On the 13th, an interview was conducted with actress Lee Joo-bin, who starred in tvN's 'Spring Fever,' as the series concluded. Lee shared various stories about her life and career.
'Spring Fever,' based on a web novel of the same name, is a drama about the pink romance that melts the frozen hearts of Yoon Bom (played by Lee Joo-bin), a teacher in the cold wind, and Seon Jae-kyu (played by Ahn Bo-hyun), a man with a burning heart. The series concluded on the 10th with its highest viewership rating of 5.7% (Nielsen Korea, paid households).
Lee Joo-bin played the role of Yoon Bom, an ethics teacher at Shinsu High School and a voluntary outsider with a frozen heart. Once lively, she suffered a significant emotional wound after being falsely accused of an affair. After meeting Seon Jae-kyu in Shinsu-eup, she gradually opens her heart, clears her name, and overcomes her past wounds. Lee's portrayal of Yoon Bom's journey from being trapped in past pain to overcoming it through love received praise.
Debuting in 2017 with SBS's 'Whisper,' Lee was known as a former DSP Media girl group trainee. Although she started her acting career relatively late, she steadily built her filmography and expanded her presence. Her role in tvN's 'Queen of Tears' in 2024 as a supporting lead increased her recognition, leading to main roles in tvN's 'Divorce Insurance' and KBS2's 'Twelve.'
Despite high interest in her first leading roles, both projects did not achieve expected success. However, in 'Spring Fever,' Lee added her unique charm to the original's appeal, earning significant praise and solidifying her presence as a leading actress.
"While working on 'Spring Fever,' I often wondered, 'Can I do this?' and 'Can I handle the weight of being a lead?' Fortunately, the project was great, and Yoon Bom was a character I could express well, which helped me regain confidence and passion."
"On those days, we'd think, 'What should we do today?' and go out to eat, visit cafes, or travel with the staff. It wasn't intentional, but I visited many pretty cafes, ate delicious food, and felt like I was on a trip while filming."
"The dried pollack I had in Pohang is most memorable. I've had it before, but it tasted much better this time, maybe because of the atmosphere. It's served as a side dish in Seoul, but in Pohang, it was much more savory and chewy (laughs)."
Lee said, "The numbers don't really hit me. The reactions from people around me feel more significant. I've received many messages from friends saying it was the most enjoyable since 'Queen of Tears' and 'The Outlaws 4.' Even my mother, who usually doesn't watch my work, enjoyed it this time. That's when I felt 'Spring Fever' was truly loved." Finally, she shared her aspirations for future roles.
"I think there are still many genres I haven't tried. I want to challenge myself with action, thriller, legal, and medical genres. I've done fantasy once but want to experience more variety. If given the chance, I'm eager to try anything regardless of genre."
Lee So-jung, TenAsia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr