Born on February 22, 1994, Nam Joo Hyuk is an idol, actor and model known for his roles in Weightlifting Fairy Kim Book Joo, Bride of Water God and Start Up.

He is one of the most sought personalities right now in South Korea, but things were not always easy for him. Get to know Joo Hyuk more with these seven facts!

1. His family was poor

In his first ever talk show guesting on Radio Star, Joo Hyuk shared about his struggles in life before he entered the showbiz industry. According to the actor, he used to only ate cup ramen for the whole year of his third grade!

Moreover, their house did not even have a bathroom. Fortunately, now that he is blessed with many projects left and right, Joo Hyuk and his family can live more comfortably.

In 2021, GDataMart reported that he has an estimated net worth of $10 million USD.

2. His big break was in 2016

Joo Hyuk has been acting in various films and dramas ever since his debut. However, what really made him popular was the 2016 drama Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo where he was paired with Lee Sung Kyung.

In the show, Joo Hyuk plays the character of Joon Hyung, a talented swimmer who is suffering from a trauma, which then affects his performance during competitions.

His adorable personality and chemistry with the actress made the series a hit to many viewers. The iconic scenes made it a must-watch as well!

One of the most unforgettable parts of the drama is when his character used Book Joo as a human shield so that he won’t get wet from the rainwater caused by a passing car.

3. He is the official ambassador of Dior Beauty Korea

In April 2019, Dior Men appointed Joo Hyuk as their official ambassador for Asia. One year later, the brand has offered him a bigger role, as the new face of Dior Beauty Korea.

This means that he will be endorsing various products from Dior ranging from makeup, skincare and perfume, aiming to strengthen the identity and influence of the brand in South Korea.

Joo Hyuk’s new project also landed him a debut editorial with the magazine GQ Korea’s November issue.

4. He is under the same label with some of Korea’s biggest celebrities

Joo Hyuk used to work under YG Entertainment. When his contract ended, he signed under management SOOP. This label also houses some of the country’s top actors and actresses like Gong Yoo, Choi Woo Shik and Jung Yu Mi.

Gong Yoo has worked in many hit shows like Coffee Prince, Goblin and Train to Busan while Woo Shik won international awards from his performance in Parasite.

Being in the same company as Yu Mi also gave them the opportunity to work together in the Netflix series “The School Nurse Files.”

5. His career began in modelling

Although he is now more known with his acting works, Joo Hyuk actually started his career as a model at the young age of 19 after quitting basketball.

He joined a contest arranged by Seoul Hoseo Art College, which was sponsored by YG KPlus. Joo Hyuk successfully won first place at the beauty pageant and after this achievement, he was able to work in many modelling projects and even walked at the 2014 Seoul Fashion Week.

6. He also stars in music videos

Dramas and movies are not the only place where fans will get to see Joo Hyuk’s talent in acting.

When he was still in YG, he made an appearance in the music video of Akdong Musician’s debut song titled “200%” where Su Hyun, one of the duo, shows an interest in him.

The storyline even had a part two and was continued in their next single called “Give Love”, where he was able to show off more of his charms. Watch the music videos below!

7. He has a new drama this year

For fans that miss seeing Joo Hyuk on screen, you will be able to watch him again on tvN’s latest drama “Twenty-Five Twenty One”. It also includes Kim Tae-ri, Bona and Lee Joo Myung.

The series’ plot will revolve around the love story of Joo Hyuk who plays the role of Yi Jin, a rich person who will suddenly become poor because his father’s business got bankrupt and Tae Ri as Hee Do, a former member of a high school fencing team.

Their relationship will be depicted in the drama, spanning from the years of 1998 to 2021.

Were you already aware of these facts about Joo Hyuk or did some of them come as a surprise? Let us know below!