At the center of SBS's Friday-Saturday drama "Brilliant New World," which has topped Netflix's non-English TV show rankings and gained popularity at home and abroad, is Huh Nam-jun, who plays Cha Se-gye. Having steadily built his presence through works such as "Missing: The Other Side," "Sweet Home," and "Your Honor," he has now successfully taken on a leading role in a romantic comedy, earning the new title of "New Rom-Com King." His charm, alternating between intense masculinity and boyish appeal, has led to praise that he has opened a "new world of melodrama," sparking a "Huh Nam-jun syndrome."
Coexistence of Charisma and Boyish Charm... Standing Tall as 'New Rom-Com King'
The recent attention toward Huh Nam-jun goes beyond the success of his work. The unique aura he possesses has also captivated viewers at home and abroad.
His strong facial features, deep low voice, and sturdy build complete a strong and charismatic impression. But the moment he smiles, the mood changes. With his playful eye-smile, easygoing grin, and fresh, cute reversal charm, he instantly softens his sharp first impression and disarms viewers, according to assessments. This reversal charm, where strength and boy-like innocence coexist, is the secret behind the "Cha Se-gye melodrama" that only Huh Nam-jun could deliver. It is also the reason he is praised for having an "actor's face" that exudes sincerity rather than that of an ornately styled handsome man.
Above all, his true worth is revealed in his acting. Beginning with "A Hundred Memories" through to "Brilliant New World," he creates fluttering excitement with his deep gaze, while drawing laughter through his sly comic acting, and delicately expressing subtle emotional changes even within an indifferent expression—establishing himself as the "New Rom-Com King." His broad spectrum, freely moving between intense charisma and fresh excitement, has made Huh Nam-jun stand tall as the new face of romantic comedy.
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In an interview marking the conclusion of "Brilliant New World," held at a café in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Huh Nam-jun candidly shared how his daily life has changed since the show's release.
"Honestly, I feel really good that the work did well," he said with a smile. "Seeing even a dating rumor incident happen recently, I found myself wondering, 'Have I really made it?'" He added, "The frequency of people recognizing me on the street has increased, and I hear I appear often in my acquaintances' algorithms. I'm celebrating with close friends over good food, and I'm feeling happiness in those small everyday moments."
In particular, when asked whether he could feel that global fans had also fallen for "Cha Se-gye" since the release on Netflix, he gave a shy smile and said, "In the past, fans' comments were only in Korean, but these days I see various languages such as English. I just feel grateful."
"Brilliant New World" depicts the romance between Shin Seo-ri (Lim Ji-yeon), an unknown actress possessed by the soul of an infamous Joseon-era villainess, and Cha Se-gye, a third-generation chaebol (a large family-controlled conglomerate) heir. With its setting that cleverly combines historical drama, romance, and comedy, along with its solid direction, the show succeeded globally, topping Netflix's non-English TV show rankings immediately after release. In the final episode on the 20th, the highest viewership rating exceeded 14%.
The character Cha Se-gye, played by Huh Nam-jun in the drama, is cold and prickly but endlessly clumsy and tender when faced with love. Huh Nam-jun naturally expressed these contrasting charms, earning praise from viewers.
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"The Completion of Melodrama Is Restraint... Naturally Stirring the Heart"
The wrist kiss scene, which drew enthusiastic reactions from viewers, was also an unforgettable highlight. "While filming, I was so focused on each scene that I didn't particularly think about it," Huh Nam-jun said. "When I saw the finished footage, with the music and editing added, it turned out far more emotional than I had thought. Watching it, I also thought, 'This came out well.'"
He cited "restraint" as the core of melodrama acting. "In melodrama, paring down is harder than expressing things big. Rather than showing emotions excessively, I tried to convey them through small changes like a gaze or breathing. Rather than forcing the heart to flutter, I focused on breathing naturally with my co-star."
Such restrained acting is said to have made the character Cha Se-gye more realistic and appealing.
"'At First, I Wondered If He Was Really a Romance Lead'"
Cha Se-gye's characteristically blunt way of speaking was also the part Huh Nam-jun agonized over the most.
"When I first read the script, the words felt so harsh that I wondered, 'Is this really a romance male lead?'" he explained. "But I thought the character would come alive more if there was a contrast where a solid person crumbles the more he falls in love."
He also said that in the process of building the character, he referenced the people around him.
"Among my friends, there are various styles—some who toss out words bluntly, some who speak with ease. I took a little bit of those atmospheres and blended them into Cha Se-gye. In the end, what mattered was for him to look like a person who might really exist in reality, rather than a special person."
"Success Thanks to a Good Script, Direction, and Team...
I'll Show New Sides Across Various Genres"
Huh Nam-jun credited the work's global success to the fellow actors and production crew who worked alongside him. Of his co-star Lim Ji-yeon, he said, "Our chemistry got better and better as filming went on. She's an actress with such great energy on set that I received a lot of help from her, too." He added, "It's the result of a good script, direction, and actors and staff all looking in the same direction," showing humility as he said, "It's not that I did especially well, but thanks to meeting a good team."
He said his thoughts on acting also changed through this work. "In the past, I only thought about how to express emotions, but now I think much more about how to pare them down. I want to become an actor who does acting that is felt rather than acting that is shown."
Rather than getting carried away by his sudden popularity, he is preparing for what comes next. "Rather than settling into the love I'm receiving now, I want to show a different face in my next work," he said, expressing his resolve. "I want to become an actor who can keep showing new sides without regard to genre."
Meanwhile, Huh Nam-jun's next work is the tvN drama "Whale Star," based on the webtoon of the same name. In this work, he plays Song Hae-su, an independence activist. The drama is co-directed by Hur Jin-ho, director of the films "Christmas in August" and "One Fine Spring Day," and Yoo Beom-sang, director of the dramas "Twinkling Watermelon" and "Study Group." It also stars Choi Woo-shik, Moon Ga-young, Huh Nam-jun, Yoo Jae-myung, Kang Han-na, Kim Yeo-jin, and Gong Seung-yeon. The work will meet viewers next year.
