Lee Nam-jun and Lee Jae-wook in a 'love triangle'..Shin Ye-eun: "'Doctor Island Boy' was different again" [Interview ①]

*This content was translated by AI.

Actress Shin Ye-eun (28) shared her thoughts on successfully concluding the drama "Doctor Island Boy."

In the ENA Monday-Tuesday drama "Doctor Island Boy," which concluded on the 7th, Shin played the role of Yuk Ha-ri. She portrayed a character who left a university hospital as a nurse and moved to a health center on her hometown's Pyeondongdo island while hiding a secret. Yuk Ha-ri is a character with diverse emotional layers, showcasing not only inner pain but also a kind-hearted meddling nature. Shin brought life to the role through her unique bubbly charm and excellent control of intensity and subtlety, enhancing audience immersion.

Notably, Shin, who shares the same birth year (1998) with actor Lee Jae-wook (who played Do Ji), added fresh appeal by presenting a new attempt in a "medical romance." The two did not simply depict a love story but crafted a narrative of "mutual healing," making viewers laugh and cry. As a result, "Doctor Island Boy" surpassed 5% viewership and concluded as a meaningful well-made healing drama.

In an interview with StarNews on the 7th, Shin said, "Personally, my goal was to express Yuk Ha-ri's emotions well. I hoped that when people looked at Ha-ri, they would say, 'What should we do about this child? Oh dear,' but far more than that, many people cried along with her. I felt an achievement far greater than my goal and am truly grateful."

She added, "Although I am acting, I realized that even without consciously focusing intensely or immersing myself deeply while thinking about a character's emotions during life, the 'tear button' can still be triggered. This made me want to get closer to the character. Having had such experiences in this 'Doctor Island Boy,' I now feel I want to connect more deeply with characters in future works."

Shin particularly remarked, "Yuk Ha-ri feels alive," adding, "Ha-ri is someone who can survive anywhere. When faced with difficult situations, she shows a message of hope that there will be an end. Her meddling nature stems from loving her people; it is ultimately not meddling but a warm heart and a broad capacity. I want to tell her, 'I hope you continue to live serving others freely in the future.'"

Shin also said, "Watching not only Yuk Ha-ri but various characters in 'Doctor Island Boy' struggle and overcome hardships helped me heal and gain strength as well. Viewers who watched 'Doctor Island Boy' likely found some resonance with their own lives. Just as I was healed and gained strength through this drama, it conveys that we have the power to endure, and that if someone is by our side, we can keep living. This might be the power of our drama. I hope viewers felt this together."

Additionally, Shin highlighted the unique significance of "Doctor Island Boy" compared to last year's JTBC historical drama "A Hundred Memories," where she was entangled in a love triangle with Kim Da-mi and Lee Nam-jun. She smiled and said, "It has been a long time since I did a modern drama. It felt strangely strange and unfamiliar at first that I could even speak in this way."

She continued, "It has also been a while since I did a rom-com (romantic comedy). Although there was a slight love triangle again (between Lee Jae-wook and Lee Seol), the situation Ha-ri faced was completely different from that of Jong-hee in 'A Hundred Memories.' Since Ha-ri had trauma that needed to be revealed, if the love triangle had been too tangled, it would have caused stress or distorted Ha-ri's trauma itself. So we toned down and adjusted the love triangle."

Shin further emphasized, "During the broadcast, many fans told me at events that they were enjoying the drama very much. I am truly grateful that they made time in their busy lives to watch it."

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*This content was translated by AI.