Lee Joo-bin Reflects on Her Journey from 'Divorce Insurance' to 'Spring Fever'

"My first lead role in 'Divorce Insurance' was a project that brought a lot of worries and concerns, like a chronic illness. I couldn't fully enjoy it because of the pressure to do well."

In an interview following the conclusion of tvN's 'Spring Fever,' Lee Joo-bin shared stories about her recent projects and her life journey. She revealed, "While filming 'Divorce Insurance,' I was also cast in 'Spring Fever.' Having worried too much during 'Divorce Insurance,' I approached 'Spring Fever' with a mindset to enjoy it more and feel less burdened," expressing her thoughts on starring in two consecutive tvN dramas.

'Spring Fever,' based on a web novel of the same name, is a romantic drama about the chilly teacher Yoon Bom (played by Lee Joo-bin) and the passionate man Sun Jae-kyu (played by Ahn Bo-hyun). It achieved its highest viewership rating of 5.7% on October 10, according to Nielsen Korea. Lee Joo-bin received praise for her deep portrayal of Yoon Bom, a character trapped by past wounds but overcoming them through the power of love.

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

Despite the high expectations for 'Divorce Insurance,' Lee Joo-bin's first main lead role in eight years, it unfortunately recorded low ratings. 'Twelve' also did not perform well. However, in 'Spring Fever,' she successfully showcased her unique charm as a lead, enhancing the original work's appeal.

Comparing her experiences in 'Divorce Insurance' and 'Spring Fever,' Lee Joo-bin said, "'Divorce Insurance' featured stories of various characters, including senior actor Lee Dong-wook. In contrast, 'Spring Fever' felt like there was no room for excuses or escape. The romance between the two main characters was central, so my screen time was significantly more."

She continued, "Strangely, I didn't feel the anxiety I experienced during 'Divorce Insurance' when I read the script. Although I wanted to do well, I gained confidence that with effort, I could connect with the character Yoon Bom, despite the challenges of the romantic comedy genre."

"I thought a lot about how to convey Bom's trauma to the viewers. Since the drama's tone was bright and cheerful, I also pondered how to blend Bom's pain effectively. I discussed this aspect extensively with the director on set."

When asked about her research on the character Bom, Lee Joo-bin explained, "I had many detailed considerations, like how much to tremble or how much to break down. There were scenes in the script where my hands trembled, and it appeared in the early episodes, but I adjusted it to avoid overdoing it. Balancing these elements was a challenge for me." She added, "Sometimes, I felt I portrayed the character too darkly, which made me think, 'If it's going to be heavy, why not go all the way?' I wanted to express the character's story as intensely as possible."

"In the past, responsibility, diligence, and results were everything to me. But now, I'm reflecting on questions like 'How do I perceive myself?', 'Do I love myself?', 'What makes me feel good?', and 'What gives me a sense of stability?' I realized I didn't know these things well before."

Lee Joo-bin shared, "I'm currently reviewing potential projects, so I have a few months to rest and explore myself, aiming to improve my relationship with myself. Looking back, I realize I put a lot of pressure on myself to be perfect. But now, I think, 'Is there really anything perfect in the world?'" she smiled.

"Since my debut in 2018, I've worked hard to prove something. I was afraid of not doing well, of being a burden, and of failing the project. But now, I feel a bit lighter. I think I can enjoy it more, and I'm finding fun on set. Although I haven't completely let go, I'm gradually easing into it."

Lee Joo-bin concluded, "At the beginning of my career, I didn't know much about acting and had no experience, but I had a strong desire to do well. As I gained experience through various projects, I began to understand why senior actors advised, 'Don't try too hard.' I used to wonder what they meant, but now I realize it's about not overwhelming myself. It wasn't about doing things carelessly but about not being too hard on myself. This realization has brought me peace."

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