Nam Joo-hyuk: Wiki, Career, Awards, 4 Fun Facts & More

Nam Joo-hyuk started his career in the entertainment industry in 2013 as a model. In the following year, 2014, he made appearances in music videos by YG Entertainment. After these appearances, he quickly transitioned into acting and made his debut in a supporting role in the tvN drama series ‘The Idle Mermaid’ in 2014.

Nam Joo-hyuk landed his first major role in the KBS drama series ‘Who Are You: School 2015’, a coming-of-age teen drama. In the series, he portrayed the character of ‘Han Yi-an’, a high school student who experiences growing pains such as having a crush on a schoolmate and injuries affecting his swimming career. His portrayal of ‘Han Yi-an’ was well-received by audiences and he garnered a lot of attention for his performance. This led to him winning several accolades for his work on the show, including the ‘Best New Actor award’ at the ‘4th APAN Star Awards’ and the ‘Popularity Award’ at the ‘2015 KBS Drama Awards,’ which highlights his popularity and recognition among the audience and industry experts.

In 2016, Nam Joo-hyuk had several notable appearances in popular drama series such as ‘Cheese in the Trap’ and ‘Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo’. He also became a cast member on the variety show ‘Three Meals a Day’, which gave him an opportunity to showcase his comedic skills and versatility as an actor. In addition to this, he starred in his second lead role as a swimmer named ‘Jung Joon-hyung’ in the sports drama ‘Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo’. His portrayal of the character received positive reviews and helped him gain wider recognition.

The following year, in 2017, Nam took on the leading role in the fantasy romance series ‘The Bride of Habaek’ where he played a narcissistic Water God. He portrayed this character with great depth, conveying the complexity of the role. He then made his big-screen debut in 2018 in the historical film ‘The Great Battle,’ where he played a young man who is struggling with inner conflict. His performance in the film was highly praised, with critics noting his ability to deliver a powerful and nuanced portrayal of the character. As a result, he won the ‘Best New Actor’ award at the prestigious ‘Blue Dragon Awards,’ which is a testament to his talent and skill as an actor.

In 2019, Nam starred in the fantasy romance drama ‘The Light In Your Eyes’ alongside Han Ji-min and Kim Hye-ja, where he received positive reviews for his performance. In 20209, he went on to star in two popular series, Netflix’s supernatural crime drama ‘The School Nurse Files’ and the tvN romance series ‘Start-Up’.

In the same year, he also starred in the romance film ‘Josee’, a remake of the 2003 Japanese film “Josee, the Tiger and the Fish’, where he reunited with his ‘The Light in Your Eyes’ co-star Han Ji-min. Due to the success of these projects, he was included in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Asia list for the Entertainment & Sports category in 2021, recognizing his achievements and talent as an actor.

Later, he has been involved in various projects, one of which is the tvN drama ‘Twenty-Five Twenty-One’. The series, which premiered in February 2022, tells the story of a man and a woman who met during the IMF crisis that happened in 1998. Nam Joo-hyuk played the character of ‘Baek Yi-jin’, which was met with favourable reviews from audiences and critics. Korean media outlet OSEN praised Nam as the symbol of youth. Writer Kim Bo-ra praised Nam’s solid physique, warm-hearted visuals, and deep sensibility, which made him look like a character in a teen comic. She added that Nam’s affectionate warm voice and clear gaze make viewers’ hearts flutter and fall for ‘Baek Yi-jin’.

In 2022, Nam also starred in the film ‘Remember’, which was released theatrically on October 26. In the film, he played the role of a young man who helps an Alzheimer’s patient commit revenge. His portrayal of the character received high accolades from many.