Nam Joohyuk on 'The East Palace': "I Am Grateful for All Feedback, I Will Continue to Give My All in Every Role"

Actor Nam Joohyuk shared his deep thoughts on the mixed reactions to the Netflix series "The East Palace," accepting them with humility.

On the afternoon of the 21st, an interview with actor Nam Joohyuk, who starred in the Netflix series "The East Palace" (written by Kwon So-ra and Seo Jae-won, directed by Choi Jung-kyu), was held at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul.

"The East Palace" is a mystery thriller occult historical drama about Gu-cheon (Nam Joohyuk), a ghost hunter with the special ability to freely cross into the world of spirits, and Saeng-gang (Roh Yoonseo), a court lady who can hear the voices of spirits. The two are secretly summoned by the King (Cho Seung-woo) to uncover the truth behind the cruel curse dwelling in the East Palace. In the drama, Nam Joohyuk delivered a passionate performance as the mysterious character Gu-cheon, who enters the palace to track down the truth behind the pond ghost that killed the Crown Prince.

Regarding the release of "The East Palace," which began filming in October two years ago, Nam Joohyuk said, "The time until the release felt both long and short. I feel relieved, but also very nervous." He added, "I have been spending my days with a mix of worry, anticipation, and excitement about how viewers will receive it."

Having heard many reactions from people who watched all 8 episodes in one sitting after the release, he expressed his gratitude, saying, "It was a project that everyone, from the actors to the staff and production team, worked on with one heart from the hot summer to the cold winter. When I heard positive comments, it felt like the hard times I went through were washed away, and I felt really good."

This fantasy occult historical drama was a set where the actors' physical exhaustion reached its peak due to overwhelming action scenes and underwater filming. Nam Joohyuk, who expected some hardship from the moment he saw the script, recalled, "I was in the military when I decided to join the project, so I was full of passion and physical strength. But after filming the first action scene where I enter the world of spirits on set, I realized, 'This is going to be really tough.'" Nevertheless, he showed his sense of responsibility as an actor, saying, "If that vividness was conveyed well to the public, the hardships I went through are nothing. If I can create good scenes, the struggle is nothing."

Since its release, "The East Palace" has ranked number one on Netflix in Korea and has received positive responses from overseas viewers, with some comparing it to "Stranger Things" and the film "Constantine." However, some viewers have expressed disappointment with the acting of the leads, Nam Joohyuk and Roh Yoonseo.

Nam Joohyuk showed a candid and composed attitude toward the various evaluations and mixed reactions from viewers regarding the project and his acting.

He stated, "I am fully aware that there are mixed reactions. I gratefully accept the positive reviews, and I also gratefully accept the feedback that pointed out areas for improvement, and I think about how I can develop and grow further. Rather, those perspectives become new motivation for me."

He added, "It is natural for diverse opinions to emerge when there are many viewers for a project. There will be times when I receive praise and times when I don't, but I will be grateful for all opinions."

He also revealed his firm philosophy regarding the fact that the acting profession is subject to public evaluation. Nam Joohyuk said, "Acting is a profession where you are inevitably evaluated. Whether it is a project I am working on now, or in the future, my mindset remains the same. I try to approach it with a positive heart, thinking about how I can best portray the character I have been assigned."

Finally, he shared his determination, saying, "Meeting a good project is a great blessing as a person and as an actor. I am grateful to have met such a wonderful project, and I will continue to study and research for future projects, acting as if I am burning my whole body."

Meanwhile, "The East Palace," which features Nam Joohyuk's new acting transformation, consists of 8 episodes and was released in its entirety on Netflix on the 17th.

[Photo=Netflix] 

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)