Rising actor Heo Nam-jun is set to keep his viral streak going with an appearance on tvN’s hit variety show ‘You Quiz on the Block,’ where he’ll spill behind-the-scenes stories from ‘My Royal Nemesis’ and openly credit co-star Lim Ji-yeon for his breakout.
On the June 24 broadcast of ‘You Quiz on the Block,’ Heo Nam-jun—who drew major attention with the drama ‘My Royal Nemesis’—joins the show. Playing Cha Segye, he won over viewers with a charm that effortlessly swings between romance and comedy.
Host Yoo Jae-suk greets Heo with glowing praise like "You’re radiant" and "You’re everywhere these days." Heo names ‘You Quiz on the Block’ as the very moment he truly felt his skyrocketing popularity. He also reveals why he kept the casting news a secret from not only his fraternal twin brother but even close friends—earning big laughs.
Heo shares candid behind-the-scenes stories from ‘My Royal Nemesis,’ including how he built Cha Segye—now his signature role—and what kind of on-set chemistry he had with Lim Ji-yeon. Expressing gratitude, Heo says, "I owe her so much."
The drama’s buzzworthy scenes also come up. From heart-fluttering lines like "Let’s make hearts race together" and "So pretty—accepted!" to moments completed with Heo’s ad-libs, fresh anecdotes are revealed. He even dives into the much-talked-about shirtless scenes that sparked chatter in every project he’s done.
The show also spotlights Heo’s life before acting—from the unlikely trigger of a dictation exercise that sparked his dream to act, to school days when he was obsessed with building his physique. He opens up about a college classmate’s comment that went viral, plus unexpected stories from when he prepared for entrance exams to a practical music department.
Heo looks back on the many part-time jobs he worked, including at a department store shoe counter and an apartment construction site. He recalls helping with farm work as a child and shares heartfelt stories about his fraternal twin younger brother and family—showing an honest, relatable side of Heo Nam-jun beyond the spotlight.
Starring Heo Nam-jun, ‘My Royal Nemesis’ tells a warlike romance between Shin Seori, a nameless actress turned villain after being possessed by the soul of a notorious Joseon-era femme fatale, and Cha Segye, a ruthless chaebol dubbed a monster of capitalism. The series wrapped as a hit, peaking at 11.8% nationwide ratings (Nielsen Korea) and drawing strong interest at home and abroad.
Heo Nam-jun’s ‘You Quiz on the Block’ episode airs today at 8:45 p.m.