Actor Lee Sun-bin, known for her versatility across genres including horror, drama, and comedy, is returning to the screen with her signature style of relatable comedy in the film 'The Secrets of the College Entrance Exam' directed by Lee Yong-jae.
The movie is a comedic mission that follows the chaotic efforts of exam writers striving to create flawless questions for the college entrance exam, which are sealed for 40 days. In the film, Lee plays 'Maeng Bo-ram,' a fifth-year Korean language teacher from a small city who inadvertently joins a group of esteemed professors due to a mix-up with her name. As the situation escalates, her character's resilience shines through, reflecting Lee's own energetic performance.
"The term 'college entrance exam' is familiar to anyone in South Korea, even if they haven't taken it themselves. It's a national issue that can halt flights, yet I realized I had never thought about the exam writers. The freshness of the subject overwhelmed me. I wondered if there could be another character as pure and passionate as Maeng Bo-ram, who shows an endearing naivety. I felt I could portray aspects of myself that I hadn't shown before, both in terms of acting and visually, so I really wanted to take on this role," Lee said.
Lee expressed her determination to participate after hearing about the involvement of senior actors such as Yoo Jae-myung, Kim Young-min, Jeon Seok-ho, Kim Kyung-min, Lee Jin-hee, Hwang Bo-ra, Jung Soo-young, Lee Jung-ok, and Ryu Kyung-hwan. She was captivated by the desire to work alongside these esteemed colleagues.
"Of course, I had that desire. The senior actors I would be working with were all people I wanted to act with, so there was no reason to decline. Every time I heard about one of them joining, I thought, 'This will be so much fun. I wonder what kind of ad-libs or comedy they will bring.' I felt I could learn a lot from them. It felt like everything—the script, the content, and the chemistry between the characters—was coming together perfectly," she added.
However, once filming began, the pressure matched her excitement. She particularly felt the weight of delivering emotional scenes, where she had to match the intensity of her senior colleagues' performances with just a few lines.
"In scenes with conflict or strong emotions, I felt the difference in experience with my seniors, which led to a lot of contemplation. Even a single line from them carries a different weight. I worried that if I couldn't respond properly, it might affect their performances. We filmed important confrontation scenes early on, which made me very nervous since the narrative hadn't built up yet," she explained.
In the film, Maeng Bo-ram is portrayed as an inexperienced 'new teacher' who is often overwhelmed among the distinguished exam writers. Lee hoped that her character would not come across as frustrating or burdensome, emphasizing the importance of being seen as someone who asks questions out of ignorance and strives to do well.
"I tend to be someone who doesn't know much. Living a life focused on work, I sometimes find myself slow to grasp social issues or unfamiliar terms. So, to avoid being a burden, I honestly admit when I don't know something and ask questions. I have a style where pretending to know quickly backfires. As I read the script, I realized that my character shares this trait with Maeng Bo-ram," she noted.
Lee aimed to portray Maeng Bo-ram as sometimes bold and oblivious, yet sincere enough for the audience to empathize and cheer for her. To make her character relatable, she drew on her own emotions and incorporated her natural speech patterns into the role.
"Maeng Bo-ram speaks boldly without realizing it, but she shouldn't come off as unlikable. Even if she seems oblivious to other teachers, I believe the audience should think, 'I've been in that situation too,' and feel supportive. It was important for her actions to reflect genuine curiosity and a desire to do well. I thought a lot about the way I speak when I'm genuinely curious and asking questions of adults or seniors," she said.
Initially, Lee focused on portraying the teaching profession itself. However, as she delved deeper into the script, she realized that Maeng Bo-ram's essence lies not in being a skilled teacher but in her genuine care for students and her position as the youngest member of the exam committee.
"When I first received the script, I expected to see a lot of scenes featuring a high school teacher instructing students. I thought I would need to watch videos of top instructors, but as I read the script, I realized I had misunderstood. While Maeng Bo-ram may be a popular and warm teacher at school, among the exam writers, she is completely the youngest and a bit of a 'rookie.' The key difference is that she acts out of genuine concern for students rather than appearing as a professional teacher. I researched how to express that sincerity and looked for videos and stories related to the college entrance exam," she explained.
Given that the film centers on the college entrance exam, Lee naturally reflected on her own high school years. However, she noted that she had a different experience from her peers, having decided on her acting career early on.
"I understand the weight of preparing for the college entrance exam because I've seen my friends go through it. Whether preparing for regular admissions or arts and physical education, once you become a senior, there's a palpable pressure associated with the exam. I started practicing for musicals in my first year of high school, and my dream was clear from an early age. In my second year, I would finish school and go to practice or work part-time, and by my third year, I felt it was already late, so I started auditioning. Even if I had the chance again, I'm not sure I could handle that difficult exam. It seems like it would have been terrifying," she reflected.
