Nam Ji-hyun Shines in Historical Dramas with Success in 'Beloved Bandit'

Actress Nam Ji-hyun has earned the title of 'Unbeatable in Historical Dramas' following her consecutive successes in tvN's '100 Days My Prince' and KBS's 'Beloved Bandit'. Nam humbly stated, "I didn't achieve this alone. I'm grateful for the immense love each time."

On the 24th, Nam Ji-hyun was interviewed at a café in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam, Seoul, regarding her role in KBS's weekend mini-series 'Beloved Bandit'. Her thoughtful and articulate responses left a strong impression, revealing her deep affection for her work and character.

'Beloved Bandit' tells the story of a woman who becomes the greatest thief by chance and the prince Lee Yeol (played by Moon Sang-min) who pursues her. Their souls switch, leading to a dangerous yet grand romance where they save each other and ultimately protect the people. Nam Ji-hyun plays Hong Eun-jo, who leads a double life as a physician by day and a thief by night.

The viewership ratings for 'Beloved Bandit' started at 4.3% and rose to 7.6% by the final episode, marking a successful run. Nam expressed her gratitude, saying, "I was so proud to see viewers reluctant to let go. I'm happy and thankful for the love the show received."

The final episode's epilogue, where Hong Eun-jo and Lee Yeol reunite in modern times, sparked anticipation for a second season. When asked about the possibility of a Season 2, Nam said, "I'm glad there's talk of a second season. It means we were loved. Nothing is officially decided, but it would be great to reunite with the same team."

Regarding her chemistry with co-star Moon Sang-min, who is five years younger, Nam said, "It was great. I'm not one to lead the atmosphere, but Sang-min brought great energy to the set, making filming enjoyable."

When asked to rate her chemistry with Moon, she laughed and said, "I'd give it a perfect score." She recalled, "Except for the first three episodes, we filmed most scenes together. There were many challenging scenes, but we communicated a lot, making the process smooth."

'Beloved Bandit' garnered attention even before airing, as previous KBS weekend mini-series like 'Twelve', 'Eunsoo's Good Day', and 'Last Summer' had failed to succeed. 'Beloved Bandit' was expected to break this trend, naturally adding pressure.

Nam commented, "I focus solely on the project. The script was excellent, and the director cast well. I wanted to create something great with such a good team. I wasn't anxious or burdened by responsibility."

In 2018, Nam Ji-hyun received immense love for her role in the historical drama '100 Days My Prince', which recorded a peak rating of 14.4%. Her return to the historical genre with 'Beloved Bandit' after seven years was highly anticipated, and it was a resounding success.

'Beloved Bandit' concluded with its highest rating of 8.4% in the final episode. When praised for her standout performances in historical dramas, Nam humbly responded, "I'm grateful for the compliment, but it wasn't achieved alone. It was possible thanks to the help of many."

Nam added, "I had high expectations for this historical drama after a long time. I'm happy to greet viewers with another work in the same genre and grateful for the immense love."

When asked about her future plans, Nam said, "In my 20s, it felt like building step by step to reach a goal. Now in my 30s, it feels like things are naturally coming together. By the end of my 30s, I believe I'll be complete in some form." She smiled as she shared her thoughts.

Reporter Jung Se-yoon, TenAsia yoon@tenasia.co.kr