What Lim Ji-yeon and the romance rumors left behind.. Heo Nam-jun, from 'Beautiful World' to becoming a top star [★FULL Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.

Although 'Beautiful World' has ended, the prime of actor Heo Nam-jun is just beginning.

'Beautiful World' is a work depicting a tense, explosive romance between Shin Seo-ri (played by Lim Ji-yeon), a nameless actress possessed by the soul of a notorious Joseon-era villainess and turned evil, and Cha Se-gye (played by Heo Nam-jun), a vicious chaebol dubbed a monster of capitalism. Heo Nam-jun showcased a wide acting spectrum, moving between the modern chaebol Cha Se-gye and Lee Hyeon, a nobleman from the Joseon era.

Recently, Heo Nam-jun met at a cafe in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, and said, "'Beautiful World' being loved makes me really happy. I always do my best with every project, but since it's doing well, I'm honestly happy," while flashing a bright smile.

Regarding the ending of the work, he said, "I am 100% satisfied with the ending," and added, "I liked the stories that were resolved refreshingly in the latter half. The overall curve was satisfying."

His affection for the Cha Se-gye character was also exceptional. Heo Nam-jun explained, "Cha Se-gye is not a bad person at his core. He is a character who wears a hard shell to survive due to the lack of being loved," and added, "The reason he wears a stretched-neck T-shirt at home was also to show his tender inner self."

He continued, "Cha Se-gye seems to be divided into when he wears a suit and when he doesn't. Regarding immature love that he has never experienced with family or the opposite sex, I thought I just needed to show the mature side of a man among men, and I acted accordingly."

He also revealed his fandom for Dex, to the extent that he referenced the character while acting. He said, "It's hard to create a character in a rush. If you watch and meet many charming or interesting people, don't you end up resembling them? Having charming friends around me was helpful." He added, "There was a period when I was deeply contemplating the ease that Dex possesses. His ability to judge rationally and exercise restraint was charming."

Especially regarding the viral lines "You're pretty" and "You passed," he said, "When filming that, I felt like I was completely Cha Se-gye. I was in a state of high immersion, and I was just speaking words I was shouting inside my heart."

Above all, Heo Nam-jun revealed deep trust in his co-star Lim Ji-yeon. He said, "From Cha Se-gye's perspective, Shin Seo-ri is a truly charming character," and added, "She is someone I feel I might never meet again if I lose her."

He continued, "Watching Lim Ji-yeon, I felt that those who are good work even harder. It must have been physically and mentally difficult, yet she always maintained a bright energy and made the on-set atmosphere comfortable," and stated, "She was so thoroughly prepared that I barely remember any lines being marked as NG. Thanks to that, I also became more alert and worked harder."

He also responded to Lim Ji-yeon's earlier comment on a variety show where she called meeting him "a miracle." Heo Nam-jun said, "On set, we joked around a lot, saying 'You're the one who got lucky meeting me,' but in serious moments, we acknowledged that we were both better off because of each other." He added, "I want to express that she accepts everything I say and that she is someone I will never meet again. It's sincere. I was so reluctant for the work to end."

He also revealed his role model as an actor. Heo Nam-jun said, "Since my rookie days, my role model has been senior actor Kim Mu-yeol," and expressed his admiration, stating, "Fundamentally, he acts well, yet he works even harder because he is good. On set, he takes care of all the actors."

He said, "Even during the filming of 'Sweet Home,' the actors would always gather in the senior's waiting room," and added, "Even after the work ended, he would offer warm words. He is living a life of a good person not only in terms of skill but also by being devoted to his family."

Regarding the recent romance rumors with Hong Yi-seol, he burst into laughter. Heo Nam-jun said, "I laughed for a long time. Honestly, I never imagined that I and that friend would be the subject of romance rumors," and revealed, "It was truly amazing. I thought, 'So we can be linked like this.'"

He continued, "I thought, 'Even romance rumors, and about me?'," and said, "I didn't expect it to grow to the point of becoming a news article."

With the drama's success, Heo Nam-jun has also secured the number one spot in actor brand reputation, walking the path of a top star. He stated, "In the future, I want to do both traditional historical dramas and fusion historical dramas, and I want to challenge myself in various works without limiting genres. As time passes, I want to show changing emotions and their intensity through acting. I also want to try works filled with poignant emotions in the future."

Although Cha Se-gye has departed, Heo Nam-jun's prime is just beginning. Having established himself as a top star through 'Beautiful World,' he is set to showcase a different charm in the drama 'Whale Star,' scheduled for broadcast next year, where he will play the role of independence activist Song Hae-soo.

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*This content was translated by AI.