Nam Myeong-ryeol (, born May 14, 1959) is a highly regarded South Korean actor in the fields of film, theater, and television. He embarked on his stage career in 1978 and has since made notable appearances in various Korean theatrical productions, films, and TV shows.
Nam has established himself as a prominent figure in the South Korean theater industry and has received numerous prestigious awards throughout his career. In 2014, he was honored with the acting award at the 50th Dong-A Theater Awards for his outstanding performance in the play "Alibi Chronicles." Additionally, in the 2020 South Korean Culture Day, Nam was granted a presidential commendation in the Korean Culture and Arts Award by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
In 2022, Nam Myung-ryeol, renowned for his involvement in over 140 plays spanning over 30 years, was selected as the recipient of the 32nd Lee Hae-rang Theater Award, a significant recognition in the Korean theater landscape. Among his most memorable works in his acting career are "Mask of Fire - Form of Power," "Birds Calling My Name," "Journey with Edipus," and "Alibi Chronicles." He is widely regarded as strong pillar that firmly protects the theater world.
Early years and education Nam Myeong-ryeol was born on May 14, 1959, in Daejeon as the second child among four siblings. He has an older sister, as well as a younger brother and sister. He grew up in Daejeon and graduated from Daejeon Elementary School, Dongmyeong Middle School, and Bomoon High School. His acceptance into the Agricultural Department at Chungnam National University was solely determined by his academic performance. During his freshman year at university in 1978, Nam had his first experience of watching a play. It was a theater class performance called 'Hwando and Reese' at his university. Intrigued by the production, he joined the theater team shortly thereafter, driven by a simple curiosity and the belief that it would be an enjoyable endeavor.
He perform in February of the following year. It was a 4th grade graduation performance. During his fourth year of university, Nam adapted Lee Mun-yeol's 'Son of a Man' and submitted it to the National University Theater Festival. He portrayed the main character, Min Yo-seop, and the play achieved a notable level of quality for a Korean production. Renowned judges, such as Yoo Min-young and the late Cha Beom-seok, attended the regional screening of the College Theater Festival. The performance gained attention and was even broadcast on MBC in Daejeon. A local theater company filmed and edited the graduation performance to create a special program for broadcast.
Career
Debut works Right after graduating from college in 1985, Nam appeared in playwright Jeong Ha-yeon's play Water Bird, Water Bird at Dongin Theater in Daejeon. In the same year in spring, he applied to Ildong Pharmaceutical and was hired in the sales department. He spent five years working in Daejeon and his final year was in Seoul. During his time in Daejeon, he also worked in a theater company two years after become sales. He even created an 'actor study group' with his friends and later founded his own theater company called 'Geumgang', where he served as its representative for two years.
In 1991, Nam quit his job as a salesperson at a pharmaceutical company after working for six years. Nam admitted that his decision was quite reckless because he was married with two kids. He didn't quit his sales job to do theater, but he searched for something fun, and the conclusion he arrived at was theater.
His first play as a full-time actor was a reprisal of his role in 'Son of Man' in 1991. In 1992, he was cast as a guest performer in a theater company other than his own, in an experimental play called 'Mask of Fire' that portrayed the immorality and futility of power. At the time, the head of the theater company and director, Chae Yoon-il, knew each other well and asked Nam if he would be interested in performing the play in Seoul. Despite not being able to offer any guarantees or cover lodging costs, Chae Yoon-il liked Nam's work and hoped to work with him in Seoul. Nam saw this as an opportunity to advance his career and eagerly accepted. He moved permanently to Seoul when he turned 35 in Korean age, and his debut in Seoul with 'Mask of Fire' was a turning point for him.
Encountering the next work 'Birds Cry Calling My Name' marked a pivotal moment for Nam to pursue his artistic career in Seoul.
In 1995 Nam did Kim A-ra's play Journey with Oedipus. Nam portrayed the character Jocasta, who was the mother of Oedipus and later became his wife. This role helped him establish himself as a theater actor in Daehangno and brought him fame. It was the first play for which he received a fan letter, which he fondly remembers with a smile. Nam mentioned that this work made him aware of the infinite possibilities of theater.
In 1996, Nam performed with Park Ji-il in play Sad Song of Sorrow. This work dramatised Jeong Chan's Dongin Literary Award-winning novel.
Park Ji-il is a young man from the airborne unit who works as a theatre actor in Poland, 'Park Un-hyung', and Nam Myung-ryeol appears as a reporter and novelist 'Yoo Sung-gyun' who arrived in Poland to interview musician Henrik Kuretsky.
