On the 8th, a video titled “I’m really starting to like Namgoong Min, who’s gentle yet laid-back, and laid-back yet says everything he needs to say.” was uploaded to the YouTube channel ‘Fairy Jaehyung.’
Jeong Jae-hyung said to Namkoong Min, “You’ve come this far, albeit at a slightly slower pace. What touched me about your filmography is that you started with supporting roles, then co-starring roles, then leading roles for a long time, and now you’ve won three Grand Prizes (Daesang). I think it’s ideal, but isn’t it actually difficult to walk that path?”
Namkoong Min just smiled and replied, “But honestly, I didn’t have the looks to succeed early on. Nowadays, almost all male actors are over 185cm tall.”
He admitted, “In a way, I’ve built up my steps from the bottom. But I don’t think I set goals as I climbed. However, I had a pure passion for acting. So, even if I got rejected, or failed an audition, or heard ‘Why are you so bad at acting?’ or ‘Do you, Min, really think you can be the lead?’ it didn’t affect me. Because I loved acting, I just kept doing it, and that’s how I got here.”
When Jeong Jae-hyung pointed out how diverse his filmography looked and said it felt like he really enjoyed acting, Namkoong Min laughed and said, “It almost feels like your success came late.”
Namkoong Min shared how he feels even now, “I think now is good. Going through those experiences gave me a lot of time to hone my skills and feel like I was lacking. Even now, when my acting goes well, my first thought isn’t ‘You did well’ but ‘It’s still so lacking.'”
He continued, “Perhaps friends who succeeded quickly or weren’t managed properly by their agencies might say ‘What’s wrong with my acting?’ if they have too smooth a ride. But for me, if a project doesn’t do well, I’m the first one to deeply regret and feel pain. That’s why I try my best to do my utmost.”
