Jo Soo-min Reflects on Reunion with Lee Yi-kyung After Three Years

On December 18, actress Jo Soo-min shared her thoughts on reuniting with Lee Yi-kyung after three years during an interview at the Outer Universe headquarters in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam, Seoul. The interview followed the conclusion of Channel A's weekend drama, Marriage, which aired its final episode on December 12.

Marriage tells the story of a single-minded civil servant, Jeong Hana, who is determined to escape a marriage fraud promotion team by successfully marrying off a bachelor from an island, Bong Cheol-hee. The series humorously explores the dynamics between singlehood and marriage, providing viewers with relatable and entertaining episodes.

Jo Soo-min portrayed the strong-willed and independent Jeong Hana, whose belief that living alone is the only solution leads to an ironic situation where she must facilitate Bong Cheol-hee's marriage. Her nuanced performance of Jeong Hana's emotional journey received widespread acclaim.

Reuniting with Lee Yi-kyung, whom she last worked with on KBS2's The Secret Royal Inspector: Joseon Secret Investigation Team, Jo Soo-min reminisced about their time together. "Bong Cheol-hee is inherently bright and humorous, which made me laugh a lot since Lee Yi-kyung shares those traits. We had previously worked together, so even when we had a few NGs, we could quickly pick up where we left off. The staff appreciated how efficiently we filmed together," she said.

Their on-screen kiss scene was noted for its warmth, melting away the winter chill. Lee Yi-kyung had previously mentioned postponing dental surgery due to the filming schedule, which heightened interest in their kiss scene. Jo Soo-min remarked, "Back during The Secret Royal Inspector, I was just a kid, and now we’re filming kiss scenes. It felt more comfortable than awkward. Lee Yi-kyung was dedicated to the project, and the dental surgery didn’t interfere with our scene at all," she laughed.

As an only child, Jo Soo-min humorously suggested that if she had a sister, she would recommend Lee Yi-kyung as a potential match, praising his diligence, kindness, and strong sense of responsibility. "He would be a great partner in a relationship," she added.

Lee Yi-kyung has been busy with four fixed variety shows while continuously filming projects, leading to speculation about financial pressures. Jo Soo-min noted, "I heard he has four fixed variety shows, and even on his days off from drama filming, he seems to be working. It looks like he never has a day off. He truly loves his work and puts in a lot of effort. He even joked about being able to lend up to 100 million won for a photoshoot, but no one has ever approached him for money on set," she chuckled.

Inspired by Lee Yi-kyung's work ethic, Jo Soo-min expressed a desire to pursue variety shows herself, saying, "Seeing Lee Yi-kyung makes me want to work harder and explore more opportunities in entertainment."