Big screen debut In 1997, Nam made his debut in Chungmuro with minor roles in 'Ji Sang Manga' and 'One Eight Eight Arms'. The following year, he had a small role in director Im Sang-soo's debut film 'Girls' Dinner', and also his first supporting role in director Kang Je-gyu's 'Shiri' (1998). In recent years, he has been more prominent in the film industry. He played a supporting role in 'The Whistleblower' (2014), and in 2016, he took on his first lead role in the low-budget independent film 'My House', which was invited to the 17th Jeonju International Film Festival's Cinemascape Division. Over the past year, he has appeared in significant supporting roles in 'The King', 'Silence', 'Memorial Night', and this year's 'The Detective: Returns'. He has also been more active in dramas lately. Despite being a well-known actor in the theater world, he seems to be focusing on supporting roles in movies without any sense of despair. Based on his recent performances, it appears that he is content with his current trajectory.
It took several years for him to gain recognition as an actor. The early 2000s were a particularly unstable time for him. Financial difficulties and the mental stress of wondering whether he would be able to perform on stage added to his anxiety. Despite the challenges, he persevered and continued to make choices as an actor, knowing that there was always the possibility of losing his relevance in the industry.
In 2012, he played the role of Thomas Stockman, a doctor who fights against collective egoism in Daejeon Arts Center's play Enemy of the People.
In 2013, he won the acting award at the 50th Dong-A Theater Awards for his play 'Alibi Chronicles'.
He is participating as a writer for 'Flower Shop', a newsletter published by the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture's Seoul Theater Center, where theater performers leave short reviews on plays. Since 2017, he has also been a member of the jury for the theater section of the 'Edaily Culture Awards'.
Filmographies Film YearTitleRoleNotes English Korean1997Jisang Manga지상만가SuperintendenceEighteen eighteen일팔일팔말1998 Dinner of virgins처녀들의 저녁식사Chang Yoon1999Shiri쉬리Guanho2004Doll Master인형사middle-aged man role2005My Right to Ravage Myself나는 나를 파괴할 권리가 있다2006 Monopoli모노폴리Chairman KimAntique서양 골동 양과자점 앤티크President Cheon2010 Sex bolantier섹스 볼란티어2011Silenced도가니Professor Kim Jung-woo2012All About My Wife내 아내의 모든 것Divorce court judge2013 Never Die Butterfly네버다이 버터플라이Myungho father2014Whistle Blower제보자Professor Yoo Jong-jinQuo Vadis쿼바디스Pastor Noh / Jesus2015 Yongsan Night용산나이트Salut d'Amour장수상회Old manLove And...필름시대사랑An old person2017The King더 킹Kim Min-jaeHeart Blackened침묵Kim Hyung-moForgotten기억의 밤Professor Choi2018The Accidental Detective 2: In Action탐정: 리턴즈Woo Won-il (A ledger)2019Black Money블랙머니Na Ri-boo2021 Hard Hit발신제한 President of Jang Ho Textile2022 Air Murder공기살인Professor Oh Emergency Declaration비상선언NSC Chairman 2023 The Point Men 교섭 President Two percent2퍼센트
