WOODZ Makes Acting Debut in Historical Action Film Nambeol
Singer WOODZ is stepping into acting with a role in Nambeol, a martial arts film set in early Joseon Korea. He'll star alongside Lee Byung Hun and Go Youn Jung in the project, which marks director Lee Mo Gae's feature directorial debut.
WOODZ is trading the recording studio for the silver screen. The chart-topping singer, known for his hit "Drowning," will make his acting debut in Nambeol, an upcoming martial arts action film set during Korea's early Joseon period.
The movie follows nine warriors on a dangerous mission to Tsushima Island to rescue captives held by Japanese pirates. WOODZ will play Cheotnom, a skilled archer who joins the expedition to earn money for his struggling family back home. It's a solid entry point for a rookie actor—the character has clear motivations and plenty of action sequences to work with.
He's joining a heavyweight cast that includes Lee Byung Hun, Go Youn Jung, and Nam Do Hyun. The production team highlighted how WOODZ will "bring his fresh energy as a rookie actor" while expanding into new entertainment territory beyond music.
Nambeol also marks something significant for filmmaker Lee Mo Gae, who's directing his first feature after years working as director of photography on major Korean films like 12.12: The Day, Exhuma, and Hunt. His cinematography background should give the action sequences real polish.
The film is currently in pre-production, with shooting expected to begin later this year. There's no release date announced yet, but historical action films like this typically take time to film given the elaborate costume work and action choreography required.
For WOODZ, this move aligns with what many K-pop artists do after establishing themselves musically—expanding into acting, variety shows, or other creative ventures. His music career momentum from "Drowning" gives him the profile to land a substantial supporting role in a well-funded production rather than starting with smaller indie projects.
Fans will be watching to see how the singer handles the transition to acting. The character's archer skills should play to his strengths—precision and discipline—though embodying a fictional warrior is obviously different from performing on stage. Either way, Nambeol should be an interesting way to see what WOODZ can do beyond music.