The new drama “Love All Play,” starring Seo Kang-joon (서강준) and Ahn Eun-jin, premiered last weekend. To promote the series, Ahn Eun-jin appeared on singer Jung Jae-hyung’s (정재형) YouTube channel, “Fairy Jaehyung” (요정재형). During the program, Ahn Eun-jin recalled her experience taking on her first lead role. The drama’s ratings fell short of expectations, causing her to spiral into self-doubt and believe “everything was her fault.” Unexpectedly, she confided in senior actor Lee Dong-wook, whose direct and insightful words helped her reframe this low point.
Ahn Eun-jin gained popularity after appearing in tvN’s “Hospital Playlist” (슬기로운 의사생활). She then took on her first lead role in JTBC’s “The One and Only” (한 사람만). However, the drama’s viewership ratings were lower than anticipated after its broadcast, which was a significant blow for her first time as a lead.
She confessed, “The ratings weren’t good at the time, and I was really sad.” Even while exercising at the gym, her mind kept returning to the ratings. “Because the ratings were poor, I blamed myself while working out, thinking, ‘Is it all my fault? Why am I like this?’”
During that difficult period, Ahn Eun-jin happened to run into Lee Dong-wook, who was also at the gym. Ahn Eun-jin recounted that Lee Dong-wook first greeted her kindly, saying, “Eun-jin, how have you been lately?” Having suppressed her emotions, she finally couldn’t hold back and confided in her senior: “Sunbae, my drama’s ratings haven’t been good recently. It’s my first time as a lead, and I’m really sad. I feel like it’s all my fault.”
Unexpectedly, Lee Dong-wook didn’t offer a lengthy consolation. Instead, he simply replied, “Now isn’t the time to be thinking about these things.” He then directly told her, “Eun-jin, it’s not yet at the point where you can consider it your fault.”
Although his words sounded very direct, they surprisingly brought Ahn Eun-jin to an instant realization. She stated that after hearing Lee Dong-wook’s words, she began to reflect: “What kind of person do I see myself as? Am I being too demanding of myself, carrying too much responsibility?” The heavy emotions that had weighed on her heart gradually lifted because of her senior’s words.
Ahn Eun-jin admitted that she had been blaming herself for the drama’s poor ratings, but Lee Dong-wook’s words made her realize she was being too hard on herself. Recalling the experience, she expressed her gratitude, saying, “I am truly very thankful to him.”
