Team Nam Joo-Hyuk? Here Are 11 Things About The "Start-Up" Actor
You swoon, we swoon, the K-Drama fandom swoons for Nam Joo-hyuk (aka Nam Do-san from trending K-drama "Start-Up")
From barely having enough on his plate to survive, to having his dreams of success on the hard court shattered, and finally, to becoming a sought-after Korean actor, 26-year-old Nam Joo-hyuk has been through a lot.
He begun acting just five years ago—but don't make the mistake of equating his years of tenure with a lack of talent and potential! His most recent projects include K-Dramas The School Nurse Files and Start-Up, as well as the film adaptation of a Japanese short story called Josée and upcoming series Here.
That onscreen charm (and that face that has become a favorite of luxury brands) is coupled with determination that only a person with humble beginnings knows, and for his fans who know him best, his story has been one of the most inspiring ones there is in South Korean entertainment industry.
He's a heartthrob, for sure, but those killer good looks have substance to back them up. As Nam Joo-hyuk is well on his way to achieving more things as an actor, we gathered highlights of his rise to the top.
Get to know him better in the gallery below!
Get To Know Nam Joo-Hyuk
Get To Know Nam Joo-Hyuk
1. His acting career begun just five years ago.
Many Korean actors and actresses spend much of their teens (and childhoods!) building their acting careers. It's how they gain experience, make the right connections, and slowly make their way up in an industry as competitive as South Korea's TV and movie landscape. But then, there are others who just, well, have their stars perfectly aligned right from the start! With his success now, would you believe that Nam Joo-hyuk got his start just five years ago, and that he never wanted to be an actor to begin with? Thinking he would be doing something totally different with his adult life, destiny had other plans for him. Armed with the right combo of skill, open-mindedness, and looks that the camera adores, he has become a K-Drama king and his fans couldn't be happier about his life's change of course!
2. He thought he was going to become a professional basketball player.
He thought he was going to have a career in sports. The problem with a dream like this is that athlete hopefuls have to take perfect care of their bodies; no major injuries allowed, and certainly not the kind that are bad enough to affect one's performance on court. Lo and behold, that's exactly what happened to Nam Joo-hyuk. He needed surgery for his legs (both of them), and it was the end of any semblance of a professional career in sports. He needed to come up with a new plan.
3. He was a model first prior to becoming an actor.
Seeing that he already had the height and the built for it, he turned to modeling instead! It was way off what he originally intended for himself, but it seemed like the right choice. Almost immediately after his first auditions and winning competitions, he was signed by a management agency. This would mark the beginning of the rest of his life in the entertainment industry.
4. He initially appeared in music videos.
He first modeled for low-key brands within Korea here and there. Then in 2013 to 2014, he had a chance to appear onscreen: first in a music video, and second in the K-Drama "The Idle Mermaid." He played a supporting role in the series, but it was enough to land him more and more roles on TV after that.
5. K-Drama "Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo" was his breakthrough project.
A surprise came in 2015 and a 21-year-old Nam Joo-hyuk would be given his first-ever lead role. He was cast in "Who Are You: School 2015," a teen-targeted series well-received by local and international audiences alike. What followed in his resume were supporting roles in "Cheese in the Trap" and "Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo." But his big break came via the K-Drama "Weightlifting Fairy" wherein he played the role of a swimmer, opposite actress Lee Sung-kyung who became his real-life girlfriend; however, the two broke up just a few months after admitting they were dating. He then starred in K-Dramas "The Bride of Habaek" and "Dazzling." His fans are now looking forward to his upcoming small screen projects "The School Nurse Files" and "Start-Up," and he's said to have another one in the works, "Here."
6. He made his film debut in a starring role in "The Great Battle."
In 2018, five years after making the shift from sports to entertainment, he would get his big break in a film. Critics took note of his performance and he soon became one of the industry's rising stars to keep an eye on. His performance in the historical epic action film "The Great Battle" was commendable, and the fact that it was his career's very first movie made the milestone all the more impressive! More films came his way. Also reportedly lined up for Nam Joo-hyuk are movies "Josee" and "Remember."
7. He had humble beginnings.
But Nam Joo-hyuk isn't all about career; there's more than meets the eye when it comes to this heartthrob and it's his personal story that further won hearts over. Before any of this, even before he dreamed of making a name for himself in sports, he had struggled with family and finances.
8. He's an only child.
Despite being an only child, his parents struggled to support him and there was a point in his life where all he could eat was instant food. He couldn't afford to pursue a college education, which meant that working to sustain himself was something he'd been introduced to from an early age. Where he was then and where he is now couldn't be more different; with more than 12 million Instagram followers to his name today, Nam Joo-hyuk's life changed dramatically in those five years he's been an actor.
9. He's a sought-after brand ambassador.
He still models from time to time, too. He endorses Dior. He has posed for GQ Magazine, L'Officiel, and InStyle Korea. He was also chosen as an international endorser for Philippine clothing brand Penshoppe, which even brought him to Manila for a fan-meet event.
10. He's an all-around simple guy.
But even with his growing success, Nam Joo-hyuk maintains a pretty simple life and a low profile. His Instagram is filled with work-related posts, lots of shots of him and his beloved pooches, and a few photos that show him hanging out with friends on days off. You won't find him showing off his wealth or him living the good life, which is part of his appeal, really. He strikes his fans as someone who knows how to remember his beginnings and stay humble despite his time in the limelight, and if that isn't heartthrob-worthy, we don't know what is!
11. He's single.
Last but not least, there's the business of his romantic status! He's single as far as we know, and his last public relationship (that didn't last very long) was in 2017, and it was with his "Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo" co-star Lee Sung-kyung. Whoever he ends up with, we're sure that all his fans want for him is to be happy!
If you have yet to see his latest K-dramas, The School Nurse Files and Start-Up, check them out on Netflix!
Photos from Dior via @skawngur and Pixabay on Pexels and tvN, courtesy of Netflix
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