Actor Ahn Bo Hyun has captured hearts with his role as the “rough but warm” Sun Jae Kyu in tvN’s Monday-Tuesday drama Spring Fever (directed by Park Won Guk, written by Kim Ah Jeong), marking a fresh high point in his career.
Celebrating his 10th anniversary since debut, he said this role gave him confidence to take on even bigger projects in 2026.
In an interview on February 11 at a café in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam, Seoul, Ahn Bo Hyun reflected on the drama’s finale, his love for Sun Jae Kyu, and his future plans.
He openly shared his satisfaction with the drama’s success and his growth as an actor.
Spring Fever, based on a popular webtoon, steadily climbed in ratings, building a loyal audience, and even ranked 1st–2nd on Amazon Prime in the Philippines, showing its international appeal.
Sun Jae Kyu is a rough-looking man with a local Busan dialect, but underneath, he is kind-hearted, upright, and cannot ignore injustice.
Fans praised the drama for its consistent rating growth and called Sun Jae Kyu Ahn Bo Hyun’s “life character,” highlighting how well he embodied the role.
Ahn Bo Hyun said, “I feel really happy. I haven’t done as many projects as some senior actors, but the love we received this time was overwhelming. Seeing the ratings slowly climb was a powerful and fascinating experience, knowing people were watching our drama regularly.”
Portraying a webtoon character came with challenges, but Ahn Bo Hyun embraced Sun Jae Kyu fully. “I often focus on matching the webtoon’s look, but this time, people said, ‘No one else could play Sun Jae Kyu but Ahn Bo Hyun,’ which I appreciated the most. I only referred to the cover photos because the original webtoon was explicit. I set him as a character the villagers avoided but secretly cared for, and the audience seemed to understand that perfectly.”
Being from Busan, Ahn Bo Hyun naturally used the local dialect and connected with Sun Jae Kyu’s blunt yet caring personality. “The dialect was the biggest point for me. My hometown is Busan, and I always thought there would be a day I could use it as my ‘secret weapon.’ The filming environment in the provinces was perfect. The rough yet kind-hearted charm really resonated with me.”
He also shared amusing family reactions. His stern Gyeongsang-do mother handed him a list for autographs instead of compliments, while his sister offered indirect praise. “These things let me concentrate on acting without floating too much.”
The role also demanded physical commitment, including a short haircut and dragon tattoo sleeves, enduring heat, wind, and fast-paced scenes. “We tried to bring the webtoon cover’s rugged feel. Hair styling took 40 minutes, and I washed it multiple times after shoots. The strong wind in Pohang made acting difficult, and I ran to keep up with the subway scene, but it came out well on screen.”
Sun Jae Kyu’s romance with Yoon Bom (Lee Joo Bin) showed a fantasy-like ideal love, while his bond with nephew Han Gyeol (Jo Jun Young) reflected genuine unclely care.
“Sun Jae Kyu is a unicorn-like man, only looking at one woman, someone you’d want to introduce to your sister.
For Han Gyeol, I carried all the character’s pain and wanted to show a fatherly, friend-like figure. Working with Lee Joo Bin and Jun Young was great, and I enjoyed acting on set.”
Reflecting on his career, Ahn Bo Hyun shared how difficult it was to pursue acting without family experience in the field. “No one around me was an actor. People worried because it’s hard work, often needing part-time jobs.
But hearing praise like, ‘I didn’t know you had this side’ or ‘You act really well’ made all the hardships disappear. I feel rewarded being able to give back while doing what I love.”
After winning the Blue Dragon Film Award for Best New Actor and celebrating his 10th anniversary, Ahn Bo Hyun said the role gave him confidence for future projects. “Showing something new every time is my goal. This project gave me certainty in my choices. 2026 will be an exciting year. I plan to challenge myself with villains, historical dramas, and family-friendly projects. I want to create works my family can enjoy too.”
For Ahn Bo Hyun, Spring Fever is more than a hit drama—it’s a cherished project he can revisit with loved ones. “Even if the company might wish for something else, I love that I can watch this with my children one day, or my grandmother and father. Creating a work that can be enjoyed with family is a real merit. The warmth of this story gave me confidence and makes this a memorable, album-like work in my career.”
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