Actress Lee Joo-bin Reflects on 'Spring Fever' Success and Her Love for K-Pop Idols

"I enjoy watching beautiful idols through shorts. I like pretty female idols (laughs)."

On the 13th, at a cafe in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, an interview was held to mark the conclusion of tvN's 'Spring Fever.' Actress Lee Joo-bin, born in 1989, shared various personal stories along with her thoughts on the drama.

'Spring Fever,' based on a web novel of the same name, is a romantic drama about the icy teacher Yoon Bom (played by Lee Joo-bin) and the passionate man Sun Jae-kyu (played by Ahn Bo-hyun), whose hearts thaw in a pink-hued romance. The drama concluded on the 10th with its highest viewership rating of 5.7% (Nielsen Korea, paid households), marking a successful end.

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 became embroiled in a false affair scandal, leaving her deeply scarred. However, after meeting Sun Jae-kyu in Shinsu-eup, she gradually opens her heart, clears her name, and overcomes her past wounds. Lee Joo-bin received praise for her deep portrayal of Yoon Bom's journey from being trapped in past traumas to overcoming them through love.

She made her public debut in the 2017 SBS drama 'Whisper' and was known as a former trainee of DSP Media's girl group before her acting career. Although she started acting relatively late, she has steadily built her filmography and expanded her presence. Lee Joo-bin gained recognition as a supporting lead in the 2024 tvN drama 'Queen of Tears' and later secured main roles in tvN's 'Divorce Insurance' and KBS2's 'Twelve.'

Despite the high interest in her first leading roles, both projects did not achieve the expected success. However, in this year's 'Spring Fever,' she successfully showcased the original's charm while adding her unique touch, earning praise and solidifying her presence as a leading actress.

Last month, Lee Joo-bin appeared on the YouTube channel 'CellphoneKODE,' where she collaborated with IVE member Liz for the first time. She mentioned that she had watched videos of Liz because she found her pretty, drawing attention. When asked if there were any idols she was particularly interested in, Lee Joo-bin smiled and said, "I can't think of anyone specific right now, but I like pretty women. Watching videos is interesting."

"I remember when NewJeans first debuted. I was amazed at how pretty they were. It felt like an aunt admiring her nieces, saying 'They're so pretty,' while watching their videos (laughs). I still enjoy watching various idol shorts with that feeling."

During her appearance on 'CellphoneKODE,' it was revealed that Lee Joo-bin was unaware of the viral baby Yoo I-jin on YouTube. She humorously explained, "The girl group members automatically appear on my shorts, but I-jin doesn't."

Lee Joo-bin is also known for her elegant aura and distinct features, earning her the nickname 'Interview Free Pass.' When asked if she had experienced free passes in auditions, she replied, "Most of the projects I've done were through auditions. I've attended many and failed many as well. I don't think it's a free pass." She added, "Thanks to the projects I was fortunate to be cast in, I've received a lot of love, but I've also had painful experiences from rejections."

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