"When He Arrives, the Lights Turn On": 'Brave New World' Director and Writer Praise Heo Nam-jun [Interview]

Director Han Tae-seop and writer Kang Hyun-ju of the recently concluded, highly popular SBS drama 'Brave New World' have shared their heartfelt praise for actor Heo Nam-jun, who has emerged as a master of romantic comedy through his lead role in the series.

'Brave New World' (written by Kang Hyun-ju, directed by Han Tae-seop and Kim Hyun-woo), which aired its final episode on June 20, is a volatile, war-like romantic comedy about Shin Seo-ri (played by Lim Ji-yeon), an unknown actress possessed by the soul of a notorious villain from the Joseon Dynasty, and Cha Se-gye (played by Heo Nam-jun), a villainous conglomerate heir known as a "monster born of capitalism." The drama received immense love from viewers throughout its run for its tight plot, sophisticated direction, and the passionate performances of its cast, even topping the Netflix global rankings.

In a written interview released on June 30, Director Han Tae-seop and writer Kang Hyun-ju expressed their gratitude to Heo Nam-jun for breaking the mold of a typical romantic comedy lead and creating his own unique version of Cha Se-gye.

▲ "Acting on the Level of Possession... Cannot Imagine Anyone Else as Cha Se-gye"

Cha Se-gye, the character played by Heo Nam-jun in 'Brave New World,' claims to be a "villainous conglomerate heir," but in reality, he is a complex figure with many flaws who is clumsy in love. Writer Kang Hyun-ju praised him highly, stating, "Heo Nam-jun was the very key to the success of this romantic comedy. While watching the broadcast, I felt that he had been possessed by the character of Cha Se-gye. Those looks and expressions could never have come from mere acting; I believe he made Cha Se-gye entirely his own, to the point where I cannot imagine anyone else in the role."

With his intense appearance, Heo Nam-jun is somewhat distant from the typical image of a romantic comedy lead, often likened to a prince on a white horse. Regarding the decision to cast him as the lead, writer Kang explained, "Because the character of Cha Se-gye explicitly brands himself as a 'villainous conglomerate heir,' he is far from the typical romantic comedy male lead. In reality, however, he has many flaws, a childish side, and is quite emotionally clumsy, especially when it comes to love. So, from the planning stage, I didn't have the typical romantic comedy male lead image in mind." She added, "I thought it was more important to find an actor who could naturally portray the complex charms of Cha Se-gye. In that sense, Heo Nam-jun was the perfect choice."

Writer Kang further analyzed Heo, saying, "He is an actor who possesses great flexibility beneath a sharp image and a strong aura. He exudes charm through bravado and playfulness in comedic scenes, while deeply condensing the character's sincerity in melodramatic moments. The rhythm and temperature Heo Nam-jun wove together completed the charm of a very human Cha Se-gye."

▲ Character Interpretation Acknowledged by Lim Ji-yeon, Precision That Turns 'Cringe' into Hits

Director Han Tae-seop also expressed admiration for Heo Nam-jun's ability to interpret his character. "The charm of Cha Se-gye depended on how convincingly and attractively he could dismantle the impregnable cynicism of 'Love is just something that makes money,' which the writer had built up," Director Han said. "Heo Nam-jun pulled this off with a sly touch, using instinctive acting and a sincere dedication to the work."

Director Han highlighted Heo's flexibility by sharing a specific anecdote from the set. Recalling a rooftop scene from episode 5, the director said, "When filming lines like 'How is it? You're honored, right?' and the pathetic appearance he showed on the rooftop, I felt that the character and the scene were hitting the mark perfectly. I remember Lim Ji-yeon also praising Heo Nam-jun during that scene, saying, 'You're really good at being pathetic.'"

The secret to perfectly delivering lines that some viewers might find "cringey" was Heo Nam-jun's firm trust in the work and the script. Director Han praised his professionalism, stating, "Heo Nam-jun never once thought or expressed that those lines were cringey. He accurately grasped the character of Cha Se-gye and had thoroughly studied and penetrated the psychology of a person who would say such things. He likely believed that not trusting the lines and delivering them half-heartedly would be disrespectful to his co-star."

▲ "A Big Dog That Turns on Warm Lights on Set"... The Beginning of Renewing His 'Life Character'

Both on and off screen, Heo Nam-jun was a person who changed the temperature of the set. Director Han Tae-seop expressed his gratitude with a warm sentiment: "He is solid and sexy on the outside, but cheerful and soft on the inside, to the point where I wondered, 'How can someone be this multi-dimensional?' When he arrived, it felt like the lights on set had been flicked on." He also mentioned his human charm, adding, "You can tell after just five minutes of talking to him. He is like a big dog with immense consideration for others."

Regarding Heo Nam-jun's rise to global stardom due to the drama's success, the production team agreed that it was a natural result of the actor's long-standing efforts.

"I believe that the sincerity toward acting and the upright way of treating others that Heo Nam-jun has built up through various experiences were bound to make him a star eventually. I am personally proud and happy that I could be with him for a moment during the beginning of that glory through the work 'Brave New World,'" Director Han said. "I am certain that Heo Nam-jun will continue to renew his 'life character' in every future project. I don't think this work has shown all of his charms yet," he added, cheering on the actor's limitless future.

(Photo: SBS 'Brave New World')

Reported by Kang Sun-ae
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.