Crushology 101: Behind The Scenes With The Show’s Lead Actors
From left to right: Cho Jun-young, Roh Jeong-eui, and Lee Chae-min for ‘Crushology 101.’ Photo: MBC, courtesy of Han Cinema.
What happens when you swear off romance, but four swoon-worthy men have other plans?
It’s this age-old question of love that Crushology 101 attempts to answer. The plot follows Bunny, a college girl who hits the brakes on her love life after finding out her boyfriend isn’t who she thought he was. Bunny’s done with love. Or so she thinks, until four dangerously charming men challenge her resolve. For those who need their dose of K-drama romance, this new series, now available on K-content platform Channel K, is the one to curl up with. We caught up with the show’s lead actors, Roh Jeong-eui (Bunny), Cho Jun-young (Cha Ji-won), and Lee Chae-min (Hwang Jae-yeol), on all the behind-the-scenes moments, on-set chaos and their favorite moments from filming.
The vibe backstage was one of warmth and camaraderie, and it shows on screen. “There was a time when we were all cold on set, so we turned on a heater and roasted Jjondeugi (Korean chewy snacks) together,” Roh Jeong-eui recalls. “That small, shared moment really stuck with me.”
When the cast initially met, Cho Jun-young was excited to reunite with Roh Jeong-eui, whom he had previously worked with on Dear M. But, while his first impression of Lee Chae-min was that he seemed cold, it didn’t last too long. “He turned out to be incredibly warm-hearted,” Jun-young says. Lee Chae-min, on the other hand, was impressed by everyone’s friendly demeanor. “It was easy to communicate and coordinate during filming,” he notes.
One of the most memorable scenes for Cho Jun-young was the festival scene in episode seven. “It was a moment driven entirely by the gaze and emotions of Ji-won, Bunny, Jae-yeol, and Yeo-reum, with no major dialogue, and the tension in that scene really stayed with me. Plus, it was when Ji-won stepped onto the stage and began to express his feelings to Bunny—definitely one of the most memorable scenes for me,” he reflects. Lee Chae-min says sharing food props during the shoot was a memorable part of his experience, while Roh Jeong-eui cherishes bonding with her co-stars. “We got closer by joking around comfortably and communicating a lot,” she shares. “Everyone had a kind image at first, but over time, I remember Yeol turning out to be quite the playful one, and Won being a lot shyer than I expected!”
By bringing their characters and narratives to life, the actors gained a deeper insight into their own emotions, relationships, and the ups and downs of growing up. Cho Jun-young observes that even though romance and friendship can get messy sometimes, they’re a big part of how we grow and learn from what we feel. “No matter what happens, I’ve come to understand that staying mentally strong and continuing to love and understand myself is what’s most important,” he says. Lee Chae-min adds, “I’ve come to feel that everyone has a first time and areas where they’re lacking, but if you accept that and respect one another, you’ll eventually grow while discovering better sides of each other.”
Still reflecting on these moments and inspired by the journey they’ve shared while working on Crushology 101, the cast is thrilled to connect with fans in India now that it has arrived in the country. Roh Jeong-eui says, “Thank you so much for loving Crushology 101! I’ll keep working hard to become an actress who can return with more dramas that you’ll enjoy.” Looking forward to showing Indian fans more sides of himself through the work, Cho Jun-young states, “I’d love to visit India and connect with fans up close.” As for Lee Chae-min, he concludes by saying, “I hope our drama brings you happiness and joy, even if it’s just a little bit. I’ll continue to greet you with good projects in the future—please look forward to them!”
