Nam Joo-Hyuk has stolen fans’ hearts with his portrayal of Baek Yi-Jin in the hit K-drama, “Twenty Five Twenty One.” In the series, Nam takes on the role of a kind and hardworking young man who’s struggling to make ends meet due to his family going bankrupt. Just when he begins to lose hope that his situation will get better, he meets a high school fencer named Na Hee-Do (Kim Tae-ri), who teaches him how to dream big again.
Over the course of the series, the two develop feelings for each other. Their love story is told through a series of flashbacks when Hee-Do’s daughter, Kim Min-Chae, learns about their relationship by reading her mother’s old journal in the present-day.
If you’re one of those fans who eagerly awaits new episodes each week, you’re probably curious about what the “Twenty Five Twenty One” cast is like behind the scenes. Scroll through the slideshow to learn all about Nam, including his athletic past, dating life, hidden talents, and more.
Getty/ Jacopo Raule
Nam Wanted To Be a Basketball Player, but Became a Model Instead
According to the South China Morning Post, Nam initially wanted to become a basketball player, but his dreams were cut short after he tore his ligament in middle school. After moving to Seoul, the star got his big break after winning a modelling contest in 2013, which led him to debut as a model under the Korean brand Songzio.
Since then, Nam has walked runways for other Korean brands like Beyond Closet and Push Button, per Metro Style. It’s also worth noting in 2014, he won the Male Fashion Model of the Year Award at the CFDK Awards. Currently, Nam is a brand ambassador for Dior and can be seen on the cover of major magazines like Esquire and Marie Claire.
Getty/ Han Myung-Gu
Nam Once Dated Model and Actress Lee Sung-Kyung
Nam and Lee Sung-Kyung go way back. They became friends during their early modelling days since they were both once signed under the same agency, YG K-Plus. They modelled alongside each other in several magazine and campaign ads and often attended red carpet events together. In 2016, the pair took their chemistry to the small screen when they appeared in the K-drama “Cheese In The Trap” together. That same year, Nam and Lee also played romantic interests in “Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo.”
Following years of dating rumours, the stars finally confirmed they were an item in April 2017. However, they announced their split just months later in August. Although rumours circulated in February that Nam and Lee could be back together, neither star has commented on the speculation.
