Singer Eric Nam has personally addressed rumors that he retired from the entertainment industry after spending less time promoting in South Korea, revealing that he has actually been busy pursuing new opportunities, including acting in four movies.
On October 21, Eric Nam appeared in a video uploaded to the YouTube channel YouTube Ha Ji Young, where he discussed his career, his experiences working in the United States, and the speculation surrounding his absence from Korean entertainment programs.
During the interview, host Ha Ji Young brought up the retirement rumors that began circulating after Eric Nam reduced his activities in South Korea.
However, the singer quickly clarified that his quieter presence in the Korean entertainment scene did not mean he had stopped working.
Eric Nam explained, "I also started acting during that time, and I've filmed four movies."
He then directly dismissed the speculation, saying, "It's a misunderstanding. People have the wrong idea."
His comments revealed that although he has been less visible on Korean television, he has continued building his entertainment career through projects outside the country.
The singer also shared that he had been working on films until recently, showing that his professional activities have continued despite the retirement rumors.
During the conversation, Ha Ji Young acknowledged that moving from an established career in South Korea to pursuing opportunities in the United States must have been a difficult decision.
She remarked that it could not have been easy to step away from his active Korean entertainment career and challenge himself in a different market.
In response, Eric Nam opened up about the discrimination and stereotypes he encountered while trying to establish himself in the American entertainment industry.
He recalled hearing discouraging comments about Asian entertainers and their place in the industry.
Eric Nam shared, "When I went to the United States, I often heard things like, 'Asians still can't do it,' or 'Asians aren't cool or attractive.'"
Despite those experiences, the singer explained that he wanted to continue challenging himself rather than allow those attitudes to stop him.
He said, "I've always felt that if my challenge could give strength to other Asians, then I should try."
His remarks offered a glimpse into why he decided to expand his career internationally, even while facing uncertainty and difficult experiences.
For Eric Nam, pursuing opportunities in the United States was not simply about changing his career direction. He also hoped that his efforts could encourage other Asian artists who wanted to enter the international entertainment industry.
Later in the interview, the conversation took a more playful turn when Ha Ji Young asked Eric Nam about the idea of "someday."
The singer jokingly responded, "Someday, Eric Nam will retire."
Ha Ji Young immediately reacted to his comment, pointing out the contradiction.
She teased him, "You came here saying you weren't retired, and now you're already talking about retirement?"
Eric Nam then spoke candidly about the ups and downs of his busy daily life.
He explained, "Several times a day, I go back and forth between thinking, 'I'm so happy, this is great,' and 'I'm so tired, I just want to lie down.'"
His comments reflected both his enjoyment of his work and the exhaustion that can come with maintaining an active entertainment career.
Although Eric Nam has not been as active on Korean television as he was in the past, his recent statements make it clear that he has not retired.
Instead, he has been exploring different opportunities, including acting, while continuing to develop his career internationally.
With four movies already filmed, Eric Nam's latest update offers a clearer picture of what he has been doing during his time away from regular Korean entertainment activities.
For now, the singer has dismissed the retirement speculation, explaining that his reduced visibility in South Korea should not be mistaken for the end of his entertainment career.
