[Interview] Ahn Bohyun: "Acting in Dialect Was Both Liberation and Homework... I Prefer Acting to Marriage"

Playing Sun Jaegyu in tvN drama "Spring Fever"
Top 10 on Amazon Prime Video for 5 consecutive weeks
Action that filled the empty spaces... praised as a "mature melodrama"

Actor Ahn Bohyun. Provided by AM Entertainment

tvN's Monday-Tuesday drama "Spring Fever" was a project that put a new mask on 38-year-old actor Ahn Bohyun. In this drama, which ended on February 10, he played the role of Sun Jaegyu, a man with a rough exterior and a transparent inner self, perfectly embodying the so-called "chonmeu-fatal (a countrified homme fatale)." Meeting with him at a cafe in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on the 11th, he said, "We filmed passionately in Pohang, and I'm grateful that we were able to wrap up without any accidents," adding, "I gained strength seeing the ratings climb little by little."

For Busan-born Ahn Bohyun, acting in dialect was both a sense of liberation and the result of intense deliberation. While infusing his natural way of speaking, he focused on bringing out the subtle details hidden within that familiarity.

He said, "I thought the dialect would be easy, but the biggest challenge was bridging the gap between the script's grammar and actual spoken language," and added, "Within the bounds of not straying from the context, I communicated a lot with the director to make the filler words and ad-libs feel true to Jaegyu." He went on, "I'm relieved that viewers liked the results we put out after thinking hard about not causing any misunderstandings."

In a drama marked by lyrical long takes and static directing, Ahn Bohyun filled the empty spaces with his own rhythm. In particular, he performed the action scenes himself without a stunt double, including the subway chase sequence, enhancing the character's sense of vitality.

His solid physique, honed through boxing, was a key element in creating contrasts in the tone of the romance. He explained, "Rather than sharp six-pack abs, I wanted to give off the vibe of a naturally strong, brawny guy," and "Even at the expense of my face, I gained about 4 kilograms to make my frame look bigger and deliberately wore smaller clothes."

The Sun Jaegyu as interpreted by Ahn Bohyun is a pure-hearted person who cannot tolerate injustice. Regarding his character's relationship with Lee Jubin's character Yoon Bom, he said, "The way he sends a look he's never shown anyone before, or awkwardly lifts a bench like it's about to break down, is Jaegyu's sincerity," adding, "I focused on crafting his clumsy behavior in the face of first love."

His chemistry with co-star Lee Jubin has been praised as "a model example of a mature melodrama." Ahn Bohyun picked the scene where Sun Jaegyu opens up about his pain as the moment he was most immersed in. He recalled, "Jaegyu is someone who shoulders his wounds alone, so I felt it was more fitting for him to quietly endure rather than shed tears," and "I agonized a lot over the point where he maintains emotional control yet reveals his inner feelings."

Still from the drama 'Spring Fever'. Provided by tvN.

The drama, which was released worldwide through Amazon Prime Video, generated major buzz, with its global cumulative view count surpassing 500 million. Ahn Bohyun said, "I think the fact that the conflict isn't too heavy and it's a comfortable 'killing time' drama resonated with overseas fans as well," and added, "I gained confidence that Korean sensibilities can also work globally."

In his 13th year since debut, Ahn Bohyun condensed both his rookie-year passion and his current composure into "Spring Fever." This project drew a clear inflection point in his acting career. After finishing the finale on the previous day, he exchanged messages with his colleagues, sharing the lingering emotions of the drama's end.

He said, "I've been lucky with timing and with the people around me," and "I pushed ahead chasing my dream without any connections, and I reached my goals faster than I expected." He continued, "Rather than wealth and fame, I think it's because I genuinely enjoy doing the work I want to do that I come across as relaxed," adding, "With this project, I was able to play freely without psychological pressure, and I feel that mindset is building up more and more over time."

Having solidified his position as a leading man in melodramas beyond genre pieces, he is continuing his relentless stride. Starting this week, he will begin filming Season 2 of his next project, "Chaebol X Detective," and he emphasized his own philosophy of showing a new side of himself with every work.

Ahn Bohyun said, "These days I'm busy attending the weddings of friends around me," adding, "I do envy people who are starting families, but for now I like working more." He continued, "I'm really excited about the project that starts filming on the 14th," and added, "I enjoy the process of communicating on set so much that I even want to go to the shoot on my days off. I want to keep this sense of excitement and devote myself to acting for the time being."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.