Lee did not want to present her experience of not attending college as a definitive answer. She believes that some people need time to learn and grow in school, while others may benefit more from hands-on experience in the field.
"Just because I didn't go to college doesn't mean I think 'college isn't important.' Ultimately, it seems to come down to what one desires. Some people can create synergy by learning and building solid foundations in school, while others may find that they thrive by gaining experience in the field. I think I learned better through direct experiences rather than through books, asking questions when I didn't know something and learning through those experiences. Ultimately, the importance of college can vary depending on one's dreams and disposition," she said.
Lee aimed to visually convey the impression of being 'inexperienced' through Maeng Bo-ram's appearance. She carefully considered small details to reflect the character's status as the youngest among the senior exam writers.
"When taking on a character, I often think about wanting to show a new side of myself. I wanted Maeng Bo-ram to give off an impression of being a novice just by standing among the seniors. For instance, wearing coffee-colored stockings instead of skin-colored ones, or having a suit that looks slightly oversized and a skirt that seems awkwardly short. I also envisioned her hair being tied back in a messy bun, as if she couldn't be bothered to style it nicely," she explained.
Lee also minimized makeup to avoid looking overly polished. Just before filming, she utilized her sun-kissed skin from another project to ensure that Maeng Bo-ram stood out more than Lee Sun-bin the actress.
"I had just finished filming another project in Jeju Island for about two months, so my skin was quite tanned. The makeup artist actually liked it. We used a darker foundation and avoided enhancing my features too much. We filmed as I was, and while my friends teased me, I received feedback that 'it felt like Maeng Bo-ram was there, not Lee Sun-bin,' and 'it seemed like someone else was acting.' I think I succeeded in showing a new side of myself, which made me happy," she said.
Lee identified the film's greatest appeal as the stories of the people behind each exam question. She believes the comedic portrayal of the processes involved in creating a test that captivates the nation each year offers ample entertainment, even for those who may not be interested in the college entrance exam.
"The first charm is how the film humorously reveals the efforts and challenges involved in creating a single question for the college entrance exam, which is a major annual issue. I was surprised to learn many facts I didn't know before. I believe that even those who aren't interested in the exam will find the film engaging, as it isn't solely about the exam writers' stories," she concluded.
The movie is a comedic mission that follows the chaotic efforts of exam writers striving to create flawless questions for the college entrance exam, which are sealed for 40 days. In the film, Lee plays 'Maeng Bo-ram,' a fifth-year Korean language teacher from a small city who inadvertently joins a group of esteemed professors due to a mix-up with her name. As the situation escalates, her character's resilience shines through, reflecting Lee's own energetic performance.
"The term 'college entrance exam' is familiar to anyone in South Korea, even if they haven't taken it themselves. It's a national issue that can halt flights, yet I realized I had never thought about the exam writers. The freshness of the subject overwhelmed me. I wondered if there could be another character as pure and passionate as Maeng Bo-ram, who shows an endearing naivety. I felt I could portray aspects of myself that I hadn't shown before, both in terms of acting and visually, so I really wanted to take on this role," Lee said.
Lee expressed her determination to participate after hearing about the involvement of senior actors such as Yoo Jae-myung, Kim Young-min, Jeon Seok-ho, Kim Kyung-min, Lee Jin-hee, Hwang Bo-ra, Jung Soo-young, Lee Jung-ok, and Ryu Kyung-hwan. She was captivated by the desire to work alongside these esteemed colleagues.
"Of course, I had that desire. The senior actors I would be working with were all people I wanted to act with, so there was no reason to decline. Every time I heard about one of them joining, I thought, 'This will be so much fun. I wonder what kind of ad-libs or comedy they will bring.' I felt I could learn a lot from them. It felt like everything—the script, the content, and the chemistry between the characters—was coming together perfectly," she added.
However, once filming began, the pressure matched her excitement. She particularly felt the weight of delivering emotional scenes, where she had to match the intensity of her senior colleagues' performances with just a few lines.
"In scenes with conflict or strong emotions, I felt the difference in experience with my seniors, which led to a lot of contemplation. Even a single line from them carries a different weight. I worried that if I couldn't respond properly, it might affect their performances. We filmed important confrontation scenes early on, which made me very nervous since the narrative hadn't built up yet," she explained.
In the film, Maeng Bo-ram is portrayed as an inexperienced 'new teacher' who is often overwhelmed among the distinguished exam writers. Lee hoped that her character would not come across as frustrating or burdensome, emphasizing the importance of being seen as someone who asks questions out of ignorance and strives to do well.
