Choi Jun-young discusses his growth as an actor, his experiences during 'Spring Fever,' and his past as an idol trainee.

Actor Choi Jun-young, who continues to grow, looked back on his past as a trainee at SM. Yesterday (10th) afternoon, Choi Jun-young, who appeared in the tvN Monday-Tuesday drama 'Spring Fever' (written by Kim A-jung, directed by Park Wong-guk), held an interview at the Newsen building in Gangnam, Seoul, discussing various topics about the work. 'Spring Fever' depicts a pink romance that melts the frozen hearts of teacher Yoon Bomb (Lee Jubin), who has closed the door to her heart, and the passionate man Song Jaegyu (Ahn Bo-hyun). In the drama, Choi Jun-young plays the role of Song Jaegyu's only nephew, Song Hangyeol. Choi Jun-young said, 'Over the past year, while preparing and filming this work, I created many memories and it became an opportunity for growth. Thanks to the wonderful staff, seniors, and colleagues, I made many memories in Pohang, the filming location, and spent really happy times while eating delicious food. There were difficult parts, but I gained a lot through this work. Today is the last broadcast, and I feel sad and lonely.' Regarding the character he played, Choi Jun-young explained, 'The dialect was the most important base and occupied a large part. Besides that, Hangyeol is a character with an inner story and wounds, so he doesn't try to express his emotions. When acting, I kept imagining, 'How would Hangyeol act?' I tried to understand the inner emotions properly, like when Sejin (Lee Jae-in) said, 'Hangyeol probably doesn't have parents,' and I tried to remain cool without showing panic.' He constantly consulted with the director and staff about areas he felt were lacking. Choi Jun-young said, 'When I cared for Sejin or showed affection, I asked the director, 'How much emotion should be visible at this moment?' The director also supported the dialect, saying, 'It's been a while since I've used dialect, but let me know if there's anything awkward.' He had to showcase more intimate acting with Ahn Bo-hyun, who played his uncle, Song Jaegyu. The uncle-nephew relationship, sometimes appearing as friends, added further interest and emotion to the drama. Choi Jun-young remarked, 'He was a senior from whom I could learn a lot. He showed how to care for those around him, creating a pleasant atmosphere on set. He also greeted loudly and exemplarily. When I struggled with the dialect or had concerns, he gave me advice, and we actively exchanged opinions when creating interesting scenes as uncle and nephew. I think he fulfilled the role of a leader very well.' Choi Jun-young, who debuted in 2020 with the JTBC drama 'LIVE ON,' has steadily built his filmography with works like 'IDOL: THE COUP D'ETAT,' 'Everything We Loved,' 'Bunny and the Brothers,' 'Dear.M,' 'Spirit Fingers,' and 'Spring Fever.' As a member of SM Entertainment, Choi Jun-young had also nurtured dreams of becoming an idol. He explained, 'I entered the agency while majoring in acting at Seoul Performing Arts High School, aiming to become an actor. I also trained as an idol trainee. I developed a dream of becoming an idol through training, but due to lacking skills, I chose to pursue acting after consulting with the company. I focused on acting from my third year of high school.' Choi Jun-young trained alongside RIIZE's Wonbin, Seongchan, and Eunsook, and his past of watching performances while wearing a mask became a topic of discussion. When asked if he felt envious of his colleagues who are actively debuting as idols, he replied, 'I do feel some regret. My dream of becoming an actor was firm, but during my time as an idol trainee, I was serious about it. When I had to quit, I felt very disappointed and had regrets.' Nevertheless, he stated, 'What I learned during that time became a weapon for me. In fact, when I play an idol in a work, memories of my trainee days come to mind. I meet and contact friends I trained with, and we support each other's paths. Sometimes when I see everyone on stage, I think, 'I want to try that too,' but I believe opportunities will come when I hold fan meetings as an actor.' Choi Jun-young, who is recognized for his visuals and stable acting skills, said regarding the expectations from SM Entertainment, 'Many people support me. Employees from various departments say, 'We talked about you many times today.' Such words are more grateful than burdensome. I want to show a wonderful side. I feel happy to have reliable support and feel that I have allies. I'm also grateful to have met wonderful people at the company.' As this is just the beginning for Choi Jun-young, he wants to encounter diverse works and characters and continue to grow. He said, 'I want to play characters with different personalities and environments from those I've played before. I want to try fantasy and wild characters. I want to challenge roles like in 'Bloodhound' or like Park Seo-joon in 'What's Wrong with Secretary Kim,' and I also want to do action with Ji Chang-wook.' Choi Jun-young, who predicts active activities in 2026, stated, 'I usually don't get swayed by emotions and seek quiet things. Therefore, I have often been afraid to take on new challenges. This year, I want to try many new challenges and explore different sides of myself. This is something I consider not just for my roles but as a person, Choi Jun-young. Since this year is the Year of the Horse, I want to stay healthy and run like a horse.'