BL Rookies Jung YeoJun & Ahn SeMin On Being High School Sweethearts Who Drifted Apart In Upcoming BL Drama “Boys Be Brave”, Understanding Each Other & More | EXCLUSIVE

Get to know the young rookie actors Jung YeoJun and Ahn SeMin, who will be leading the upcoming BL drama "Boys Be Brave"!

Ishani Sarkar, Kpopmap Editor
8 min to read · Published : Apr 18, 2024

BL Rookies Jung YeoJun & Ahn SeMin On Being High School Sweethearts Who Drifted Apart In Upcoming BL Drama “Boys Be Brave”, Understanding Each Other & More | EXCLUSIVE

Kpopmap

Welcome to Part 2 of our exclusive interview series with the cast of the upcoming BL K-Drama “Boys Be Brave”, featuring actors Jung YeoJun & Ahn SeMin!

For those who might not know, Kpopmap is working closely with the production team of the BL drama “Boys Be Brave”, which is based on the BL webtoon “Roommates” by Seok Young.

So, Kpopmap had the chance to visit the filming set of “Boys Be Brave”, interview the cast – handsome rookie actors Kim SungHyen, Nam SiAn, Jung YeoJun, and Ahn SeMin, the director of the drama Lim HyunHee (of “Our Dating Sim” fame) and scriptwriter Lee SinWon.

We also played some fun games with the actors of the BL drama “Boys Be Brave” and picked out the cutest behind-the-scenes moments for BL fans all over the world. These contents will be unveiled on our YouTube channel soon!

Until then, check out our exclusive interviews unleashing the endless charms of actors Kim SungHyen, Nam SiAn, Jung YeoJun, and Ahn SeMin.

Previously, in part 1, we spoke to Kim SungHyen and Nam SiAn about their heart-fluttering chemistry on screen in “Boys Be Brave”, aegyo attacks, and more.

In this article, we will share our conversation with Jung YeoJun and Ahn SeMin, who shone brightly and couldn’t stop complimenting each other during the interview! Both actors showed their adorable charms and consideration for each other as they opened up about working on their first BL drama “Boys Be Brave”, why they chose the project, and more.

In case you missed it, “Boys Be Brave” tells the story of three friends – JinWoo (Kim SungHyen), KiSub (Nam SiAn), and Sunny (Jung YeoJun) who can never confess their love to their crush and InHo (Ahn SeMin), who is the complete opposite and never hesitates to express his feelings honestly.

EL Media Company / H&ENT / Jung YeoJun / fantagio / "Roommates" by Seok Young on Tappytoon

The BL drama charts the characters’ journeys as they move towards self-acceptance and learn how to confess despite their inner wounds.

With elements of slice-of-life, romance, comedy, and growth, this BL drama is one that you definitely do not want to miss.

So, without further ado, let’s get into our interview with Jung YeoJun & Ahn SeMin!

Hello. I am actor Jung YeoJun, playing the role of Choi Sunny in “Boys Be Brave”.
Jung YeoJun
Hello. I'm actor Ahn SeMin, who portrays 'InHo,' a character honest with his emotions, in “Boys Be Brave”.
Ahn SeMin

You might remember Jung YeoJun from the recent K-Drama "Like Flowers In Sand", where he drew viewers' attention. He has also acted in "Rookie Cops". Jung YeoJun is working independently, confidently making his place in the acting world.

Ahn SeMin, on the other hand, has acted in "The Red Sleeve", "School 2021" and most recently, "Our Love Triangle". He is signed to fantagio and is making moves in the entertainment industry.

Both actors showed their bright and hard-working personalities on the set of "Boys Be Brave" and were incredibly sweet to our staff, making us fall in love with them even more. Call us biased, but we are rooting for Jung YeoJun and Ahn SeMin with all our hearts!

pageonefilm

How these talented rookie actors came together for this BL drama was the first thing we were curious about as we started this interview.

The reason I chose this project is because of the character Choi Sunny. The three-dimensional character, which combines a fun story with a poignant narrative, deeply resonated with me.
Jung YeoJun
When I first read the script, I found it fascinating because all the characters felt so alive. Also, I decided to join this project with the desire to challenge myself with a new genre that I haven't tried before.
Ahn SeMin

Sunny is an optimistic part-timer who cannot forget his brief yet stormy relationship with InHo during their high school days. However, he cannot face his feelings. When InHo, who was studying abroad, suddenly abandons everything and appears in front of him, his monotonous life is turned upside down as he asks him to go on just three dates.

Both Sunny and InHo are very interesting characters and completely opposite of each other. This naturally led us to wonder if the actors and their respective characters shared any personality traits.

Jung YeoJun / "Roommates" by Seok Young on Tappytoon / Kpopmap

Sunny is like looking at my early twenties. In the early twenties, everyone is uncertain about the future. I was the same, and it seems like Sunny was also going through the process of finding that out. Through that, he probably grew more as a person, right? When portraying Sunny, I tried a lot to express those aspects—not just love but also worries about the future and the immaturity of a 20-year-old boy.
Jung YeoJun

Indeed, one of the key defining characteristics of Sunny is that he has a colorful and happy personality, living up to his name. However, deep inside, he hides his real emotions and loneliness, which adds a dimension of depth to his character.

When I think about it, it seems like there is a lot of darkness when Sunny is alone. (Especially when he's in the semi-basement room alone...). Working for money is one reason, but I think it's also because he doesn't want to be alone, so he works wherever he can and meets his friend KiSub.
Jung YeoJun

Over the course of the BL drama "Boys Be Brave", we witness Sunny's character development as he accepts his own imperfections and learns to love both himself and others.

