Table of contents
About
Na In-woo, whose real name is Na Jong-chan, is a South Korean actor. He rose to fame via the K-dramas “Mr. Queen” and “River Where the Moon Rises”, and solidified his standing via “Marry My Husband”.
Biography
- Stage name: Na In-woo (나인우)
- Real name: Na Jong-chan (나종찬)
- Date of Birth: September 17, 1994
- Education: Dankook University (Department of Performance and Film, Theater Major
- Religion: Paganism
- Height: 188.6cm (6’18)
- Agency: Hanada Company
- Instagram: @10042n00
Trivia
Na In-woo was born in Gwangju as an only child of an unmarried mother. He immigrated to Canada when he was 9, and returned to Korea when he was 12.
At the time, Na In-woo really enjoyed running around and even won 1st place in a marathon competition. However, he fell in love with acting after watching the 2004 K-drama “I Am Sorry, I Love You”.
He eventually got street-casted by SM Entertainment when he was in middle school, but since he couldn’t dance at the audition, he was eventually eliminated. However, he later went to JYP’s open audition, and became an actor trainee under the agency in his 3rd year of middle school.
The actor later departed from JYP and worked part-time as he took a break to discover himself, before becoming an actor trainee under Cube Entertainment.
Career
Career beginnings
Na In-woo debuted in the entertainment industry in 2013 via the musical “Bachelor’s Vegetable Store”. He then assumed a small role in the SBS weekend drama “Glorious Day” in 2015.
In 2015, Na In-woo officially debuted as an actor in the TV drama “Shine or Go Crazy”, and later appeared in the K-drama “My Mom”, even earning a nomination for Best New Actor with this role. He also made his big screen debut in the same year with the film “Twenty”.
Afterwards, Na In-woo constantly assumed roles in web-dramas and TV series such as “Spark”, “Best Chicken”, “Yeonnam Family”, and more.
In 2019, he changed his stage name from Na Jong-chan to Na In-woo.
Breakthrough with leading roles
In 2020, Na In-woo appeared as the second male lead in the viral tvN drama Mr. Queen, earning significant attention and rising to star status.
However, his big breakthrough actually came in 2021, when he replaced Ji Soo in the historical drama “River Where the Moon Rises” as the male lead. At the time, Ji Soo dropped out from the project due to personal scandals, and as the last-minute substitution, Na In-woo’s work ethic shined as he tirelessly filmed all the old scenes in an extremely short timeframe. The same role also earned Na In-woo a nomination as Best New Actor at the 57th Baeksang Arts Awards.
Ever since, Na In-woo has constantly assumed leading roles in series such as “Jinxed at First”. He also experienced another bout of explosive popularity via the hit K-drama “Marry My Husband”, where he starred alongside Park Min-young.
He also became a fixed cast member in Season 4 of the famous reality show “2 Days & 1 Night”. However, he left the show in 2024 to focus on his acting career.
Most recently, he was casted for the K-drama “Motel California” alongside actress Choi Hee-jin.
Personal life & Controversies
Following his appearance on “Marry My Husband”, dating rumors popped up between Na In-woo and Park Min-young, especially as the two showed “couple-like behavior” during the K-drama’s reward trip.
Most recently, Na In-woo got tangled in criticism as he was exempted from military service despite his outstanding physique.
