Gong Yoo

Some Lesser Known Facts About Gong Yoo

• Gong Yoo is a South Korean actor known for his work in the South Korean films Silenced (2011), Train to Busan (2016), and The Age of Shadows (2016) and South Korean dramas Coffee Prince (2007) and Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (2016–2017).

• Gong Yoo was born and brought up in Dongnae-gu, Busan, South Korea.

  

• Gong Yoo’s father, who attended the famous baseball high school of South Korea Gae-sung High School, was the head of the professional baseball team Lotte Giants’ Busan office in 1982. Between 1983 and 1985, his father managed the first team of the Lotte Giants.

• Due to an ongoing trend in the industry in the 1990s, where actors only used two syllables for their names, he changed his name to ‘Gong Yoo’ by combining the family names of his parents, Gong from his father and Yoo from mother. A typical Korean name has three syllables.

• In the 1990s, there was a trend in actors to use two syllables for their names. His stage name is the combination of both his parents’ family names, where Gong comes from his father and Yoo from his mother.

• In 1999, he started his career as a model in magazines and TV commercials. He worked as a video jockey for a Mnet program the following year.

• After making his debut with ‘Golbaeng-i’ in 2001, the same year, he played minor roles in South Korean sitcoms ‘Lipstick’ in episode 21, ‘Why Can’t We Stop Them’ in episode 108, ‘Ssangdongine’ in episode 87, and ‘Twins’ in episode 87.

• 2001 also brought him his first noteworthy role of ‘Hwang Tae-young’ in the South Korean anthology ‘School 4’ from episodes 29 to 48. The drama aired on KBS2 and explored the issues faced by South Korean high school students, such as corrupt education system, suicide, tutoring culture, career prospects, and bullying. He earned the monicker ‘Candy Boy’ as he carried a lollipop in the series.

  

• In 2001, he made an appearance in the South Korean singer Why’s the music video of ‘Haengbokhage-seyo.’

• Gong Yoo then played supporting roles in the South Korean dramas Whenever the Heart Beats (2002), Hard Love (2002), Screen (2003), and My Room, Your Room (2003).

• In 2003, he was seen in the lead role of ‘Seo-joon’ in the Kdrama ‘Twenty Years,’ which aired on SBS. The sitcom featured the story of Seo-joon, a sophomore year college student with good looks and no shortcomings, who is living with the pain of troubled family history.

  

• He was the host of the South Korean music program ‘Music Camp’ in 2004.

  

• In the same year, he played his first lead role (in a film) as ‘Choi Go-bong’ in Park Han-Jun’s directorial venture ‘Spy Girl.’ The film focuses on North Korean spy Park Hyo-jin (played by the South Korean actress Kim Jung-hwa), who works at a Burger King restaurant in South Korea. She is supposed to keep a low profile. However, when Go-bong (part of the students’ group running a website devoted to girls working at a local Burger King) falls in love with Hyo-jin, he turns her into a local celebrity by posting her pictures online.

  

• Gong then mostly played lead or supporting roles in the South Korean films Superstar Mr. Gam (2004), S Diary (2004), and She’s on Duty (2005). 

• In 2005, he appeared in the SBS Kdrama ‘Hello My Teacher’ in which he played the lead role of ‘Park Tae-in.’ In the drama, Na Bori (played by the South Korean actress Gong Hyo-jin), a high school teacher, decides to teach at her old school to get close to her crush, a high school teacher. She is given the job in exchange for babysitting the mischievous Tae-in. As Tae-in and Bori become close, Noh Jemma (played by South Korean actress Choi Yeo-jin), another high school student and friend of Tae-in, become jealous of their relationship and conspires to get Nori kicked out of the school.
  