Television series YearTitleRole English Korean2007 Coffee Prince커피프린스 1호점 Lee Myung-jaeDrama City: Double-book Murder Case드라마시티 - 이중장부 살인사건Sung Joon-ho2008 Strongest Chil Woo최강칠우Jinmuyang2009 Tamra, the Island탐나는도다 Kawamura KeisukeSister's Menopause언니의 폐경 Soon-gil Sungkyunkwan Scandal성균관 스캔들 Kim Seung-heon 2011 Detectives in Trouble강력반 Kang Man-soo 2012 KBS Drama SpecialProfessor ChoiKBS2 2013 A Hundred Year Legacy백년의 유산 Lee Dong-gyuThe Queen's Classroom여왕의 교실 Mrs. Oh / Omanse Master's Sun주군의 태양 a man who won't sell a houseMarry Him If You Dare미래의 선택 Kim Shin in the future 2014 Doctor Stranger닥터 이방인 Choi Byung-chulMy Dear Cat고양이는 있다Mother's Garden엄마의 정원Dr. NoGunman in Joseon조선 총잡이 HyunamThree Days쓰리 데이즈 Min Hyun-kiModern Farmer모던파머 Director KangMisaeng: Incomplete Life미생 Jang-rae's Go masterLiar Game라이어 게임 2015 Blood블러드Jeong Han-sooBeating Again순정에 반하다 Lee Jung-gooHigh Society상류사회 Choi Young-hoYong-pal용팔이 Chae-young's fatherThe Return of Hwang Geum-bok돌아온 황금복 Hwang Man-cheol Remember리멤버: 아들의 전쟁 Kang Man-soo 2016 Windstorm Planning질풍기획 President of Jil-pong-taeHappy Home가화만사성 Seo Do-hyungLocal Hero동네의 영웅 Jang Myung-junMonster몬스터 Lee Jun-sikMy Lawyer, Mr. Jo동네변호사 조들호 Choi Dong-wookShopping King Louie쇼핑왕 루이 Cha Soo-il, Joong-won's fatherKBS Drama SpecialKBS 드라마 스페셜]] 아득히 먼 춤collectible android 2017 Circle써클: 이어진 두 세계 Yoon Hak-juSisters-in-Law별별 며느리 Hwang Ho-sikCriminal Minds크리미널 마인드 Yoon Hee-chulReverse역류Kim Sang-jae 2019 The Banker더 뱅커 Professor Park Jin-hoWhen the Devil Calls Your Name악마가 너의 이름을 부를 때Chairman Song Yeon-mo (Special appearance) 2020 My Holo Love나 홀로 그대 Chairman BaekHospital Playlist슬기로운 의사생활 Yang TaeyangWhen My Love Blooms화양연화 Han In-hoSF8시네마틱드라마 SF8]] - 만신 Lee Ji-hamLie After Lie거짓말의 거짓말 Ji Dong-ri 2021 Hospital Playlist슬기로운 의사생활 2Yang TaeyangThe King of Tears, Lee Bang-won태종 이방원 Yi SaekArtificial City공작도시 Yoon Jong-pil 2022 Doctor Lawyer닥터 로이어 Lim Tae-moonRemarriage & Desires블랙의 신부 Son Pil-youngThe Empire디 엠파이어: 법의 제국Yoo Ye-hoo (Special appearance)One Dollar Lawyer천원짜리 변호사Kim Yoon-seop 2023 Doctor Cha닥터 차정숙Park Ho-wonBattle for Happiness행복배틀Kang Bong-seokNumbers넘버스: 빌딩숲의 감시자들Jang In-ho2024Begins ≠ Youth비긴즈유스Koo Hyun-bok2026Mad Concrete Dreams대한민국에서 건물주 되는 법Mr. Kim
Music video YearSong TitleArtist2021"ONLY"LeeHi
Discography
Radio program Classic Reading & Radio Biography (EBS Radio) 2014|2014 EBS Reading radio reading series (EBS FM)
Audio Book
Amryu of Choi In-joon read by Nam Myeong-ryeol Life coordinates The Sand Man by Ernst Hoffmann, read by Nam Myeong-ryeol
Stage
Musical concert YearTitleRoleNote English Korean2002Party for Boris보리스를 위한 파티Himself2008Orpheus in Music오르페오 인 뮤직OrpheusDaegwallyeong International Music Festival-Eh, Joe대관령 국제음악제-Eh, Joe2008–2011Hana Yeouido Classic하나 여의도 클래식2013 Meet the genius pianist Chopin천재 피아니스트 쇼팽을 만나다Persian prince who came to Silla신라에 온 페르시아 왕자2014A museum with music음악이 흐르는 박물관Psychological report on Bethoven베토벤에 대한 심리보고서BethovenSeodaemun Cultural Center Small TheaterIn search of the lost Arirang잃어버린 아리랑을 찾아서2015 Chamber music series with Son Jun-ho 손준호와 함께하는 실내악 시리즈Pansori Shakespeare- Chunhyang and Juliet판소리 셰익스피어- 춘향과 줄리엣Romeothe lawn of the National AssemblyLover on the island of Mallorca마요르카 섬의 연인Frederic Chopin Freud meets them in pansori프로이드가 만나 판소리 속 그들2016Bucheon Phil's Eve Concert - Bat부천 필 제야음악회-박쥐2017Art gallery concert미술관 음악회2022The dream of the opera music theatre Dumopo오페라음악극 두모포의 꿈Tae-jong2023Every day, the 20th anniversary of classical performance, music theatre, looking for me매일클래식 20주년 공연 음악극 나를 찾아서JayLotte Concert Hall
Theater