On August 7, production team members from the SBS weekend series, "Late Night Restaurant," weighed in on the performance of WINNER's Nam Tae Hyun. While "Late Night Restaurant" should have served as his breakout acting performance, Nam has been criticized for epitomizing a phenomenon commonly known in Korea as "foot acting." This term eloquently describes flat affect, expressionless faces and other characteristics of a poor acting performance.
In an article published by the Korean outlet Newsen, production staff members defend his acting and justify his eagerness to appear in the television show. Newsen opens with the story by expressing concern for the public image of the boy band member, which has been questioned, as domestic viewers continue to weigh-in on his acting ability.
Representatives for the production weighed in on the acting performance delivered by the idol, in a statement provided to Newsen. "Nam Tae Hyun has a passion for acting, we hope the sentiment is delivered to the viewers," said a spokesperson from the weekend drama.
The production staff went on to praise his professionalism and acting, during the recent filming of a scene which involved cold water submersion. "We are making this scene public, where Nam Tae Hyun goes into a reservoir," said the representative. "He won applause from the production staff with his acting and did not show signs of tiring when he had to jump into the water."
Critics and domestic audiences have cited the casting of the WINNER member in the series as the latest example of instances where idol actors fail to carry dramas. The acting idol trend continues to gain momentum, but recent examples of push back from fans have included the backlash against Miss A's Suzy, who was considered for the leading female role in "Cheese in the Trap."
Have you watched "Late Night Restaurant?" What are your thoughts on Nam Tae Hyun's performance? Please comment below.
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About the writer: Adrienne Stanley is a contributing editor for KDramaStars. She is also a contributing writer for KpopStarz, MTV Iggy, Viki and CJ Entertainment's KCON blog. Her passions include a love of K-pop and Asian drama. When she is not writing, she is hanging out on Twitter (@retrogirladdy).