• In 2006, Gong Yoo made an appearance as ‘Seo Gun’ in the MBC drama ‘One Fine Day,’ which chronicles the story of Seo Gun and Seo Ha-neul (played by the South Korean actress Sung Yu-ri). Gun and Ha-neul became legal siblings after their parents (Gun’s father and Ha- neul’s mother) married. When both of their parents died in an accident, Gun and Ha-neul were adopted by different families and separated. After fifteen years, Gun (now a swindler) reunites with Ha-neul only to swindle money from her. However, Gun finds himself caring for her and protecting her after realizing that their feelings are more than just siblings’ affection. The drama received an average viewership of 10% and was not much liked by the audience. The drama aired on HTV9 in Vietnam in January 2007 and Fuji TV in Japan in October 2010 due to Gong Yoo’s popularity in Coffee Prince (2007).

  

• In 2007, he starred in his breakthrough role as ‘Choi Han-kyul’ in the MBC drama ‘Coffee Prince.’ The series follows Han-kyul, grandson of chairwoman Bang (played by South Korean veteran actress Kim Young-ok) of thriving coffee business Dongin Foods. Being pushed by his grandmother to begin working and get married, he often attends blinds dates arranged by his grandmother. Having had enough of blind dates, he introduces the tomboy ‘Go Eun-chan’ (played by South Korean actress Yoon Eun-hye), often mistaken as a man, as his boyfriend. He employs Go Eun-Chan at Coffee Prince, an old rundown coffee shop he took over to prove himself to his grandmother and his love interest Han Yoon-jae (played by South Korean actress Chae Jung-an). However, he soon found himself attracted to Eun-chan, unaware Eun-chan is a woman.
  
  The series was a major hit in South Korea, with a nationwide rating of 24.2%. The series was even broadcasted later in countries like Japan on Fuji TV (2010), Philippines on GMA Network (2008, 2010, 2016), Thailand on Channel 7 (2008), Malaysia on Animax Asia (2010), Middle East on MBC 4 (2013), India on Puthuyugam TV (in Tamil; 2014), and Chile on ETC (2016). Thailand and the Phillippines in 2012, China in 2016, and Malaysia in 2017 made remakes of the series.
  

• The coffee shop in the drama ‘Coffee Prince’ was an actual old rundown coffee place in Hongdae, Seoul. The shop was remodeled for the filming. After filming was over, the coffee shop was rebranded as ‘Coffee Prince Cafe’ and opened again with Han Yoo-joo’s (a character in the drama) wallflowers painting and other props from the drama on display. The shop was featured in the National Geographic Channel-produced documentary on the Korean Wave titled ‘Seoul’s Got Soul’ in 2011.

  

• In an interview, Gong Yoo confessed that he had fallen into a career slump before he starred in Coffee Prince. He had doubts regarding his career as an actor, not because his films or shows were not working out, but he was unsure about continuing acting. He overcame it after playing ‘Han-kyul’ in Coffee Prince. He said,
  

  Before appearing in this work, for the first time in 6 years since my debut, I started to have some skepticism. As a result, I was worried about what would happen if my passion gradually cooled down. To be honest, I had to make a big decision before choosing this drama. All of the previous dramas I appeared in were trendy dramas with a light feeling, so I was worried that it would give viewers a boring feeling. I am so grateful that I am now able to work passionately in front of the camera again.”

• When Gong Yoo was at the peak of his career, he announced his military enlistment; his last fan meeting before military service was organized at the Millennium Hall at Sungyunkhwan University. On January 14, 2008, Yoo enlisted in the military and finished his training at Korea Army Training Center, Nonsan. After completing weeks of secondary education at the Republic of Korea Army Armor School (Jangseong), he was deployed in the frontline active service in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province, for eight months. Gong was then appointed as a member of the Defense Media Agency’s public relations department in September 2008. During his term in the military, he served as a host for the army radio station KFN. On December 8, 2009, Gong Yoo was discharged from his services.

  

• Following his military discharge, he played the lead role of ‘Han Gi-joon’ in the South Korean film ‘Finding Mr. Destiny’ (2010). With the film, he proved that he could do comic roles too.

  

• In 2011, he was seen in the lead role of ‘Kang In-ho’ in the legendary South Korean film ‘Silenced,’ directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk and based on a real-life event at Gwangju Inhwa School (school for deaf and hard of hearing students) in Gwangju, South Korea. In the school, students faced sexual assault for five years by the school administration and faculty members in the 2000s; due to the flawed justice system and ties of the school with the prosecution, culprits escaped with bare to minimum punishment. In the film, Kang In-ho, collecting money for his daughter’s surgery, is appointed as a teacher at the school in Gwangju. When In-ho learns of the heinous crime committed in the school, he joins hands with human rights NGOs and activists to bring justice to the students. However, the culprits got away unharmed. The film grossed ₩7.8 billion in its first week of release and was ranked #1 for three consecutive weeks after its release. After ten weeks of screening, the film collected revenue of a total of ₩35 billion. The film won Best Music for Mowg (2011) at Blue Dragon Film Awards and Best Film (2012) at KOFRA Film Awards.

  

• The film ‘Silenced’ not only was a blockbuster but a game-changer. When people of South Korea watched it, they were outraged by the injustice to the students and lenient court ruling. ^[12]Korea Joongang Daily Massive country-wide protests followed, and the case was reopened and reinvestigated. The school was shut down for good in November 2011 following continuous demonstrations. Also, several teachers pleaded guilty to the sexual molestation charges, and the school administrator was sentenced to 12 years in prison. The Korean National Assembly passed Dogani Law (named after the Korean title of the film) in 2011. The law maximized the sentence to life in prison for sexual assault against children and the disabled. The law also removed the clause asking children 13 years of age or under and disabled to ‘prove they were unable to defend’ and also the statute of limitations for sexual assault against children. ^[13]The Korea Times

• After working in South Korean films for a while, he made his appearance in the 2012 KBS 2 Kdrama ‘Big’ in which he played the lead role of ‘Seo Yoon-jae/Kang Kyung-joon.’ Yoon-jae, a handsome doctor and fiance of high school teacher Gil Da-ran (played by South Korean actress Lee Min-jung), ends up in an accident with Kyung-joon (played by South Korean actor Shin Won-ho) and dies. While Kyung-joon’s body is in a coma, his soul transfers to Yoon-jae’s body.

  

• He also sang the OST of the Kdrama ‘Big’ titled ‘Because It’s You.’

• In 2013, he made a cameo appearance as a magician in the Kdrama ‘Dating Agency: Cyrano.’

• Next, he appeared in the 2013 South Korean hit film ‘The Suspect,’ directed by Won Shin-yun, in the lead role of ‘Ji Dong-cheol.’ In the movie, Dong-cheol, a former top special forces agent in North Korea, was deserted by the government while on a mission during which his sister and mother were sold as slaves to China and then killed by his ex-colleague. He defected to South Korea, where he searches for the murderer in the daytime and works as a personal chauffeur to a business executive at night. One day, the business executive is murdered, but he gives Dong-cheol clues to finding top-secret materials before his death. Dong-cheol is chased by the South Korean police as the suspected executive’s murderer while in a mission his dying master gave him. The film was a box office blockbuster and collected US$26.9 million of revenue.
  
  

• For Ji Dong-cheol’s role, the filmmakers initially considered actor Yoon Kye-sang, but after he dropped out following Choi Min-sik’s farewell from the project, Gong Yoo was approached. For his role as Ji Dong-cheol, Yoo was on a three-month diet and learned Systema, Russian martial art, for fight sequences. None of the action sequences in the film, like car chases, rock climbing, and skydiving, were done by stunt performers but Gong Yoo himself. 

• In November 2013, Gong Yoo was appointed as the special representative by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Korea concerning the 24th year celebration of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)’s adoption. Following his appointment, he visited numerous countries to bring out the issues regarding children coming from underdeveloped countries and appeared in several commercials, videos for seminars, and children’s rights advertisement campaigns for UNICEF. In an interview, he talked about his inclination towards children’s rights. He said,
  

  I was outraged at how handicapped children were being treated after filming ‘silenced’ and realized the importance of protecting their rights. I have since been interested in joining UNICEF to fight for their rights, and I am honored and glad to be appointed to this position.”
  

