Nam Joo-hyuk is back in the spotlight with Netflix’s "The East Palace," playing Gu-cheon, a mysterious swordsman who can cross into the spirit world and take down ghosts. The supernatural historical drama reveals a darker, more action-driven side of the Korean star. If he has caught your attention in the series, here are five things to know about him, from his runway beginnings and basketball dreams to his most-loved dramas and major brand partnerships

He found his first spotlight on the runway

Photo: Instagram @skawngur

Before becoming a familiar face in K-dramas, Nam Joo-hyuk entered the entertainment industry through fashion. After moving from Busan to Seoul, he attended a modelling academy and won a competition that helped launch his career. He made his runway debut in Songzio Homme’s Spring/Summer 2014 show and quickly became a Seoul Fashion Week regular, reportedly walking around 10 shows during his first major season. Appearances in AKMU’s “200%” and “Give Love” music videos soon followed, before he made his acting debut in The Idle Mermaid in 2014.

Coming-of-age dramas made him a K-drama heart-throb

Photo: Chorokbaem Media

Nam gained wider recognition as star swimmer Han Yi-an in Who Are You: School 2015, but it was Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo (2016) that cemented his status as a romantic favourite. As the playful yet caring Jung Joon-hyung opposite Lee Sung-kyung, he brought warmth and easy comic charm to the drama’s friends-to-lovers romance. He later explored youthful ambition and more complicated relationships in Start-Up and Twenty Five Twenty One, before switching gears with the darker Vigilante (2023) and the supernatural world of The East Palace (2026).

Basketball was his first career dream

Photo: Instagram @skawngur

Long before he stepped onto a runway, Nam dreamed of becoming a professional basketball player. He competed on his middle-school team for several years, but an injury that required surgery brought those ambitions to an early end. His love for the game never disappeared, though. In 2017, he came face-to-face with his basketball idol Stephen Curry on the Korean variety programme Infinite Challenge, where he had the chance to show that his skills on the court were more than just a piece of celebrity trivia.

His appeal stretches from Dior to the outdoors

Photo: Instagram @skawngur

With his runway background, 188cm frame and understated sense of style, it is easy to see why Nam remains a favourite among brands. In 2019, he became the first South Korean ambassador for Dior Men, later expanding the partnership as an ambassador for Dior Beauty Korea in 2021. He has since remained a familiar presence at the house’s events, including its Spring/Summer 2026 presentation in Singapore. His appeal extends beyond luxury, too, with Eider tapping into the more athletic side of his image.

His dogs often steal the spotlight off-screen

Photo: Instagram @skawngur

Away from the serious characters and polished fashion campaigns, Nam is also known for being a devoted dog lover. His two toy poodles, Ga-eul and Gob-soon, have regularly appeared in the photographs he shares with fans, with one even joining him for a Dior pictorial. Their occasional appearances offer an endearing glimpse into his life off-screen - and a much softer contrast to the physically formidable characters he plays in Vigilante (2023) and The East Palace (2026).

Also see: What makes Nam Joo-hyuk’s "The East Palace" Netflix’s latest must-watch K-drama