Heo Nam-joon, the flower path is open

"Namjoon gets so nervous before filming that he always sweats. But as soon as we start shooting, he suddenly becomes crazy. At first, I suspected that he was doing it on purpose, but it turned out that he's actually a really kind guy. Watching him try so hard to do well made me feel like a sore thumb."

Kim Myung-min said this about Heo Nam-joon, who was unable to attend the production conference for 'Your Honor' held on the 12th due to COVID-19. Heo Nam-joon appears as Kim Myung-min's eldest son in the play. Kim Myung-min praised Heo Nam-joon, saying, "If you see him in person, you'll be really surprised. He's so kind that it's completely different from the play. He's an actor who's thoroughly prepared and has a strong will to act."

Son Hyun-joo also emphasized, "Heo Nam-joon is a friend with a particularly big gap. He doesn't talk much normally, but when the camera starts rolling, he immerses himself in the character to the point where you want to kill him. He is an outstanding actor with explosive energy that comes out of his innocence." He also expressed confidence, saying, "Through this work, we will be able to watch Heo Nam-joon grow in the future."

Although the two actors gave great praise to Heo Nam-joon, it was difficult to really feel what they said since he was not present. However, when the first episode of 'Your Honor' was released, the stories of Kim Myung-min and Son Hyun-joo were touching. Amid the acting prowess of the two actors, Heo Nam-joon's presence was not buried but stood out.

'Your Honor', which took about 2 years to produce, had high expectations even before its release because it stars Son Hyun-joo and Kim Myung-min. In particular, it was Kim Myung-min's return to the series after 3 years. 'Your Honor', which was unveiled, drew explosive responses from the first episode. 'Your Honor' is an Israeli original, and deals with a complex case involving a successful judge (played by Son Hyun-joo) and his son (played by Kim Do-hoon), and depicts the dilemma of a father who must go beyond the law and ethics to protect his son.

Kim Myung-min plays the role of Kim Kang-heon, a powerful man with a cold heart and an intimidating presence who holds Woo Won-shi in his hands. He uses his omnipotent power to make everyone tremble in fear and pursue the criminal who killed his son. Kim Kang-heon's eldest son, Kim Sang-hyeok, is played by actor Heo Nam-joon. Kim Sang-hyun's character is a son who resembles his father, Kim Kang-heon, in all his violence and cruelty. He is the only one who shakes the composure of the cold-blooded Kim Kang-heon.

Director Yoo Jong-sun, who was in charge of directing, revealed that he is a villain by saying, "Nam-joon is the worst character in our drama. That's why we called him 'Bad X' while working." From the first scene where he appears, Nam-joon Heo leaves a fierce impression with his suit and intense gaze.

When he confronts Ma Ji-young (played by Jung Ae-yeon) at the funeral and is suspected of being the culprit who killed her younger brother, he uses his facial muscles and neck tendons delicately to maximize his emotional expression without saying a single line. He also increases the immersion of the play with his irreplaceable villain acting through the scene where he smokes a cigarette in front of reporters and then pushes a bodyguard with a tired expression.

The plot of 'Your Honor' was calmer than expected, but it drew an interesting response due to the actors' great acting. Son Hyun-joo and Kim Myung-min's acting skills are very famous. The majority of the reactions were "as expected", and great interest in Heo Nam-joon continued. He debuted in the 2019 film 'Like the First Glass' and appeared in 'Snowdrop', 'Sweet Home Season 2', 'Royal Roader', and 'Sweet Home Season 3'. Although they were big works, they were supporting roles with small roles. 'Your Honor' is Heo Nam-joon's first leading role.

As the first episode has just aired, 'Your Honor' still has a long way to go, but Heo Nam-joon played a significant role in drawing a hot response with just the first episode. Having proven why Son Hyun-joo and Kim Myung-min gave him such high praise, expectations are rising as to whether he will be able to significantly increase his recognition through 'Your Honor' and continue to take on leading roles.

Lee So-jung, Ten Asia reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr