Eric Nam's Global Pop Defies Expectations. on His Latest Album, 'House on a Hill,' He Relishes in It

LOS ANGELES (AP) In an entertainment industry bent on categorization, Eric Nam finds an audience in fluidity. A decade into his career, he's still a challenge to describe: Do you label him a pop star? Or a K-pop idol? Is there a difference? Is he an actor? A singer-songwriter? An interviewer? A television personality? A mental health activist? Korean American, or Korean and American?

Nam was born and raised in Georgia, studied at Boston College, and got a job in New York City before heading to Seoul, South Korea, where he started his music career in his early 20s. He eventually found fame in the Korean major label system, was named GQ Korea's Man of the Year and was featured on Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list.

But making it in the U.S. was always part of his goal. It's not an uncommon journey for Korean Americans who see few opportunities to break into the entertainment business stateside but after finding success in South Korea, he returned home years later to establish his name in the country where he was raised.