Nam Joo Hyuk has spoken out for the first time regarding the school bullying allegations that first surfaced a few years ago.
During an interview, the actor opened up about his feelings while discussing his lead role in the Netflix series The East Palace. Directed by Choi Jung Kyu, the show follows Gu Cheon, who can move between the physical world and the spirit world. He is summoned by the King to investigate a dark curse haunting the East Palace alongside a mysterious palace maid named Saeng Gang.
When asked about the past controversy, Nam took a measured tone. “As the facts are in the process of being clarified, I am watching closely and spending time quietly going through that process,” he said.
The allegations first emerged in 2022, when several individuals accused the actor of past misconduct during his school days. His agency, Management SOOP, strongly denied the claims at the time, calling them entirely groundless and pursuing legal action.
Addressing his frame of mind through the ordeal, Nam explained, “It’s difficult to elaborate on that matter here,” adding, “I’m not the type of person who likes to make a fuss about things. I think I spent that time just letting things unfold naturally and making the most of it.” He continued calmly, “I believe this is a process where the facts are being clearly established. There was an initial court judgment, and it seems the facts are almost entirely clarified through that process.”
The controversy flared up again in 2023 when a YouTube channel released a video showing a former classmate sparring, claiming it was evidence of bullying. Management SOOP quickly denied any link, stating the actor had nothing to do with the video and never forced anyone to fight.
The legal case progressed further in 2024 while Nam was completing his mandatory military service. The Goyang District Court ordered both the initial accuser and the reporter who broke the story to pay a fine of 7 million won ($4,800) each for defamation. The accuser’s legal team has since appealed the ruling, requesting a formal trial.
Reflecting on whether the controversy made his return to acting stressful, Nam admitted that pressure comes with every role. “I feel pressure every time I take on a new project. I always approach each role with the mindset that I have to do my best, so I don’t think it’s fair to say this one felt any more burdensome than the others,” he shared. “I’ve approached every project with the same mindset to always give it my best ever since I started acting in my 20s. That hasn’t changed. I still believe that if I keep doing my best with every project, there will be moments when I can be part of great work that people genuinely enjoy.”
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Beyond the legal battle, the actor also shared some lighter moments from the set of The East Palace, including what it was like working with “Ggeomeoksali,” the fan-favorite CGI spirit companion. The character is a small, adorable ghost that follows Gu Cheon around, often stealing the spotlight with its adorable charm, even though it drains people’s living energy.
Describing how they filmed those scenes, Nam revealed, “There was a model of Ggeomeoksali during rehearsals. They’d tell me, ‘This is Ggeomeoksali, so imagine it’s there while you act.’ But the model was gone once filming started. I just had to imagine it was there based on what I’d seen during rehearsal.”
Nam said he grew emotionally attached to the little spirit creature throughout filming. “I had a feeling it would be that adorable,” he said with a smile. “Gu Cheon’s mother died after they jumped into the water together when he was a child, and he was the only one who survived. I thought of Ggeomeoksali as a guardian angel sent from heaven to watch over a lonely child. It always appears to save him in moments of danger.”
With the first season ending on a cliffhanger that leaves Gu Cheon in chains, Nam shared his hopes for a second season. “If we get a Season 2, I think Ggeomeoksali and I will get to go on another adventure together,” he said. “I’d love to come back If the writer decides to continue the story. I can already picture Gu Cheon and Ggeomeoksali wandering around together.”
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