Former APRIL Member Lee Na-eun Returns to the Spotlight After 6 Years for 'My Little Chef' Production Presentation

Lee Na-eun, formerly of the K-pop group APRIL, made her official public appearance after approximately six years as an actress.

The production presentation for the short-form drama ‘My Little Chef’ was held on the 21st at the Goyang Starfield Central Atrium in Gyeonggi Province.

‘My Little Chef’ tells the story of 'Choi Noma', the heir to a major food conglomerate, who loses everything overnight and grows into a true leader through an unusual cooking competition. It is a short-form drama that captures the dramatic harmony of cooking, competition, love, family, and growth.

Lee Na-eun takes on the role of Noma, the protagonist. Having debuted with APRIL in 2015, she previously showcased impressive acting in works such as ‘A-TEEN’, ‘Extraordinary You’, and ‘Flex x Cop’.

However, in 2020, Lee Na-eun faced a crisis when she was accused of being a perpetrator and instigator in the bullying allegations involving former APRIL member Lee Hyun-joo, along with school violence accusations. She halted her activities, withdrawing from scheduled projects. The school violence accusations were later resolved when a netizen who made the claims was found guilty of defamation for spreading false information, and the prosecution decided not to prosecute the bullying allegations.

The public sentiment had cooled, making Lee Na-eun's return difficult. During this period, controversies such as the 'flirting' allegations involving Kwak Tube and dating rumors with soccer player Lee Kang-in also surfaced.

Meeting reporters for the first time in about six years since the production presentation of ‘Extraordinary You’, Lee Na-eun stated, “It hasn’t been long since we finished filming, and I’m happy to meet the director and cast through this production presentation.”

She added, “It’s a bright and positive role, but it also has human aspects, so I focused on that. This is my first short-form drama, so I approached expressing various emotions in a short time with a greater sense of responsibility.”

Director Kim Sang-hoon commented, “Since it’s based on a game, I was wondering how to approach the character. But at the first script reading, I felt that Lee Na-eun was Noma. She grasped the character well from her first line, making me confident that we could lead the drama with her as the center.”

Meanwhile, ‘My Little Chef’ is a project resulting from a strategic partnership in short-form media between Grampus and Joy Company, a content company specializing in video and AI production.

Korean netizens have shown mixed reactions to her comeback. Comments express excitement like, "It's been so long, I'm glad to see her act again," alongside cautious remarks such as, "Given her past controversies, she needs to proceed carefully moving forward." Some also voiced anticipation, stating, "I'm curious to see her acting performance."