Sweater, pants, MEXICO 66 SD CRYSTAL all ONITSUKA TIGER

Nam Yoon-su’s rise to fame is far from an overnight success story. To call his ascent meteoric would be a misrepresentation of his actual trajectory — an erasure of nearly a decade of persistence, patience and deliberate growth. From his early start as a model in 2014 to his first acting gig in 2018, Nam has built his career on steady momentum instead of instant hype. That effort has clearly paid off, earning him a devoted following of viewers, fan clubs from across the globe, and industry watchers eager to see what he does next.

Each choice has been intentional, each role has been a brick laid carefully in the foundation of an actor who is clearly committed to longevity. It is not just hard work that gets you through doors, but also discernment and trusting your gut. That is the Nam Yoon-su style. When the world first laid eyes on Nam Yoon-su in Netflix’s Extracurricular (2020), he was catapulted onto the global stage. The gritty high school drama introduced him to international audiences as a talent capable of balancing vulnerability with edge, setting a precedent for the roles he would later secure. In 2024, Nam Yoon-su found himself at the centre of the Hallyu zeitgeist.

Jacket, Givenchy; Tank top, Stylist’s own

Many fans’ relationship with Nam Yoon-su is inseparable from his career-defining performance in Love in the Big City (2024). The nature of the series — with its taboo subject matter that explicitly challenges South Korean societal norms — allowed him to be part of a broader and larger cultural conversation, which in turn kept him at the forefront of the current discourse. With it, his emotional and raw performance was just the cherry on top, reinforcing his range and credibility as an actor.

After a year in creative stasis following his last project, Nam Yoon-su is raring to go, eager to channel his energy into what comes next. He is slated to star in a new movie by the end of this year, with details still kept under wraps.At this stage of his journey, the echoes of his name reverberate loudly. Unlike others who revel in fleeting fame, Nam Yoon-su is the anomaly here. He is here to stay. So, beyond superficial headline presence, it is much more important to ask: what story will he weave for himself?

Sweater, pants, gloves, all Burberry

You started out as a model more than 10 years ago in 2014, and since then, you have fully crossed over into the acting arena. What was the spark that changed your trajectory?
While working as a model, I had opportunities to experience magazine shoots, music videos, and various video projects. Through those experiences, I realised that both modelling and acting  share the common ground of expressing emotions. Naturally, I began to wonder ifI could also try acting, and over time, that curiosity grew into confidence.

Can you recall a specific turning point in your life where you felt like your career truly began?
When I first started acting, I built up my experience through web dramas. They were smaller-scale projects, but it was a valuable time to learn how to express different characters in front of the camera and to develop my acting skills. Then came the opportunity to join Netflix’s Extracurricular, which I consider my first commercial project. Unlike the works I had done before, it was a much larger-scale production with a high level of completeness, and at the same time, it gave me the chance to introduce myself to a wider audience. Through that experience, I felt my mind set and attitude toward acting mature significantly.

Your official acting debut was in 4 Kinds Of Houses (2018).What did that experience teach you, and how different has it been since you first started acting?
That was my first project as an actor. I was very inexperienced and didn’t fully understand about expressing emotions or conveying depth. However, through that project, I learnt how to convey emotions in front of the camera, and the importance of building chemistry with my co-actors. The experience was foundational for me, and still holds a very different kind of meaning  compared to the projects I’ve done since. Now, I approach my roles with greater responsibility, thinking carefully about how I can interpret each character and what message I can convey through my work.

Sweater, pants, all ONITSUKA TIGER

Extracurricular (2020) Brought you to a global audience. How did that role change or shape your career arc?
That project was truly a major turning point for me. It gave me the opportunity to showcase  my acting to audiences all around the world through Netflix. Many people began to recognise my face and name, and it opened doors to new possibilities as an actor. More importantly, preparing for and filming the drama made me reflect more deeply on what acting means to me. For the first time, I began to seriously ask myself, “What kind of stories can I tell as an actor?” That’s why I consider Extracurricular not just a project to put on my portfolio, but a project that completely changed the direction of my career.

In the following year, you were nominated as Best New Actor in the 57th Baeksang Arts Awards, which is a huge honour. What did that special moment mean to you?
Being nominated for Best New Actor was incredibly meaningful to me. Honestly, I never even expected to be a contender for an award, so simply hearing my name as a nominee was already such an honour. Above all, it made me feel grateful that so many people saw my acting in a positive light. That encouragement reminded me that I have to work even harder to live up to their support. It was a moment that carried more meaning than just a nomination, and it became a driving force for me to keep moving forward as an actor.

Before Love in the Big City (2024), your biggest role to date, did you feel like you already had a taste of global recognition with your earlier roles?
Yes, I received a lot of supportive messages even before Love in the Big City. Although  those were Korean productions, audiences from many different countries resonated deeply with the stories, saying they could relate to the characters or found similarities with their own experiences. That kind of response was very moving for me, and I consider it a valuable experience of directly feeling the global reach of Korean content.

