For Nam Joo-hyuk, 'The East Palace' meant shedding rom-com lead image, performing own action scenes

The breezy romantic-comedy leading man was gone.

In his place was a ghost slayer with a pale, drawn face and sharply pronounced cheekbones, worn down by his battles with evil spirits and his crossings between the world of the living and the realm of the dead.

After a three-year hiatus that included his mandatory military service, Nam Joo-hyuk has returned.

In his 20s, Nam was beloved as the face of youth.

Now making his comeback in his 30s, he has his sights set on forging a distinct identity of his own.

And his comeback project, Netflix’s “The East Palace,” may well come to define the second act of his acting career.

Sitting down for an interview at a cafe in Seoul’s Jongno District, Nam said he felt relieved to see the drama finally released.

It now ranks as the second-most-watched non-English show globally on Netflix.

“The director, crew and my fellow actors all worked incredibly hard on this project, enduring both sweltering heat and bitter cold,” Nam said.

“I honestly thought it would take some time for the show to gain attention overseas, but so many people told me th ...