"I tend to be someone who doesn't know much. Living a life focused on work, I sometimes find myself slow to grasp social issues or unfamiliar terms. So, to avoid being a burden, I honestly admit when I don't know something and ask questions. I have a style where pretending to know quickly backfires. As I read the script, I realized that my character shares this trait with Maeng Bo-ram," she noted.
Lee aimed to portray Maeng Bo-ram as sometimes bold and oblivious, yet sincere enough for the audience to empathize and cheer for her. To make her character relatable, she drew on her own emotions and incorporated her natural speech patterns into the role.
"Maeng Bo-ram speaks boldly without realizing it, but she shouldn't come off as unlikable. Even if she seems oblivious to other teachers, I believe the audience should think, 'I've been in that situation too,' and feel supportive. It was important for her actions to reflect genuine curiosity and a desire to do well. I thought a lot about the way I speak when I'm genuinely curious and asking questions of adults or seniors," she said.
Initially, Lee focused on portraying the teaching profession itself. However, as she delved deeper into the script, she realized that Maeng Bo-ram's essence lies not in being a skilled teacher but in her genuine care for students and her position as the youngest member of the exam committee.
"When I first received the script, I expected to see a lot of scenes featuring a high school teacher instructing students. I thought I would need to watch videos of top instructors, but as I read the script, I realized I had misunderstood. While Maeng Bo-ram may be a popular and warm teacher at school, among the exam writers, she is completely the youngest and a bit of a 'rookie.' The key difference is that she acts out of genuine concern for students rather than appearing as a professional teacher. I researched how to express that sincerity and looked for videos and stories related to the college entrance exam," she explained.
Given that the film centers on the college entrance exam, Lee naturally reflected on her own high school years. However, she noted that she had a different experience from her peers, having decided on her acting career early on.
"I understand the weight of preparing for the college entrance exam because I've seen my friends go through it. Whether preparing for regular admissions or arts and physical education, once you become a senior, there's a palpable pressure associated with the exam. I started practicing for musicals in my first year of high school, and my dream was clear from an early age. In my second year, I would finish school and go to practice or work part-time, and by my third year, I felt it was already late, so I started auditioning. Even if I had the chance again, I'm not sure I could handle that difficult exam. It seems like it would have been terrifying," she reflected.
Lee did not want to present her experience of not attending college as a definitive answer. She believes that some people need time to learn and grow in school, while others may benefit more from hands-on experience in the field.
"Just because I didn't go to college doesn't mean I think 'college isn't important.' Ultimately, it seems to come down to what one desires. Some people can create synergy by learning and building solid foundations in school, while others may find that they thrive by gaining experience in the field. I think I learned better through direct experiences rather than through books, asking questions when I didn't know something and learning through those experiences. Ultimately, the importance of college can vary depending on one's dreams and disposition," she said.
Lee aimed to visually convey the impression of being 'inexperienced' through Maeng Bo-ram's appearance. She carefully considered small details to reflect the character's status as the youngest among the senior exam writers.
"When taking on a character, I often think about wanting to show a new side of myself. I wanted Maeng Bo-ram to give off an impression of being a novice just by standing among the seniors. For instance, wearing coffee-colored stockings instead of skin-colored ones, or having a suit that looks slightly oversized and a skirt that seems awkwardly short. I also envisioned her hair being tied back in a messy bun, as if she couldn't be bothered to style it nicely," she explained.
Lee also minimized makeup to avoid looking overly polished. Just before filming, she utilized her sun-kissed skin from another project to ensure that Maeng Bo-ram stood out more than Lee Sun-bin the actress.
"I had just finished filming another project in Jeju Island for about two months, so my skin was quite tanned. The makeup artist actually liked it. We used a darker foundation and avoided enhancing my features too much. We filmed as I was, and while my friends teased me, I received feedback that 'it felt like Maeng Bo-ram was there, not Lee Sun-bin,' and 'it seemed like someone else was acting.' I think I succeeded in showing a new side of myself, which made me happy," she said.
Lee identified the film's greatest appeal as the stories of the people behind each exam question. She believes the comedic portrayal of the processes involved in creating a test that captivates the nation each year offers ample entertainment, even for those who may not be interested in the college entrance exam.
"The first charm is how the film humorously reveals the efforts and challenges involved in creating a single question for the college entrance exam, which is a major annual issue. I was surprised to learn many facts I didn't know before. I believe that even those who aren't interested in the exam will find the film engaging, as it isn't solely about the exam writers' stories," she concluded.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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