  

• Gong Yoo and South Korean actress Ha Ji-won were appointed as the National Tax Service (NTS) ambassadors in July 2014. In support of NTS, the two took part in a campaign modeling for promotional posters and encouraged honest tax payment.

  

• Gong Yoo was seen in the music video of Kim Dong-ryool’s song ‘How I Am’ in 2014.

• In 2016, Gong Yoo was seen in the lead role of ‘Seok-woo’ in the South Korean horror film ‘Train to Busan’ alongside Jung Yu-mi, Ma Dong-seok, Kim Su-an, Choi Woo-shik, Ahn So-hee, and Kim Eui-sung. Seok-woo, a fund manager and divorced father, boards a KTX 101 train with his daughter from Seoul to Busan as his daughter wishes to see her mother on her birthday. Meanwhile, a chemical leak at a biotech plant led to a zombie apocalypse and began spreading rapidly. Just before the departure of KTX, an infected lady entered and turned into a zombie, attacking an attendant. However, due to a chemical leak at a biotech plant, the zombie apocalypse began and spread very rapidly. While the KTX was about to leave for Busan, an infected lady entered, turned into a zombie, and attacked an attendant. In a short time, many passengers turned into zombies. The remaining passengers, including Seok-woo, struggle to thrive in the train filled with zombies. The superhit film collected revenue of $80.5 million in South Korea, $2.2 million in the United States and Canada, and $15.8 million in other territories, totaling $98.5 million worldwide. It was the highest-grossing movie of the year in South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, and Hong Kong. The awards won by the film are-
  — Blue Dragon Film Award – Technical Awad (2016)
  — Buil Fim Award – Yu Hyun-mok Film Arts Award (2016)
  — Korean Association of Film Critics Award – Technical Award (2016)
  — Baeksang Arts Awards for Best New Director (2017)
  — Chunsa Film Awards- Technical and Best Film (2017)

  

• In the same year, he starred in the lead role of ‘Kim Woo-jin’ in the South Korean period action thriller film ‘The Age of Shadows,’ directed by Kim Jee-woon and written by Lee Ji-min and Park Jong-dae. In the film, Korean resistance fighters led by Kim Woo-jin, owner of an antique shop (front for smuggling explosives), smuggle explosives from Shanghai to Seoul to eradicate the Japanese forces-controlled facilities in Korea under Japanese rule. Lee Jung-chool (played by Song Kang-ho) is commissioned to exterminate the resistance by the Japanese Colonial Government. Jung-chool and Woo-jin are in a war of nerves with each other in the film. With a collection of $55.3 million, the film peaked at the South Korean box office for three consecutive weeks. The awards won by the film are:
  — Korean Association of Film Critics Awards for Best Film and Best Music (2016)
  — Grand Bell Awards for Best Art Design (2016)
  — Fantastic Fest (Austin, Texas) – Best Picture award in the Action Features category (2016)
  — Asian Film Award for Best Composer (2017)
  — Baeksang Art Award for Best Director (2017)
  At the 89th Academy Awards, the film was South Korea’s official entry for Best Foreign Language Film; however, it failed to get nominations.

  

• He appeared in the series Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (later named Goblin), which aired on tvN from 2016 to 2017. He played the role of the Goryeo Dynasty general ‘Kim Shin’ (who becomes Goblin after death), who is sentenced to death by the king after being framed for treason. He is killed by the sword pierced to his chest; his family is also killed with him. Years after his death with the sword attached to his chest, he is punished by the almighty to live and watch his loved ones die until his bride appears and free him from the punishment by taking his sword out. Living through 939 years, he helped numerous people waiting for his death. However, when his bride Ji Eun-tak (played by the South Korean actress Kim Go-eun) finally appears, he falls in love and wants to live. In the beginning, the series’ ratings were low, but they gradually increased by the final episode; the last episode was rated 18.68%, the second-highest-rated episode in Kdrama history. The series is an all-time hit and very popular among international audiences. Upon its release, people made its parodies on social media, including political figures and celebrities.

