Korean actor Nam Joo Hyuk has been one of the most recognisable faces of the Korean acting scene for years, but more recent images of him have stirred Internet chatter on Korean message boards about the actor's looks.
Since his breakthrough appearance on the 2016 drama "Weightlifting Fairy, Kim Bok-joo," Nam has received consistent praise for his visuals. After the conclusion of his latest drama, "Vigilante," Nam took a break from acting to fulfil his mandatory military service. He left the military last September, but he has only appeared at a few related events since then.
However, these speculations received renewed focus over the internet, as people began posting new pictures of the actor, wondering whether his features had changed during his time out of the spotlight. According to a report by Koreaboo, this sparked renewed interest in older pictures, which started speculations pertaining to changes in his appearance.
This discussion began as a viral thread from the Korean Internet community site, Instiz, where the original poster posted recent photos of Nam and gave their take on what they thought was an observable change. In the posting, the person who originally posted stated, "This isn't the face I knew from four years ago."
However, with the spread of the post, soon enough, both opposing reactions started coming up in the comments section. Some of the commenters even started putting out theories about photo angles, with one of them saying, "Isn't it due to the angle?" Another commenter said, "Are you sure it's not because the photos were clicked from a low angle?"
Some netizens also gave their views on this matter, which had to do with either natural phenomena or medical issues. A netizen hypothesised, "It seems like a side effect of orthodontic treatment. Many people complain of their chin becoming longer or growing after orthodontic treatment." Another netizen gave a rather biologically based explanation when they said, "Originally, men's beards continue to grow until their 40s or 50s due to male hormones; the only difference is whether they grow noticeably or not."
Despite all the speculations, there were also some fans that questioned the validity of the whole discussions being raised. Some Instiz commenters dismissed the news immediately. "I'm not sure. He looks the same to me" was said by someone.
These reactions are reflective of the attention public figures are under on the internet, especially following long periods of absence. As pointed out in reports quoting Instiz message board discussions, the issue seems more based on perception rather than any concrete fact.
On a separate note, Nam Joo Hyuk is also rumoured to be making a comeback as an actor soon. According to industry insiders, Nam Joo Hyuk is set to appear in a new drama titled "East Palace" (working title), which deals with an occult theme, as soon as his military service is completed.
READ MORE: Fans Floored By Nam Joo Hyuk's Post-Military Look at Paris Fashion Week 2024
