SEOUL — For actress Lee Sun-bin, paying for a subscription to her longtime boyfriend Lee Kwang-soo’s new fan messaging app is entirely unnecessary. In a candid interview promoting her film The Secret of the Exam, Sun-bin delivered a witty response when asked whether she had signed up for the service, playfully declaring herself his “private subscriber” instead.
Lee Kwang-soo recently launched a profile on the popular paid communication platform Bubble, quickly generating buzz for his lengthy, humorous, and highly engaging messages to fans. The Running Man star’s chatty style naturally prompted reporters to ask Sun-bin if she counted herself among his followers.
“No, I haven’t subscribed. That never even occurred to me,” Sun-bin told local media with a laugh. “Do I have to subscribe? I’m his private subscriber.”
The remark offered a rare window into a relationship that has quietly matured for over eight years. Sun-bin elaborated that the tone of Kwang-soo’s public messages perfectly mirrors their private exchanges. “When he texts me, he writes really long messages and his voice is very gentle,” she explained. “Because of that, seeing his Bubble messages doesn’t feel strange or unfamiliar at all. I also tend to write at length when I text him.”
Despite opting out of the paid service, Sun-bin endorsed the platform as a valuable tool for artists who otherwise have limited channels to reach their audience. She noted she had used it herself earlier that morning to interact with her own fans before heading to set.
Sun-bin is currently promoting the heist thriller The Secret of the Exam, co-starring veteran actor Yoo Jae-myung, which opens February 28. During a separate radio appearance, she flipped the script on celebrity culture, confessing a recent obsession with NCT member Doyoung. She singled out his song Beginning as a favorite and admitted to attending his concert, proving that even established stars experience the joy of being a fan.
The lighthearted exchange underscores a careful balance the couple has struck over the years. In an industry where high-profile relationships often face intense scrutiny, Lee Kwang-soo and Lee Sun-bin have carved out a dynamic built on mutual respect and grounded humor. By redefining what it means to be a “subscriber,” Sun-bin has charmed the public once again, reinforcing their enduring popularity as one of Korea’s most stable and beloved celebrity couples.
