'Brave New World' Heo Nam-jun: "Dating rumors with Hong Yi-seol? Never imagined it, I laughed for a long time" [Interview ③]

*This content was translated by AI.

Actor Heo Nam-jun shared his feelings after being mentioned in dating rumors with Hong Yi-seol.

Recently, Heo Nam-jun shared various topics, including his role models and the recently surfaced dating rumors with Hong Yi-seol, in an interview at a cafe in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, following the conclusion of the SBS Friday-Saturday drama 'Brave New World'.

On that day, Heo Nam-jun stated, "I feel like the frequency of people recognizing me has increased. Many acquaintances have contacted me. I was searching for my videos and noticed they were appearing frequently in the algorithm, and even people I hadn't contacted in a while reached out, so I felt it more tangibly at that time."

Heo Nam-jun gained great popularity by delivering a dual performance as Cha Se-gye, a chaebol, and Lee Hyun, the younger brother of King Anjong of Joseon, in 'Brave New World'. Riding the wave of the drama's success, he also ranked first in the drama actor brand reputation survey released recently by the Korea Corporate Reputation Institute.

He said, "I want to do not only traditional historical dramas but also fusion historical dramas. I want to take on all genres without being restricted by age. While the scripts and characters may differ, isn't the romance I play now different from the one I would play as I age? I think my own intensity and feelings will also be different. I have a desire to try various genres, not just historical dramas. I want to portray intense emotions."

He also named Kim Mu-yeol as his role model. Heo Nam-jun said, "Since my debut, my role model has been Kim Mu-yeol. He acts well, and it seems that those who are good at acting work even harder. He is also famous for taking good care of all the actors playing various roles on set. In 'Sweet Home,' the senior actors always gathered in his waiting room. He takes such great care of everyone." He also shared this heartwarming story.

He continued, "Even after the drama ended, he spoke warmly to me. A single kind word like that can be a great source of strength for a rookie. He is also good at what he does around him, and his dedication to his family is perfect. I feel like he is living the life of a good person as I see it. He is too warm and perfect."

Recently, he also became a topic of discussion after experiencing a dating rumor incident, which is almost a rite of passage for top stars. Regarding the dating rumors with Hong Yi-seol, Heo Nam-jun said, "I laughed for a long time. I couldn't even imagine that a dating rumor would break out between me and that friend. It was really funny. I thought, 'Wow, we could actually get entangled like this.' It was truly amazing."

He added, "I thought, 'A dating rumor with me? Even more than me.' Honestly, I didn't expect articles to be published like this."

Meanwhile, 'Brave New World' is a romance drama depicting a tense war between Shin Seo-ri (played by Im Ji-yeon), a nameless actress possessed by the soul of Joseon's notorious villainess and turned into a 'villain,' and Cha Se-gye, a ruthless chaebol called a monster of capitalism. The final episode aired on the 20th, concluding with a self-recorded highest viewership rating of 11.8% (based on Nielsen Korea).

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*This content was translated by AI.