  

• In 2017, Gong Yoo became the first South Korean actor in history to appear on the covers of the fashion magazine Esquire’s June edition in 7 Asian countries: Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Hong Kong. The June edition of Esquire in Vietnam and the Philippines displayed Gong Yoo’s pictorials, meaning Esquire promoted Gong Yoo in 9 out of all its editions in Asian countries.

• In 2019, he appeared in the South Korean film ‘Kim Ji-young: Born 1982,’ directed by Kim Do-young and written by Yoo Yiung-ah, opposite Jung Yu-mi. In the movie, he plays the role of ‘Jung Dae-hyun,’ the husband of Kim Ji-young (played by Jung Yu-mi), who wants to fulfill her dream of traveling around the world and being a career woman one day, but is convincing herself that she’ll do well. After living a life of unaccomplished desires for a long time, she began experiencing being inhabited by her mother and late grandmother.

  

• In early 2020, using his real name, Gong Yoo showed his support to the quarantine authorities and healthcare staff, working to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and also the low-income and socially disadvantaged people by donating 100 million won to the Community Chest of Korea. The same year, he showed his support to the flood victims affected by heavy rains by donating 100 million won to Hope Bridge Association of the National Disaster Relief under his real name.

• In 2021, he starred in the South Korean sci-fi action film ‘Seo Bok,’ directed by Lee Yong-ju, alongside Park Bo Gum and Jang Young-nam. In the movie, he portrays ‘Min Gi-heon,’ a former intelligence agent assigned to safely transport Seo Bok (played by the South Korean actor Park Bo-gum), the first human clone molded from genetic engineering and stem cell cloning, who has the secret to eternal life. The film chronicle the journey of Gi-heon with Bok as they face various challenges as many want to possess the clone. The film was released in the theaters and OTT simultaneously and collected US$3.28 million, topping the Korean box office. The film was selected to premiere at Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival 2021. In August 2021, Fantasia International Film Festival, Montreal, screened the movie. It was also premiered at the Canadian premiere section of the festival on-demand.

  

• For his role in Seo Bok, Gong Yoo decided to lose some weight to illustrate the distress of Gi-heon. He lost a lot of weight in the process as he went too deep in the role. This almost led the director to remove him from the film.

• In episodes 1 and 9 of the 2021 superhit Netflix series ‘Squid Game,’ Gong Yoo appeared as ‘Recruiter,’ who recruits participants for the game.

  

• In the 2021 Netflix drama ‘The Silent Sea,’ he appeared in the lead role of ‘Han Yoon-jae,’ the exploration team leader assigned a mission to the moon to collect a mysterious sample from an abandoned research station.

• In 2021, there was news about his appearance in the Kdrama ‘Devil.’ However, it was later announced in 2022 that Yoo would not appear in the Kdrama. 

• He even starred in the South Korean films A Man and a Woman (2018) and Wonderland (2022).

• Gong Yoo has modeled for brands such as SK Telecom, Nongshim, Samsung C&T, Lamy ZIO, Fanta, Lotte Chilsung, Dong Suh Foods, Renault Samsung Motors, LG Household & Health Care, LG Electronics, Volkswagen, Domino’s Pizza, and Kia Motors.

  

• He was the brand ambassador of LVMH all over Asia (2017), Asus (2017-2019) all over Asia, and Chanel Korea (2021-2022).

  

• He is a sports enthusiast and is a fan of baseball. His favorite team is Lotte Giants, the South Korean professional baseball team in Busan. His interest in Lotte Giants and baseball was because of his father, who was connected to baseball and the team.

• He is also a fan of football and watches live broadcasts of football matches. While watching football matches, he wears Stephen Curry’s uniform and cheers for the team.

• Gong Yoo often plays baseball, and he often plays as a part of the celebrity baseball team ‘Playboys.’

