"I sincerely respect them" — Byeon Woo-seok addresses feelings about peers Jang Ki-yong and Nam Joo-hyuk gaining fame earlier than him

Byeon Woo-seok, who shot to fame after his tvN drama Lovely Runner, recently spoke to the media outlet, ETtoday. The 32-year-old South Korean actor got candid about his friendship with his peers in the industry and popular actors Nam Joo-hyuk (Twenty-Five Twenty-One) and Jang Ki-yong (The Atypical Family).

The three actors started their careers as YG KPLUS models under YG Entertainment in 2014 and later became actors. Jang Ki-yong launched his acting career with lead roles in Search: WWW (2019), My Roommate Is a Gumiho (2021), and Now, We Are Breaking Up (2021). Nam Joo-hyuk, on the other hand, rose to fame with Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo (2016), Start-Up (2020), Twenty-Five Twenty-One (2022), and Vigilante (2023).

However, both Nam Joo-hyuk and Jang Ki-yong gained popularity and stardom before Byeon Woo-seok did, and he was asked if he was frustrated by this. Ahead of his fanmeeting in Taipei, Byeon Woo-seok told ETtoday that he sincerely respected his peers and believed that they achieved success with hard work and dedication.

"Honestly, since I was young, I have believed that, ‘there’s always a reason behind a person achieving success.’ Results are achieved through dedication and hard work, and I sincerely respect them," he said.

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Byeon Woo-seok sheds light on his close friendship with Nam Joo-hyuk, Jang Ki-yong, and Joo Woo-jae

When the Taiwan news outlet ETtoday asked the 32-year-old actor about his friends gaining popularity in the industry before him, he spoke about his close relationship with Joo Woo-jae, Nam Joo-hyuk, and Jang Ki-yong.

Byeon Woo-seok shed light on his friendship with model-turned-actor Joo Woo-jae, known for Come and Hug Me, and Strong Girl Nam-soon. The Soulmate star mentioned how the actor texted him after Lovely Runner aired episode 2 on April 9, 2024, saying that the drama would become a hit.

Byeon Woo-seok then went on to say that he has the utmost regard for the three actors and that they still support one another. The four actors have maintained a strong friendship since their time as models for YG Entertainment.

The Lovely Runner star debuted in 2014 as a model under YG KPLUS and took on small roles in several K-dramas such as Welcome to Waikiki, Moonshine, Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, and Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo, among others. His first secondary role was in Record of Youth in 2020.

After that, Byeon Woo-seok landed his first lead role in the 2022 Netflix Korean film 20th Century Girl starring Kim Yoo-jung. He then starred as the lead villain in the 2023 K-drama Strong Girl Nam-soon and acted in the 2023 Korean film Soulmate starring Kim Da-mi and Jeon So-nee. However, he rose to new heights when he landed the main role in the 2024 tvN drama Lovely Runner.

The drama features Kim Hye-yoon (Sky Castle) as the female lead and the title gained popularity amongst the global audience. Viewers lauded the story and the actors for their performance and were captivated by the storyline.

Byeon Woo-seok's portrayal of Ryu Sun-jae was hailed by many. The actor topped the FUNDex OTT actors topicality list on May 8, 2024, and stayed at the top for several weeks. He replaced the South Korean superstar Kim Soo-hyun (Queen of Tears) on the list, solidifying his newfound fame and status in the industry.

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According to his agency, Varo Entertainment, the actor departed for Taiwan from Incheon International Airport as part of his international fan meeting schedule. He arrived in Taipei, Taiwan, to start his Asia tour, SUMMER LETTER, and the fanmeeting was held in the NTU Sports Center 1F in Taipei.