Ahn Bo-hyun Praises Co-star Jo Jun-young's Adaptability in 'Spring Fever'

"Jun-young has an incredible ability to adapt. It's not an easy task, but he followed along so well that it was impressive both on set and on screen. I might be overstepping, but if there were any shortcomings in his acting that led to criticism, I would have been upset. I tried to help as much as I could."

On the 11th, at a cafe in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam, Seoul, Ahn Bo-hyun (37) shared these thoughts during a wrap-up interview for tvN's 'Spring Fever.' In this series, Ahn Bo-hyun, Cha Seo-won, and Bae Jung-nam, all known for their natural dialects as Busan natives, starred alongside Jo Jun-young, who is from Seoul. Ahn Bo-hyun and Jo Jun-young played cousins, drawing attention for their on-screen chemistry.

Born in 1988, Ahn Bo-hyun is 14 years older than Jo Jun-young, who was born in 2002 and is a rising actor under SM Entertainment. Jo Jun-young has appeared in several projects, including 'Class 2 Lee Hee-soo,' 'Bunny and the Boys,' 'Dear M,' and 'Spirit Fingers!' He gained significant attention through 'Spring Fever,' marking his most notable role to date. Ahn Bo-hyun mentioned that while he has many nieces and nephews in real life, he doesn't have a nephew like in the drama.

Based on a webtoon, 'Spring Fever' tells the story of a teacher, Yoon Bom (played by Lee Joo-bin), and a passionate man, Seon Jae-kyu (played by Ahn Bo-hyun), whose icy hearts are melted by a hot pink romance. The series concluded on the 10th with a peak rating of 5.7% (Nielsen Korea, paid households), ending on a high note. Ahn Bo-hyun received praise for his role as Seon Jae-kyu, a character known for his straightforward and charming nature.

Ahn Bo-hyun has previously starred in popular webtoon-based dramas like 'Itaewon Class' and 'Yumi's Cells,' earning acclaim for his strong resemblance to the original characters. With 'Spring Fever,' he once again proved his worth as an actor.

Regarding his collaboration with Jo Jun-young, Ahn Bo-hyun said, "Jun-young must have had a tough time. Senior Jin-kyung is from Masan, Seo-won and I are from Busan, and Jung-nam is a native Busanite. There were also many actors from Daegu and Ulsan, so the dialects were quite diverse. Jun-young must have felt confused. Even within the Gyeongsang region, the intonations differ." He continued, "In scenes with me, it made sense for Jun-young to mimic my speech, as our characters shared a paternal bond. I discussed this extensively with the director."

Ahn Bo-hyun added, "When I'm with Bae Jung-nam, my dialect becomes more natural and stronger. Without him, we mostly speak in standard Korean. But when Jung-nam is around, everyone switches to dialect (laughs). This atmosphere made the set more enjoyable and lively, and it helped us get into character faster. It made filming more comfortable," he smiled.

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