Former After School member-turned-actress Lee Joo-yeon sparked buzz by opening up about her blazing idol-era popularity and her unfiltered views on dating.
On a recent episode of the MBC variety show Omniscient Interfering View, Lee Joo-yeon’s daily life was revealed. Looking back on her school days when she was hailed as one of the "Top 5 Internet ulzzangs" (best-looking faces online), she said, "In middle school my eyesight was bad, so I wore thick glasses. When I entered high school, I ditched them for circle lenses, and that’s when people suddenly started paying a lot of attention to me." She added with a laugh, "Back then, that kind of attention felt burdensome, but looking back, I kind of wish I’d enjoyed it more."
She also shared how she first entered the entertainment industry. "There were a lot of agency scouts waiting in front of my school. I started out doing magazine modeling, and at some point I found myself dancing. I guess it was fate," she recalled of her natural path to debut.
What really grabbed attention was her honesty about the wild popularity she experienced during After School promotions. "I feel like I might get dragged for saying this, but members from boy idol groups would each try to hit on me," she said cautiously. She continued, "It wasn’t just me — other members experienced the same. Sometimes we even got phone numbers through stylists," leaving the studio buzzing.
Lee also got candid about her dating style. "My parents used to tell me not to date, but now that I’m in my 30s, they actually tell me I should date more," she revealed. However, she added, "I don’t really talk to my parents about my relationships. I’ve never even introduced a boyfriend because I worry they’ll be concerned."
Asked why her past relationships ended, Lee admitted, "I tend to get bored of people easily. And I always feel like I have to stay perfectly put-together, so I prefer just being comfortable at home with my family," drawing laughter with her frankness.
Lee Joo-yeon previously faced multiple dating rumors with BIGBANG leader G-Dragon. In 2017, a video of the two together went viral among fans, sparking speculation, but G-Dragon’s agency YG Entertainment denied it at the time, stating they were "just colleagues."
Debuting with After School in 2009, Lee left the group in 2014 and has continued her career as an actress. Most recently, she delivered an impressive turn as Gemma in the Netflix series The Art of Sarah.