Shocking transformation: Actor Namgoong Min is laying bare the brutal 18kg bulk-up he endured for a role — plus the real reason he suddenly quit working out right after filming — and the journey that took him from engineering major to A-list star.
On July 10, Namgoong Min appears on KBS2’s variety show Problem Child in House, where he dives into untold stories behind his acting career and intense preparation for each project.
Majoring in mechanical engineering in college, Namgoong Min says he took a leap of faith to pursue acting. He recalls failing all three major broadcasters’ public recruitment exams, then getting his break while working as an extra on a commercial set — a moment that put him firmly on the path to becoming an actor.
He also reveals how he prepared for his hit series The Veil. To embody a powerful character, Namgoong Min pushed his weight from 66kg to 84kg, reportedly training three hours every day for about 10 months and eating up to seven meals a day — a regimen that stunned everyone around him.
It wasn’t just about gaining weight; he had to keep the muscle on, which piled on serious mental pressure. Namgoong Min admits he even had nightmares about losing muscle and once broke down in tears in the shower, exhausted by the relentless workouts and strict diet.
Hearing about his training, Kim Jong-kook says, “That’s really not easy,” expressing admiration for Namgoong Min’s grit. Yet after filming wrapped, Namgoong Min reveals he stopped working out — raising curiosity about why he made that decision.
He also talks about co-star Kim Dae-myung, with whom he’s currently working on the drama The Husband. Namgoong Min, who thought Kim Dae-myng was the quiet type, says he discovered a surprisingly playful side on variety shows, joking, “I thought he was the kind of guy who talks behind people’s backs.”
Meanwhile, Namgoong Min recently shared that his wife Jin A-reum is pregnant, making him a soon-to-be dad four years into their marriage. Viewers are eager to hear what stories the actor — who’s balancing fierce dedication to his craft with a major life change — will share on the show.
The episode airs on the 10th at 10:20 p.m.