I think the key difference between the Sunny from high school and the current Sunny lies in how much weight he carries regarding the harsh reality.
Jung YeoJun

Thus, Sunny is a character who grounds the dreamy narrative of the BL drama "Boys Be Brave" and brings realism into the mix. Sure, we all love a fairytale romance, but sometimes, life gets in the way. We asked actor Jung YeoJun what advice he would give to Sunny if he were friends with his character in real life, and his answer is something all of us need to hear sometimes.

I want to say, “You are a truly precious person. Difficult times will pass”.
Jung YeoJun

Then, what advice do you have for young people who are also going through and struggling with something similar to Sunny?

Right now, it may feel incredibly tough, but as time passes, it will become nothing, so don't worry too much!
Jung YeoJun

Of course, on a lighter note, we also asked about actor Jung YeoJun's own confession style, as opposed to his character Sunny's!

I like you 😊 (I'm the honest type)
Jung YeoJun

Do you hear that? It's the sound of the butterflies in our stomachs! 🦋🦋

Now, as for InHo, he is a character scriptwriter Lee SinWon wanted the other three characters to aspire to be - someone who is honest about their emotions and isn't afraid to express them to the ones they love.

fantagio / "Roommates" by Seok Young on Tappytoon / Kpopmap

Actor Ahn SeMin plays InHo with a certain flair and quiet certainty, but his own dating style is quite different.

InHo is a character who really likes Sunny and is straightforward in his approach, but I have a personality that prefers to slowly get to know someone. Unlike InHo, I get to know them gradually and express my feelings naturally. If I were to go on three dates like InHo, I would have dates where we enjoy delicious food, have many conversations at a cafe, go to an amusement park, and also watch a movie.
Ahn SeMin

Everyone, if you want to go on such heart-fluttering dates with Ahn SeMin, you can start lining up now! 😍💐

Back to "Boys Be Brave", at first glance, InHo may appear like he has nothing to lose as he confesses to Sunny. However, he left behind a world of opportunities to come to Sunny because he missed him and wanted to be with him. This requires a level of courage and initiative that is hard to imagine and, hence, makes InHo a complex character with layers of charisma.

It doesn't seem easy to give up work or the opportunity for a role in a project because of love. I believe that when opportunities come, it's more important to seize them.
Ahn SeMin

To actors Jung YeoJun and Ahn SeMin, "Boys Be Brave" was indeed a great opportunity, and they seized it at once. Naturally, relentless effort and hard work went into this work, requiring a deep understanding of each other's characters to better bring out the genuine emotions of their own.

I think I had a lot of conversations with the director and actor Ahn SeMin, who plays the role of InHo. Above all, I constantly contemplated to immerse myself in the past story with InHo, striving to understand the journey of Sunny’s character from the past to his complex emotions in the present.
Jung YeoJun
I analyzed the script diligently for the character InHo and while reading, contemplated deeply on his determination and emotions for Sunny.
Ahn SeMin

Just as we expected, both actors mentioned that their approach towards their characters involved empathizing with each other's characters. This must have been significantly impactful in building chemistry on screen and imbuing their romance in "Boys Be Brave" with the kind of conviction and honesty that can move the audience and tug at their heartstrings. However, given their adorable first impressions of each other, it seems like creating this lovely dynamic wasn't too hard of a task after all.

When I first saw actor Ahn SeMin, his eyes were so beautiful, hehe.
Jung YeoJun
When I first saw actor Jung YeoJun, he seemed sharp and full of charisma, making it difficult to approach him. However, he initiated the conversation and took care of me, so I think we naturally became closer.
Ahn SeMin

If that does not scream effortless chemistry, we don't know what does!

Seok Young, the author of the original webtoon "Roommates" on which "Boys Be Brave" is based, even mentioned that when she visited the filming set of "Boys Be Brave", Sunny and InHo's chemistry was even better than she had imagined!

InHo & Sunny in "Roommates" by Seok Young on Mr. Blue

Looks like we might already have the BL couple of the year in our hands! 💖

We cannot forget, though, that as easy as our actors make it look, the process of filming is always a labor of love and dedication. Still, the experience remains etched in the actors' hearts as pleasant memories.

There wasn't anything particularly challenging during the filming, but shooting outdoors in the cold weather is something that will be memorable for a long time. After the last shoot, I want to exercise diligently and also take a short trip.
Ahn SeMin

With the amount of sincerity, commitment, and dedication that is going into "Boys Be Brave", it would be best to hear from our actors themselves about what they think will be the highlight of the BL drama "Boys Be Brave" for viewers.

Please look forward to the emotional scenes between Sunny and InHo, and wonder if Sunny and InHo will have a happy ending. (No spoilers)
Jung YeoJun
I think the viewing highlight will be the ‘push and pull’ where InHo continues to honestly express his feelings and Sunny pushes him away.
Ahn SeMin

Finally, to conclude our interview, check out actors Jung YeoJun and Ahn SeMin's warm words for viewers all over the world.

If you don't watch “Boys Be Brave”, you'll regret it~
Our actors, staff, and director worked hard during the winter to create a great piece, so we ask for a lot of attention and love. Thank you! ~
Jung YeoJun
This is a work that was created with the passion and affection of the director, writer, actors, and all the staff who worked together. “Boys Be Brave” is a story that starts off joyfully and happily but evolves into a poignant and heartwarming narrative! We ask for your much-appreciated attention and love. And please support InHo as well. Thank you!
Ahn SeMin

We don't know about you, but Jung YeoJun and Ahn SeMin have totally won us over. 💘

With a touching and relatable story of youthful love and confession, "Boys Be Brave" will be coming to your screens on April 25. You can watch it on Viki.