NCT's Jaemin is going viral again for his striking resemblance to actor Namgoong Min—a comparison fans have been making since Jaemin's debut.
On the 16th, the KITTZ premium short-form drama wind-up starring Jaemin was released. wind-up is a coming-of-age sports drama about a high school pitcher who can't throw a strike and a transfer student who appoints himself as the team's manager—their sparkling, pure friendship takes center stage. Jaemin plays the high school baseball team's manager, portraying a wholesome bond with his fellow NCT member Jeno.
After the drama dropped, online communities and social media lit up with mash-up clips comparing Jaemin's acting to Namgoong Min's. Netizens said Jaemin's tone, facial expressions, and vibe reminded them of the actor, reacting with comments like, "Even the way he talks is the same," "Jaemin should be cast as Namgoong Min's younger counterpart," "Did he study Namgoong Min as an acting reference?" "It's like looking at Jaemin in 10 years," and "I want to see them in the same project."
With Jaemin drawing attention in a baseball team manager role—and wearing a uniform, no less—fans also brought up SBS's stove league, starring none other than Namgoong Min.
stove league, which ended in February 2020, followed general manager Baek Seung-soo (played by Namgoong Min) as he transformed a last-place baseball team with cold, calculated strategy and firm principles. According to Nielsen Korea, the finale of stove league scored a peak rating of 19.1%, sparking a nationwide "Stove League syndrome." The series also won the Grand Prize (Best Work) in the TV category at the 56th Baeksang Arts Awards, setting a new standard for sports dramas.
Thanks to its success, fans have consistently called for a season 2. And with Jaemin's recent turn in the baseball-themed short-form wind-up, many say he perfectly fits the mold of a "next-generation baseball drama lead," even hoping he'll be cast if a second season of stove league is produced.
wind-up marks Jaemin's second acting project. Moving beyond the look-alike buzz, he's steadily building his presence as an actor—leaving fans excited about the possibility that, one day, he and Namgoong Min might share the screen.