Speaking at the production presentation for Netflix’s original series The East Palace on July 8 at a hotel in Yeouido, Seoul, Nam Joo Hyuk said, “This is the first project I’m releasing after being discharged from the military, so I felt a great sense of responsibility. I wanted to work hard and make sure I didn’t cause any trouble for the production.”

The East Palace follows Gucheon (Nam Joo Hyuk), a man capable of crossing between the worlds of humans and spirits, and court maid Saenggang (Roh Yoon Seo), who harbors a secret. Summoned by the King (Cho Seung Woo), the two investigate a mysterious curse haunting the East Palace.

As crown princes are found dead one after another, rumors spread throughout the palace that the curse of the pond ghost targeting the royal bloodline has returned. Gucheon, who must eliminate the ghost and lift the curse in order to leave the palace alive, joins forces with Saenggang, who has secretly been assigned to watch him. Together, they gradually uncover the hidden secrets of the East Palace.

Choosing The East Palace as his first project after military service, Nam Joo Hyuk plays Gucheon, a character who travels between the human world and the spirit realm while battling ghosts. The role is expected to showcase not only his more mature acting but also his extensive action performance.

Just before beginning his military service in June 2022, Nam Joo Hyuk became the subject of school bullying allegations. The actor firmly denied the claims, calling them “completely false,” and the informant was later fined 7 million won for defamation through false information. However, the school bullying label continued to follow him, and because he entered military service before fully addressing the controversy, many have closely watched how he would make his return through The East Palace.

Nam Joo Hyuk revealed, “I received the script while I was serving in the military. Military life gives you plenty of time to use your imagination. As I read it, I became even more interested in the mysterious events taking place inside the palace. I wanted to give everything I had if I got the chance to be part of this project.”

He added, “I’ve been Gucheon ever since I was in the military.”

Regarding the action sequences, the actor said, “The only option was to work as hard as I could. I trained at an action school and practiced constantly. The fight scenes with the ‘13 Court Ladies’ and the shaman are especially memorable to me.”

Looking back on attending Netflix’s global lineup presentation, Nam Joo Hyuk commented, “It was such an honor. I was disappointed that not everyone could be there together, but it motivated me to work even harder.”

He concluded, “I wanted Gucheon to truly come alive within this story and become part of its world. I also hoped the filming set would remain enjoyable for both the cast and crew, even though the work was demanding. I tried my best to contribute to that atmosphere. My senior actors already set a wonderful example, and I wanted to approach the project with the same mindset.”

Meanwhile, The East Palace is scheduled to premiere on July 17.

Sources: Nate