[HanCinema's News] Namkoong Min, From Modest Beginnings to Villain to Anti-hero

The last couple of weeks have marked a breather for Namkoong Min. The dedicated actor wrapped up a successful run on "Doctor Prisoner" and is now considering his next project. The famously meticulous Namkoong Min has also been interviewed about his career to date.

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He's talked about keeping thousands of acting notes in his phone to help keep track of how the dark hero Ji-ye thinks and worries. Namkoong Min explained that this was necessary to get into the cold frigidity of his character relationships. Namkoong Min has a reputation for getting along very well with co-stars, so it's easy to see why he would focus on maintaining a sense of antagonism for a dark vengeance themed drama like "Doctor Prisoner".

Namkoong Min traces this sense of perfectionism to his debut in the 2001 film "Bungee Jumping on Their Own". He describes himself as carefully monitoring other actors between takes, so as to reflect on his own acting and overcome his own shortcomings. Namkoong Min also feels pride in the positive viewer response to his work, although he describes it not as pride, but more as inspiring optimistic strength from within.

In regards to Ji-hye's appeal Namkoong Min describes the current era as being one that's a bit stuffy for nice guys. Namkoong Min noted that while in the real world weak people have to suffer, in dramas they can take inspiration from the main character's strength. Namkoong Min added that he would like to do a second season of "Doctor Prisoner".

Namkoong Min commented on his reputation, crystalized in "The Girl Who See Smells" and "Remember", as a viciously dark psychopath. Namkoong Min noted with some irony that up until that point he had been typecast as a nice guy. Still, Namkoong Min expressed an interest in a wide variety of roles in any case, to advance his understanding of the craft.

Namkoong Min says that while acting is difficult, it also gives him strength the way a lover would. He describes acting as being a struggle within himself to always be better, and not being satisfied just with positive praise of his work. Namkoong Min describes himself as having no friends, but has lately taken to hanging out with colleagues from work with a drink more often, mentioning how he went to Yu Jun-sang's house after the conclusion of "Doctor Prisoner" and how he had a lot of fun there.

Written by William Schwartz