It has been a year since Love in the Big City (2024) first aired to audiences worldwide and gained a cult following, with its impact still resonating to this day. What are your thoughts on the response from fans around the world?
Even though quite some time has passed since its release, I’m still amazed and grateful that so many people continue to remember and love the drama. It gives me strength to see not only Korean fans but also global audiences connecting with its message and sending such warm support to me as an actor. I think the most rewarding part of being an actor is realising that our work can live on in people’s hearts beyond just its initial release. It also gives me a sense of responsibility to repay that love witheven better performances in the future.

Jacket, shirt, pants, tie, shoes all Amiri

After carrying such a weighty, emotional role, how did you manage to detach your experiences from your character, Go Young?
I try not to cling to the characters I play after each project ends. I believe that to portray a character well, you first need to understand and stay true to yourself. My focus is always on telling the story as authentically as possible in the moment. In that sense, I put my trust in the energy of the set and the atmosphere it creates.

Do you see the legacy of Love in the Big City (2024) influencing your next chapter as an actor?
I believe the experience brought meaningful changes not only to my acting, but to my everyday life as well. It gave me a sense of leadership, the ability to guide others, and the strength to connect with people on a broader level.

Have there been roles that you passed on recently because you felt you needed more maturity or experience to handle them? How do you evaluate rejecting or accepting these offers?
If I feel a role doesn’t suit my image or my age range, I tend to avoid it for now.I think forcing it could make audiences uncomfortable and might even do a disservice to the project itself. When choosing roles, I try to take on those that allow me to showcase my range and diversity as an actor. Ultimately, I want to express that diversity in my own colours.

Jacket, Givenchy

Do you have an upcoming project that will be released soon? Tell us what it is about and what audiences can look forward to.
Yes, right after Love in the Big City, I filmed a movie titled Killing Time. With live streaming culture at the centre of numerous incidents and issues these days, I believe this project captures the darker side of that world. It explores human instinct and how people react when faced with greed and dangerous circumstances. Besides that, I’ve completed filming two other movies, Hug Me and Scary Story 4. Each project allowed me to embody very different characters, so I hope audiences look forward to seeing the many sides of me through them.

Could you tell us more about the character you play in this project? In what way is this character similar to or different from the ones you’ve portrayed before?
In Killing Time, my character, Joo Won, is someone who possesses strong leadership but also carries ambition and selfishness. He’s the type of person marked by obsession and determination who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. He’s cold yet, at the same time, charismatic enough to draw people in, which makes him a fascinating character to portray.

Do you plan to take on roles that are morally complex or ethically ambiguous? If so, what draws you to such characters, and how do you intend to portray them?
Similar to what I mentioned earlier, because Joo Won’s nature is so different from mine, I thought it would be an exciting challenge to step into his shoes. I wanted to explore human instincts, and through this role, I attempted to portray the ruthless side of someone willing to trample others to achieve their goals.

Sweater, pants, all Prada

Compared to the characters you’ve played in the past, how was your approach different this time?
I tried to understand my character, but ultimately, I acted based on the emotions that naturally arise from the environment and the co-actors I’m working with on set. I don’t want my acting to feel too calculated — I want to present something raw and authentic.

How does this upcoming project differ in tone or atmosphere from your previous works?
While my earlier works focused more on emotions and narrative, this project emphasises tension, pacing, and dramatic developments. The way the characters’ choices and instincts drive the story creates a very intense experience. I think audiences will experience a different kind of thrill and immersion compared to my previous projects.

As an actor, were there particular themes or messages in this project that resonated with you personally? And what message do you hope audiences will take away?
These days, there’s so much provocative content around us, and I realise I too can be influenced by it without even noticing. Through this project, I felt it’s more meaningful to seek out beautiful experiences rather than relying on sensational ones to relieve stress. I hope audiences come away reflecting on that as well.

Coat, shirt, pants, shoes, all Amiri

How was your chemistry with your fellow cast members while preparing for this project, and what was the atmosphere like on set?
I was able to form genuine camaraderie with the cast, going through the ups and downs of the shoot together. Since we trusted and relied on each other, the atmosphere on set was very comfortable and collaborative.

What aspect of your upcoming performance do you hope will surprise or stand out to audiences?
I hope audiences pay close attention to the inner workings of the character — the psychological depth and instincts that drive his choices. Beyond just the visible actions, I want viewers to feel the emotions hidden behind them and be surprised by how he reacts to the circumstances he faces.

Given the range of all of the projects you have taken up so far, what is the next challenge you want to tackle that would push your craft further?
I believe new challenges come from living and experiencing things I haven’t encountered before — whether that’s hobbies, travel, or new encounters. Those experiences bring more diversity and depth to my life as an actor.

Tanktop, pants, all Dolce&Gabbana

Last question — if you could define the legacy you want to leave in the next five years, what would it look like?
Rather than setting a strict definition, I hope to leave behind experiences that feel free and lasting — moments that people can share and carry with them for a long time.

Photography Kim Tae Hwan
Creative Direction & Styling Izwan Abdullah
Interview Dhani Salbini
Grooming Lee Ji Young | Agency Garten
Hair Lee Hye Young | Agency Garten
On-set Styling Kang Yi Seul | Agency Garten
Production Seoyul Oh | SY Production