The cold is all an act: Huh Nam-jun from My Royal Enemy is actually a sunshine boy in real life

Key points

• After My Royal Rival premiered on Netflix in May 2026, it quickly became a hit in 44 countries, reaching 3.9 million views.

• The 180 cm-tall lead actor Heo Nam-jun plays the ruthless chaebol Cha Segye in the series. Six years into his career, he swept several Best New Actor awards at major acting ceremonies in 2025.

• Off camera, Heo Nam-jun is an ESFP who loves to cook. He avoids tobacco to maintain his strong, toned physique, and this contrast has made him a favorite with viewers.

Lately, My Royal Rival, which premiered in May, seems to be everywhere when you open Netflix. Along with Lim Ji-yeon’s consistently superb acting, the ruthless chaebol Cha Segye, who makes viewers love and hate him at once, has stolen everyone’s heart. Heo Nam-jun, who plays the cold-blooded chaebol, has become one of this season’s most talked-about rising actors thanks to his 180 cm height and intense presence.

• Related reading: This line from Episode 2 of Netflix’s My Royal Rival really hits home: “Even if you’re in a pile of shit, being alive is better than being dead.”

Heo Nam-jun has a distinctive presence reminiscent of Park Seo-joon and Ryu Jun-yeol

People’s first impression of Heo Nam-jun is often that he isn’t conventionally handsome at first glance, yet the longer you look, the more appealing he becomes. At 180 cm tall, he has a distinctive jawline and deep-set eyes, and early in his career, many online commenters described him as a mix of Park Seo-joon and Ryu Jun-yeol.

This distinctive aura is his greatest strength. When he puts on a suit to play a social elite, his cool presence is almost intimidating. In romantic scenes, his slightly melancholy gaze conveys the tenderness of a puppy-like boyfriend. This compelling contrast allows him to move effortlessly between different roles.

The “beef bone soup actor” who spent six years simmering before his breakout

Though he may seem to be shining now, Heo Nam-jun’s acting career was far from an overnight success. After graduating from Sungkyunkwan University’s Department of Acting Arts, he made his debut in an independent film in 2019 and spent a full six years building momentum. During that time, he mostly played minor roles with limited screen time, though he always treated every scene as a valuable opportunity to grow.

He once compared his acting ambitions to beef bone soup. He doesn’t see himself as the kind of flashy dish that catches your eye at first glance; instead, he hopes time will slowly simmer out a pure depth that grows richer with time. This steady, grounded mindset eventually led him to sweep several Best New Actor awards at major acting ceremonies in 2025.

Offscreen, he’s a cheerful ESFP who loves to cook

Away from the camera, Heo Nam-jun’s lifestyle presents a very different side of him. On screen, he often projects an imposing, unapproachable presence, yet in private, he’s a cheerful young man who loves to cook and favors natural, casual outfits.

As an ESFP, he’s especially lively around people he knows well and is known on set for lifting the mood. Fans have long been quietly saving the everyday photos he shares on social media as inspiration for boyfriend pictures. He also puts a great deal of effort into maintaining his powerful on-screen physique. Although many of his roles call for smoking scenes, he refuses to touch tobacco in real life, making him an exceptionally disciplined, health-conscious guy.

Watching Heo Nam-jun’s nuanced performance in My Royal Rival, the editorial team believes he is far from a passing trend. In this era of traffic-driven popularity, many new actors lose their footing in pursuit of exposure, while he favors the Meisner technique, which values genuine feelings and natural interactions with scene partners in the moment.

Rather than flashy packaging, he cares more about the warmth in the details. Actors like him, who are willing to take time to reflect and approach acting with reverence, are certainly worth continuing to watch.

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