Nam Woo Hyun of INFINITE is officially preparing to make his feature film debut through the upcoming crime-action movie The Guardian.
On May 11, the singer-actor’s agency confirmed that Nam Woo Hyun will take on the lead role of Park Do Joon in the new action thriller, marking his first major appearance on the big screen since debuting in the entertainment industry.
The Guardian follows the story of Do Joon, a young man who once dreamed of becoming a national taekwondo athlete before giving up that future for the sake of his family. After relocating to the Philippines with his mother, his life takes a dangerous turn when she is suddenly kidnapped by the country’s largest criminal organization. Forced into a desperate race against time, Do Joon becomes entangled in a brutal fight to rescue her.
The film was shot entirely on location in Manila, Philippines, and is expected to combine large-scale action sequences with unfamiliar urban landscapes rarely seen in Korean crime films. The overseas setting has already drawn attention for potentially giving the movie a more intense and gritty atmosphere compared to typical domestic action productions.
Nam Woo Hyun’s character, Park Do Joon, is described as someone who still carries emotional scars from abandoning his dream of joining Korea’s national taekwondo team. Despite his regrets, he remains deeply devoted to his mother and guided by a strong sense of justice. As the situation spirals out of control, Do Joon gradually transforms from an ordinary man into someone willing to risk everything in order to save his family.
Veteran actress Park Eun Hye has been cast as Kim Mi Jin, Do Joon’s mother, while Han Jae Suk will portray Cha Dong Chul, the ruthless leader of the criminal organization standing in Do Joon’s way.
The project is already attracting attention not only because of its overseas production scale, but also because it represents a major acting milestone for Nam Woo Hyun. Although he has steadily built experience through musicals, dramas, and various entertainment activities over the years, The Guardian marks his first time leading a theatrical action film.
Fans have also expressed curiosity about how the idol-turned-actor will handle the physically demanding role, particularly since the character’s taekwondo background is expected to play a central part in the film’s combat scenes.
The Guardian is currently scheduled to premiere in theaters this June.
