Actor Nam Da Reum is starting the year with a bang, celebrating two major achievements! Not only did he win the Drama Special Award at the 2024 KBS Drama Awards, but he's also landed a key role in the highly anticipated drama My Youth.

On January 14, his agency BAA confirmed that Nam Da Reum will star in JTBC’s upcoming drama My Youth, which is written by Park Si Hyun and directed by Lee Sang Yeob. The show is an emotional romance that follows Sun Woo Hae (played by Song Joong Ki), a man trying to live an ordinary life after his early fame, and Sung Jae Yeon (played by Chun Woo Hee), a woman who must confront the reality of her first love.

Nam Da Reum will take on the role of young Sun Woo Hae, the character made famous by Song Joong Ki. Sun Woo Hae is a former child actor turned novelist and florist, and his character is looking to rebuild his life after leaving the spotlight. Fans are already buzzing with excitement to see how Nam Da Reum will bring this beloved character’s youthful years to life, given his impressive acting skills.

Nam Da Reum made his acting debut back in 2009 with Boys Over Flowers on KBS 2TV, and since then, he has built an amazing career with memorable roles in dramas like SBS's Pinocchio, Six Flying Dragons, MBC’s The King in Love, tvN’s Goblin, Hotel Del Luna, A Piece of Your Mind, Start-Up, and the Netflix series The Sound of Magic. His diverse roles have earned him the reputation of a talented actor with incredible range.

After returning from his military service, Nam Da Reum took on a powerful role in The Great Historian and won praise for his heartfelt performance, even taking home the Drama Special Award at the 2024 KBS Drama Awards. With his upcoming role as young Sun Woo Hae in My Youth, the excitement is already building for his on-screen chemistry with Song Joong Ki.

My Youth, which features a star-studded cast including Nam Da Reum, Song Joong Ki, Chun Woo Hee, and Lee Joo Myung, is set to air in 2025 and is sure to capture the hearts of viewers everywhere.

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NewJeans' Minji touched fans' hearts with a handwritten letter on her birthday — even while the group is currently unable to promote due to legal issues.

On May 7, Minji celebrated her birthday by sharing a heartfelt message on the group’s personal SNS account, which the members opened themselves to stay connected with fans.

Minji began her letter with honesty, writing, “I think I’m living a busier life than I expected. When I finally looked up, it was already May, and it was my birthday.”

She admitted that she had a lot she wanted to say, but her thoughts felt “messy.” Still, her message to fans was clear, “I just hope that I, our members, and Bunnies can all be happy. Happiness is the biggest goal in my life.”

Minji then opened up about her personal journey and struggles, saying, “I sometimes think that running toward my happiness by doing what I love might look foolish to others. But isn’t giving up your happiness now for the sake of a future that might not even come… too harsh on yourself?”

Despite everything, she ended on a hopeful note, “I really miss the times when we shared our feelings through the good music we made together. But I always look forward to what’s ahead."

She added, "We didn’t stop here, and we’re not going to stop! It might look like we’re standing still, but I believe we’re growing deeper.”

Her message comes during a difficult time for NewJeans. The group announced last year that they were cutting ties with ADOR, their original agency, after trust was broken. They later began working independently under the new name ‘NJZ’.

However, ADOR responded with legal action — claiming the exclusive contract with NewJeans was still valid and asking the court to stop the group from promoting or signing deals.

The court sided with ADOR and granted an injunction, forcing NewJeans to pause their activities. Their appeal was rejected, and they’ve now filed a second appeal.

Through it all, Minji’s message proves one thing — even when forced to stop, NewJeans' hearts are still moving forward.

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