On February 11 in Gangnam, Seoul, an interview was held with actor Ahn Bo-hyun, the lead of the tvN Monday–Tuesday drama Spring Fever.
“It’s been two months since filming ended, but watching the broadcast last night brought all the memories back. It started amid countless misunderstandings and ended as a healing story where everyone finds love. I was truly happy as well.”
Ahn Bo-hyun completely captivated viewers with a blazing sincerity hidden beneath his rugged exterior. Evolving from a harmless young man into a so-called “rural femme fatale” who charges straight ahead, he ultimately completed the narrative of a grown man who saves someone, proving the solid depth of his 10-year acting career.
On the same day, he met with press in Gangnam to discuss his role as Seon Jae-gyu. Misjudged in the fictional town of Sinsu-eup due to his imposing build and intimidating tattoos, Seon is in reality a major corporation CEO and an affectionate uncle, making him a layered and multidimensional character.
With global buzz and a successful finale, Ahn firmly established himself as a dependable yet rough-edged “life male lead.”
◇ The layered evolution of “Seon Jae-gyu”… Building plausibility through physique and ad-libs
What stood out most in this project was Ahn’s “comic-like physique,” as if he had stepped straight out of the original source material, along with his vibrant character portrayal. He completed the intimidating look with a distinctive hairstyle dubbed the “Minecraft visual” and arm sleeves.
“I had to style my hair twice a week, so it required a lot of effort. It could have looked too cartoonish, but that hairstyle helped justify why people misunderstood him,” he recalled.
He also made notable efforts to portray Seon’s natural strength convincingly. “I gained 5 kilograms of muscle and used arm sleeves to add a sense of intimidation,” he said. “Even though there was a stunt double for comic-style action scenes like chasing a subway train, I ran a lot myself to bring realism. There was no need to speed up the footage; the dynamic energy came through naturally.”
His authentic Busan dialect performance was another highlight. A native speaker, Ahn carefully balanced the subtle differences between broadcast dialect and local speech while navigating a lively on-set atmosphere.
“Bae Jung-nam hyung and senior Jin Kyung improvised a lot. I also mixed in ad-libs like ‘Nice weather’ while filming in a fun way,” he added, explaining how he infused the character with greater dimensionality.
◇ “A comic-book-like lift-and-kiss moment”… Romance chemistry with Lee Joo-bin
Seon Jae-gyu’s narrative reached its peak through a vivid, hot-pink mutual rescue romance with Yoon Bom, played by Lee Joo-bin. Speaking about their chemistry, Ahn said, “She’s bold yet perfectly suited for the teacher role, so I thought the set would be enjoyable.”
“Joo-bin is very down-to-earth, and the subtle thrill created by the physical height difference between a grand figure and a petite one was something even the staff loved,” he shared.
“In that atmosphere, the project turned out well. Instead of the original’s higher intensity, we focused on Jae-gyu’s awkwardness, which made the kiss scenes come out beautifully. It wasn’t a typical drama kiss scene. Lifting her while kissing gave it a comic-book vibe, and I think it blended in nicely,” he said with satisfaction.
Having previously portrayed heartbreaking or tragic romances in works such as Yumi’s Cells and My Name, this bright pink happy ending held special meaning for him.
“I didn’t try to force sweetness or charm. He’s a character who moves forward steadfastly by default. The points I 고민ed over being met with public praise became a new discovery for me,” he said, expressing deep affection for the character.
On February 11 in Gangnam, Seoul, an interview was held with actor Ahn Bo-hyun, the lead of the tvN Monday–Tuesday drama Spring Fever.
◇ 10th anniversary and Blue Dragon Award… Letting go of perfectionism and embracing ease
Marking his 10th debut anniversary since the film Hiya, Ahn also won Best New Actor at the Blue Dragon Film Awards last year for Pretty Crazy.
“I used to think I wasn’t someone who had award luck, so the joy of winning at the Blue Dragon Film Awards was truly different,” he said. “Because of my perfectionist tendencies, I consumed a lot of emotional energy. Now, instead of only giving myself the whip, I’m trying to offer myself a carrot as well and embrace things more positively.”
In closing, Ahn said, “I really hate the cold, but maybe because Spring Fever has ended, it feels like I’m waiting for spring now. It’s just like that fluttering anticipation of warmer days.”
On February 11 in Gangnam, Seoul, he met with actor Ahn Bo-hyun.
Having weathered a decade-long winter of growth, Ahn Bo-hyun’s solid positivity hints at an even broader acting spectrum yet to bloom.
Meanwhile, he has already begun filming Season 2 of the SBS series Flex X Cop, preparing to continue his momentum in primetime.
Reported by News Culture M.J._mj94070777@nc.press
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