  

• Gong Yoo loves cats and has two pet cats.

• Once, in an interview, he was asked about marriage and relationships; he replied that he once wished to marry, but his focus shifted to acting after he grew a fondness for acting. He added that he now liked being alone. He further said that if he ever married, his ideal type would be-
  

  I think assertive women are charming. Times have changed, and people no longer think that men have to be the ones who propose. I don’t have thoughts about getting married yet.” While sharing his views as a partner, he added, I’m someone who places importance on meals. I don’t confess right away if there’s someone I like. I’m the type to remember that feeling, but not the type to act on that feeling.”

• In an interview, Yoo confessed that he fears ghosts and can’t watch horror films at all. He thought that filming a horror film would be much better, but he was very scared on the sets of ‘Train to Busan.’ According to him, his belief in ghosts made it scarier when he used his imagination. Among other things that scare him, there is also social media.

• Until December 2021, he was not available on any social media platform. In a past interview, he said,
  

  I don’t think it fits me. The last social network I used was Cyworld, and even then, I ran it privately. I am anxious that I will get addicted to it. Also, getting too much attention on the Internet is overwhelming. I think it’s a tool that makes people lonelier. You feel insecurities you don’t need to feel on social media. I am not familiar with digital gadgets. I still ask people how my smartphone works. I even prefer handwritten letters.”
  

  However, he opened an Instagram account in December 2021.

• In an interview, he said that he wanted to run a restaurant in Jeju Island one day. When he was asked about his wish to open a restaurant in an interview years later, he said that he was a foodie and can’t help himself from trying out new dishes or restaurants when he comes across one; he added that almost 80 percent of picture gallery in his phone is filled with pictures of food. He further said,
  

  Perhaps the reason why I said I wanted to open a restaurant was because of my attachment to a space. I have a desire to stay in a pretty and simple space, even if it’s very small. I don’t know if I’ll really open a restaurant later, but I want to live close to the countryside. I don’t want to live in a forest of buildings like I do now.”

• He is an avid traveler, and out of all the places he has visited, California is his favorite. While talking about California in an interview, he said,
  

  I lived in the United States for a month. When I woke up, I went to the local gym to exercise, and then I took a rented car for a drive on the west coast and walked to different places. I also went to the beach in swim trunks and flip-flops, and I would lie on the sand, read books, and listen to music. It was heaven. I like tanning, so I have a white plastic sunbed on my small terrace. When the weather is nice, I lie there with a can of beer. I listen to music and soak up the sun. It’s small happiness.”

• A fitness enthusiast, he never forgets to exercise. In an interview, he said that he visits the gym daily even if he drank the night before or feels tired. He added that working out gives him a sense of relief that he did not fail himself yet another day. According to him,
  

  It’s kind of an obsession. I need to work out to eat comfortably. As I get older, my body breaks down much faster. If I don’t take care of it, it’ll become obvious. Now that I’m over 40, I realize that your body never lies. If I can’t go to the gym, I work out at home.”

• In his free time, he like fishing. According to him, it helps him sleep and process his thoughts. He tries fishing to keep himself mentally healthy.

  

• When talking about rebirth in an interview, Gong Yoo said that he would like to reincarnate as a musician, if possible. He added that there were a lot of ways of narrating a story, like writing, filmmaking, and acting in films and dramas; hence, he wished to live by chronicling stories through music.

• Gong Yoo frequently consumes alcohol. ^[14]Gong Yoo – Instagram

• Ikumi Nakano, former JPop band AKB48 member, is a huge fan of Gong Yoo. In an Instagram live, when one of her fans asked who her favorite actor was, she said,
  

  Gong Yoo is my favorite.”

• Gong Yoo and the South Korean actor Lee Dong Wook, who once acted with Gong Yoo in the Kdrama’ Goblin’ and played the ‘Grim Reaper,’ are best friends. Both of them are often seen spending their time together.

  

Gong Yoo in a scene from Coffee Prince (2007)