Lee Ju-yeon Reflects on 6 Years with After School, Sharing Memories of Kahi and Pride in Intense Performances

Actress Lee Ju-yeon has expressed profound pride in her past musical activities, emphasizing her unique status as the only member to have been with the K-pop group After School from their debut through to the end of their activities.

During the recent filming of the SBS variety show 'Running Man', specifically the Guest King of Kings special, Lee Ju-yeon appeared alongside comedian Heo Kyung-hwan and Miyeon from the K-pop group (G)I-DLE. As the cast members requested dance lessons from her or commented on the notoriously high difficulty of After School's choreography, the conversation naturally drifted toward her days as an idol.

When Kim Jong-kook questioned her dance skills, noting that After School was famous for having extremely difficult choreography, Lee Ju-yeon asserted her capabilities, saying, "Do you know how amazing I am?" She highlighted her dedication, explaining that during her time with After School, she mastered not only drum performances and tap dancing but even pole dancing. "I worked myself to death. I am a hard worker," she remarked.

Lee Ju-yeon's comments touch upon the fact that After School constantly attempted experimental stages that went beyond the typical performance standards of idol groups at the time. Breaking away from simple synchronized group dances, the group built a distinctive image by combining professional skills and artistry, such as drum performances and pole dancing. This required the members to undergo significant physical training and repetitive practice far beyond mere learning of choreography.

When Yoo Jae-suk asked about the duration of her activities, Lee Ju-yeon replied, "I did it for six years. I am the only member who was there from the very beginning to the end." Since After School utilized a unique system of member recruitment and 'graduation' following their debut in 2009, Lee Ju-yeon's history as the sole member to span the entire duration remains a unique record.

In particular, when Yoo Jae-suk speculated that Kahi might have been the one to stay from start to finish, Lee Ju-yeon shared a humorous anecdote regarding the former leader. "Kahi unnie passed the pole dancing off to us right before she left," she recalled, adding, "We practiced like crazy and were covered in bruises." Rather than exposing actual conflict, her remark was viewed as a humorous, exaggerated way to recount the intense preparation process typical of variety show storytelling.

After School debuted in 2009 with 'AH!' and built a unique position in the girl group market with hits such as 'Diva', 'Because of You', 'Bang!', and 'Shampoo'. Notably, in the 2010 release 'Bang!', members performed with actual drum playing, and they later expanded the expressive boundaries of idol performances through stages involving pole dancing. Their system involving member graduations and new recruitments was also quite unconventional at the time.

Following her activities with After School, Lee Ju-yeon expanded her career into acting. She has worked across dramas, films, and variety shows, and recently continues to connect with the public by revisiting her experiences as an idol on variety programs.

This is precisely why her recent remarks have drawn attention. For Lee Ju-yeon, After School is not merely a past idol career, but a period of training and experience that shaped who she is today. The six years spent mastering drums, tap dancing, and pole dancing serve as the foundation for her describing herself as a "hard worker."