Actor Namkoong Min Opens Up About Struggles and Triumphs in His Acting Career

Actor Namkoong Min recently shared a personal story about the harsh words he faced during his early career.

On October 8, the YouTube channel 'Yojung Jaehyung' uploaded a video titled 'Gentle yet Loose, Loose yet Says Everything - Falling for Namkoong Min?' In the video, Namkoong Min reminisced about the time he received his first acting award, saying, "It was about 23 years into my acting career. I didn't think I 'deserved' it, but I felt it was time after working so hard."

He continued, "My parents were thrilled when I received the award. Early in my career, they doubted my path, thinking 'he won't make it.' I was studying engineering and could have become a researcher at a major company. In a way, I went against my mother's wishes to get here. But now, they are happy."

When asked about his early struggles, Namkoong Min said, "I didn't have the looks for early success. Many male actors today are over 185cm tall. I didn't have that physical advantage, but I prefer who I am now. Those times helped me refine myself."

He also shared an incident from his past where he faced verbal abuse on set. "Back then, it was common for directors to hurl insults at actors. I was called 'that bastard' on set. Usually, people would say it's tough, but I just said 'okay,' which made me a target," he recalled.

He added, "I loved acting so much at the time. It was precious to me, and I feared losing it if I reacted negatively to the insults."

In conclusion, Namkoong Min expressed his ongoing passion for acting, saying, "Even when things go well, I still feel I'm lacking. When projects don't succeed, I feel the pain and regret the most. That's why I strive to do my best."

Reported by Seyoon Jung, TenAsia yoon@tenasia.co.kr