Nam Joohyuk Returns for Netflix Series 'The East Palace': "I Was Ready to Give It My All"

Actor Nam Joohyuk has promised a performance of intense dedication in his first project since being discharged from the military, the new Netflix original series "The East Palace".

On the morning of July 8, a press conference for "The East Palace" (written by Kwon Sora and Seo Jaewon, directed by Choi Jung-kyu) was held at the Fairmont Ambassador Seoul in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Director Choi Jung-kyu and lead actors Cho Seung-woo, Nam Joohyuk, and Roh Yoonseo attended the event to share various stories about the production.

"The East Palace" is a mystery thriller occult historical drama that follows Gucheon (played by Nam Joohyuk), a ghost hunter with the special ability to move freely between the world of spirits and the living, and Saenggang (played by Roh Yoonseo), a palace inspector who holds deep secrets within the royal court. The two are summoned by the King (played by Cho Seung-woo) to uncover the truth behind a cruel curse haunting "The East Palace".

Nam Joohyuk, who watched the release of his previous project "Vigilante" while serving in the military, chose "The East Palace" as his comeback project. His character, Gucheon, is a mysterious figure who hunts ghosts while traversing the real world and the spirit realm. Due to the deep trauma of losing his mother at a young age, he is awkward at expressing emotions and always wary of others, but he enters the palace to track down the truth behind the Pond Ghost that has been killing crown princes under the King's orders.

Regarding his decision to join the project, Nam Joohyuk said, "I first received this script while I was in the military." He continued, "The military is a space where you can let your imagination run wild. As I read the script there, a desire to take on the challenge surged within me. I was curious about how the world of spirits would be depicted, and the mystery-filled plot was so intriguing that I thought, 'I can give my all to create the character of Gucheon.'"

As he was returning to the set after a long time, he felt a heavy sense of responsibility. Nam Joohyuk added, "I started filming right after my discharge, and the sense of responsibility was immense. I was determined to work hard and not be a burden to the production. With such wonderful senior actors by my side to keep things grounded, I also tried my best to help create an enjoyable and great set."

Director Choi Jung-kyu expressed his deep trust in the actor, saying, "From the moment I first saw him, I thought he was Gucheon." The director revealed the casting story, stating, "He seemed very reliable and strong-willed, but the deep loneliness that occasionally flickered in his eyes matched the narrative of Gucheon perfectly."

Nam Joohyuk's dedication to mastering authentic occult action was also confirmed by those on set. Stating that "practice was the only answer," Nam Joohyuk mentioned that he practically lived at an action school. "Because of that, it became second nature, and I was able to perform the action scenes more freely on set," he said.

He also shared behind-the-scenes stories about the numerous underwater shoots. While Nam Joohyuk calmly remarked, "It was difficult because I had to go into the water so often, from the sweltering summer to the middle of winter, but I am grateful that the scenes turned out well," his co-star Cho Seung-woo added a vivid account. Cho Seung-woo praised his junior's passion, saying, "Joohyuk went into the water so much that he developed a skin condition from it. I coined the term 'water rash' myself. I saw his arm, and it was to the point where you could write on it by scratching it."

"The East Palace" consists of 8 episodes and will be released simultaneously to viewers worldwide on Netflix on the 17th at 5:00 PM. 

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)