Singer-actress Yoona has spoken candidly about her co-star Lee Chae Min, who joined tvN’s hit drama Bon Appétit, Your Majesty at the last minute following actor Park Sung Hoon’s withdrawal.
On the September 10 broadcast of tvN’s You Quiz on the Block (Ep. 310), Yoona reflected on the production process of the drama, which has attracted strong attention from domestic and international viewers.
Host Yoo Jae Suk pointed out that Lee Chae Min, who plays the male lead Yi Heon, joined the project only one month before filming began. Yoona responded with high praise:
“He felt like such a well-grounded young man. Even though his preparation time was just a month, he arrived on set fully ready, and I thought to myself, ‘He really is Yi Heon.’”
The role was originally given to Park Sung Hoon. However, in December 2024, he sparked controversy after posting—and then deleting—a group photo of Japanese adult film actors wearing costumes from his Netflix series Squid Game 2. The backlash ultimately led to his exit from Bon Appétit, Your Majesty, with Lee Chae Min stepping in to replace him.
During the show, Yoona also shared her personal reflections on her dual career. Having debuted as both a singer and actress 18 years ago, she admitted that for a time, she felt her acting experience lagged behind her achievements as a Girls’ Generation member.
“I wanted to build my filmography quickly, so in the past three years, I took on about seven projects. I hoped that eventually, my acting experience would catch up with my music career.”
She also expressed warm support for her fellow Girls’ Generation members who are pursuing acting, noting that seeing former idol colleagues thrive as actors fills her with pride. Referring to her drama King the Land, which co-starred 2PM’s Junho, she added:
“Some people described it as a Girls’ Generation and 2PM collaboration. Seeing the drama succeed made me realize that if we do well, audiences respond positively beyond any preconceptions.”
With Yoona’s heartfelt praise and Lee Chae Min’s smooth transition into his role, Bon Appétit, Your Majesty continues to draw attention both for its performances and the behind-the-scenes challenges that shaped it.
Sources: Naver
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