[Interview] 'Jose' Nam Joo-hyuk "The closer I got to my dream, the more I had to give up" (Comprehensive)

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] Nam Joo-hyuk candidly shared the concerns he holds in his heart while living as an actor.

Nam Joo-hyuk spoke about the film Josee (directed by Kim Jong-kwan) during an online video interview held on the 7th.

Josee is a film depicting the most radiant moments shared by Josee (played by Han Ji-min), a name unforgettable from the day they first met, and Young-seok (Nam Joo-hyuk). The film was directed by Kim Jong-kwan, who also helmed The Worst Day and The Table.

Nam Joo-hyuk, who plays Young-seok, who enters Josee’s world, emphasized, “I wanted to portray the image of an ordinary young man living in the same neighborhood. I acted with the intention of showing everything plainly and delicately, like a character in a documentary.”

He expressed satisfaction, saying, “I think the relationships in Josee appeared as much as we expected and worked for. I could smile because I acted without regrets.”

He also stressed, “I wanted to perform raw, unfiltered acting.” Nam Joo-hyuk recalled, “I watched many works from the early 2000s. I thought a lot about how to perform raw acting at my age in my 20s, like the seniors did back then.”

Josee was produced based on the novel Josee, the Tiger and the Fish by Japanese author Tanabe Seiko. It was previously adapted into a film of the same name in Japan and gained popularity.

When asked if he felt any pressure regarding the original work, Nam Joo-hyuk answered, “It would be a lie to say no,” but added, “I was curious about the Josee that director Kim Jong-kwan would depict. Although the framework is similar, the director’s words about wanting to create a work completely different from the original came across as a challenging intention.”

What differences are there between Tsuneo from the original and Young-seok? Nam Joo-hyuk continued, “If I focused on the differences and acted accordingly, I don’t think I could fully show my own Young-seok. I read the original 3 or 4 years before receiving the script, but after getting the script, I didn’t revisit the original. If I had, I might have just ended up imitating it. I wanted to create my own Young-seok.”

Regarding his relationship with Josee, Nam Joo-hyuk said, “As I immersed myself in Young-seok’s world, I felt the desire to show Josee the outside world. I thought most about wanting to show her various worlds beyond just staying at home.”

He added, “Josee has a charm that makes you want to keep talking. Young-seok is very kind and someone who listens and empathizes with others. Josee is someone you want to keep talking to. Maybe that’s why Young-seok kept approaching her.”

When asked if he had ever had to part ways like Young-seok inevitably did, Nam Joo-hyuk replied, “I have always faced moments of choice. There were many times I had to give up something for something else I wanted. I always live amidst such choices,” and confessed, “Gradually, what I have to give up and the path I must take become clearer. The clearer my dreams become, the more things I have to give up.”

Nam Joo-hyuk plays Young-seok, who enters Josee’s world, and shares romantic chemistry with Han Ji-min, who plays Josee, a character living in her own world. This is their second meeting after the drama Snowdrop.

Nam Joo-hyuk recalled, “I got to work with Han Ji-min in a short time. Director Kim Jong-kwan liked her performance in Snowdrop. At that time, I regretted not being able to show many scenes together, so we talked about doing well through Josee. This time, we had many scenes together, so we talked more and created the work. We communicated a lot even before filming started, so I could act comfortably.”

He expressed confidence, saying, “We made it with the mindset of filling two hours with great scenes. I felt more that we could make it well than feeling burdened.”

About Han Ji-min, Nam Joo-hyuk said, “Her attitude of respecting people is impressive. She treats others comfortably. She always does her best when acting. It’s the same when filming scenes with other actors,” and added, “I felt that people couldn’t help but like her.”

Nam Joo-hyuk expressed affection, saying, “She always says she’s lacking, but I often say she is an actor senior from whom not only I but everyone has a lot to learn,” and “I always thought I should learn more.”

Finally, when asked if he has any concerns as an actor and as a person, Nam Joo-hyuk answered, “I am constantly thinking about how to become a good person.”

He continued, “Although vague, I consistently try to be a good person. As an actor in my 20s, I think about how I can appear well to the audience. I hope my attitude toward acting and the joy I show while acting are well reflected in the works.”

“My biggest wish is to be felt as the character itself, not as Nam Joo-hyuk. That’s why I want to challenge various works and roles, do well, and show new sides of myself in many ways.”

Photo = Warner Bros. Korea

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.