Nam Joo-hyuk
A model-turned-actor whose gentle charisma and nuanced performances have made him a defining star of South Korean youth dramas.
Born 1994 (age 32)·South Korean actor and model·Birthday: February 22·Millennials
Biography
Nam Joo-hyuk won the Best New Actor award at the 2016 Baeksang Arts Awards for his role in 'Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo.' Born in 1994 in Busan, South Korea, he began his career as a model, walking for major fashion houses before transitioning to acting. His first leading role came in 'Who Are You: School 2015,' a teen drama that aired on KBS2. He followed that with 'The Bride of Habaek' and the legal drama 'The Light in Your Eyes.' In 2020, he starred in 'Start-Up' as a pragmatic entrepreneur. His role as a journalist in the 2022 series 'Twenty-Five Twenty-One' earned him a nomination for the Baeksang Grand Prize. Forbes included him on its 30 Under 30 Asia list in 2018. Nam selects roles that explore emotional vulnerability, building a filmography that resonates with younger audiences.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Nam was born in 1994, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Nam Was Born
The biggest hits of 1994
#1 Movie
The Lion King
Best Picture
Forrest Gump
#1 TV Show
Seinfeld
Nam's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1994Born
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1999Started school
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2007Became a teenager
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Could drive
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2012Could vote
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2015Turned 21
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2024Turned 30
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 32 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Gained widespread popularity playing the lead role of Jung Joon-hyung in the hit drama 'Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo'.
- Starred as Baek Yi-jin in the critically acclaimed and popular tvN drama 'Twenty-Five Twenty-One'.
- Was included in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list in 2021 in the category of Entertainment & Sports.
- Made his successful film debut in the historical war epic 'The Great Battle' in 2018.
Did You Know?
He was a competitive swimmer for over ten years during his school days.
He made his entertainment industry debut as a model for the Seoul Fashion Walk in 2013.
He is an ambassador for the Korean Red Cross and has participated in numerous donation campaigns.
“I want to be an actor who can show a wide spectrum of emotions.”
