Actor Ahn Bo-hyun Addresses 'Leftover Food' Controversy and Talks Friendship with KwakTube

"I wasn't bothered at all. I wondered at what point it became a controversy. It's quite common in my circle. I realized that some people might see it differently."

On the 11th, an interview was held at a cafe in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam, Seoul, to mark the conclusion of tvN's 'Spring Fever.' Ahn Bo-hyun candidly shared his thoughts on various topics related to the show, as well as the so-called 'leftover food' controversy that arose from a past travel video with KwakTube (Kwak Jun-bin) in Japan.

The drama 'Spring Fever,' based on a webtoon, tells the story 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, in a hot pink romance that melts even the coldest hearts. The show concluded on the 10th with its highest viewership rating of 5.7% (Nielsen Korea, paid households). Ahn Bo-hyun received praise for his role as Seon Jae-kyu, a character that perfectly matched his persona.

Ahn Bo-hyun has previously appeared in popular webtoon-based dramas like 'Itaewon Class' and 'Yumi's Cells,' showcasing a high sync rate with the characters and earning positive reviews from viewers. With 'Spring Fever,' he once again proved his worth as an actor.

Ahn Bo-hyun appeared on the 2023 tvN variety show 'Busan Boys in Sydney' with KwakTube, maintaining their friendship since then. He even attended KwakTube's wedding last October, offering heartfelt congratulations. In the interview, Ahn Bo-hyun described KwakTube as "just adorable" and shared, "We became close after visiting Sydney through the variety show. Being from Busan, we share many personal stories. We've had tough times, and being from the same region, we naturally connect."

Ahn Bo-hyun added, "We eat together, and I help him with workouts when needed. To me, Jun-bin is not just a YouTuber, influencer, or broadcaster, but a genuinely charming younger brother. When we filmed the travel YouTube video, we just showed our true selves. We received a lot of love, and I'm grateful that people watched the variety show we did before. We simply enjoyed our daily lives and travels, and it's nice that people see it positively."

The two, known as travel mates, faced some controversy over a Japan travel video. In the video uploaded by KwakTube, they visited a skewer restaurant after dinner. KwakTube tried various skewers and placed the leftovers on Ahn Bo-hyun's plate. Ahn Bo-hyun jokingly said, "I feel like I'm cleaning up your leftovers." The video showed KwakTube continuing to pass leftover skewers to Ahn Bo-hyun, which some viewers criticized.

Ahn Bo-hyun explained, "I wasn't bothered by it, so I didn't contact him about it. We went on another trip to Turkey, and I wasn't aware of it. Suddenly, Jun-bin was cautious not to give me leftovers, and it took me about two seconds to realize. It was hilarious. I wasn't bothered, so it felt even more endearing."

Lee So-jung, TenAsia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr