Ahn Eun-jin Faced Casting Controversy, Facial Paralysis Before 'My Dearest' Success

Actress Ahn Eun-jin (안은진), who stars alongside Seo Kang-joon (서강준) in the new drama “Love Besides You,” which premiered last weekend, recently appeared on singer Jung Jae-hyung’s (정재형) YouTube channel, “Fairy Jaehyung.” During the broadcast, Ahn openly shared the numerous challenges she endured during past filming projects, ranging from casting controversies and a sudden diagnosis of facial paralysis to emotional struggles caused by treatment side effects. She admitted that those periods were incredibly difficult.

Ahn Eun-jin first gained recognition through “Hospital Playlist” and later saw her popularity skyrocket with “My Dearest.” However, her path to stardom was far from smooth. She once faced a “casting suitability” controversy for a lead role, with many viewers questioning whether she was appropriate for the character, which put her under considerable pressure.

Recalling that time, Ahn confessed, “Looking back now, it was really tough. At the time, I just thought I had to get through it no matter what, but reflecting on it now, I realize how incredibly difficult it truly was.”

Beyond the casting controversy, Ahn also unexpectedly fell ill during the filming of “The Good Bad Mother,” even developing facial paralysis, which took a toll on both her physical and mental health. Ahn revealed, “It seems like I encounter some difficulties with every project. While filming ‘The Good Bad Mother,’ I suddenly got sick midway through, and that period was really hard. I developed facial paralysis after catching a cold.”

She recalled that one day, before filming, she was washing her face and brushing her teeth as usual when she suddenly noticed water leaking from one side of her mouth. “At the time, I had no idea what was happening. I didn’t even realize it was facial paralysis at first.”

It wasn't until the symptoms persisted for some time and she felt increasingly uneasy that she explained the situation to the director and went to the hospital. After a diagnosis, it was confirmed to be facial paralysis. Unfamiliar with the condition, she initially thought a few days of rest would resolve it, but her condition not only failed to improve but continued to worsen. “I was really depressed and very sad at that time,” Ahn admitted.

Despite her poor physical condition, she managed to complete the day’s filming but later had to temporarily halt work. Due to the delayed movement on one side of her face, the production team subsequently tried to film her from the side as much as possible to minimize the impact on frontal shots.

For treatment, Ahn underwent both Western and traditional Korean medicine, including acupuncture and strong steroids. She noted, “That bought me an extra month.” However, her symptoms did not improve with time; instead, they worsened day by day, causing her emotions to plummet.

What made it even harder were the side effects of the steroids. She revealed that her face became noticeably swollen after taking the medication. “Even just going for a walk, my face would swell up,” and her knees also became swollen. “It was really hard to stay positive then. The swelling just got worse and worse until that drama finished. But because I still had to continue filming, there was nothing else I could do.”

In addition to the physical torment, Ahn also endured immense psychological pressure at the time. She admitted that she became very unconfident, constantly questioning, “Can I really act well on set?” After much deliberation, she decided the best approach was to be honest and reveal her vulnerability and true condition to the director.

Ahn confessed to the director, “Director, if people on set don’t like me, I can’t act well. If I’m not loved, my self-esteem can’t be built. Please help me.” To her surprise, the director genuinely offered assistance, not only personally asking her to delve deeply into the script but also arranging numerous script readings and rehearsals, helping her regain confidence in her acting step by step. This past experience greatly astonished host Jung Jae-hyung.

Now, Ahn has successfully solidified her popularity with “My Dearest.” Reflecting on the hardships she faced along the way, she candidly shared how she overcame both physical and psychological challenges.