second installment in the Jeongdong Theater's K-Culture Series, a performance brand initiative dedicated to showcasing Korea's traditional arts. The series began with the interdisciplinary performance "Gwangdae," inspired by "Sochundaeyuhui," Korea's first ticketed public performance staged in 1902 by Heopyulsa Theater.
