You swooned over his charms in the 2007 hit drama The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince. Now you are obsessed with his onscreen bromance with actor Lee Dong Wook in K-drama Goblin (Guardian: The Lonely and Great God). And you start to search for more of his older K-drama series to binge watch…
But did you know South Korean actor Gong Yoo, one of the hottest Korean movie star at the moment, has a number of critically acclaimed films he’s starred in? We traced his early film days to his latest big screen successes like Train to Busan and The Age of Shadows, and found out that not only is this 37-year-old actor cute, handsome and charming, but he’s got the acting chops to be the next big Asian star to watch out for.
The Age of Shadows, starring Gong Yoo, Song Kang-Ho and Lee Byung-Hun, is showing in cinemas now.
Text: Sean Tan
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A light-hearted movie about a group of students who started a website devoted to the girls working at the local Burger King. Things start to get interesting when Gong Yoo’s character falls in love with one of the girl who turns out to be a North Korean spy!
Why you need to catch this: This is one of Gong Yoo’s earliest movies, and you need to see this fresh-faced actor in one of his first rom-coms.
Gong Yo plays a goofy guy who started a company to help others find their first love. He helps his first client, a woman who is tracking a man she met in India, to look for him all over Korea. But in the process, he finds himself falling for her…
Why you need to catch this: Gong Yoo shows his most goofy side on screen!
Silenced is based on a novel, Dokani by Kong Ji-Young, about the true incidents at a school for hearing-impaired students. The movie was first conceived by Gong Yoo when he read the novel while serving his national service, and he sought out the writer to ask for it to be made into a movie.
Why you need to catch this: This is not a feel-good movie to watch as it deals with some uncomfortable topics and the whole tone of the movie is quite dark. But you get to see Gong Yoo in a more serious role apart from the comedic and romantic roles he’s played.
A spy-action thriller about a man who goes on a vengeance trail after discovering his family is murdered by the government he once worked for. The film is filled with many intense action sequences and peppered with political intrigue.
Why you need to catch this: A very battered but sexy Gong Yoo (those abs in the shirtless scenes!) keeps you on the edge of your seat.
The story of a one-night stand between a married man and a married woman which turned into bittersweet romance years later. The story is simply told, but the film is beautifully choreographed with wintry scenes and tender moments to evoke the emotions of the characters.
Why you need to catch this: The two leads, Gong Yoo and Jeon Do Yeon, are amazing in this film. Both gave subtle but strong performances which make the story believable – you will giggle, blush, laugh and cry while watching this.
A group of travellers on board a train to Busan are attacked by a zombie plague. Gong Yoo’s character, who has an estranged relationship with his wife and daughter, finds himself the unlikely hero trying to save everyone.
Why you need to catch this: Train to Busan was South Korea’s most successful movie in 2016, and it also broke records in Singapore as the top Korean movie at the box office of all time. Gong Yoo’s performance here is one of his best, with a mix of action and emotive acting worthy of an award.
Based on a true story of how a group of renegade rebels plan to overthrow the Japanese rule in Korea. Gong Yoo stars as one of the leaders in the group alongside a formidable cast giving excellent performances. The action-packed film has lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing till the end.
Why you need to catch this: The film had early Oscar buzz, and is one of this year’s biggest South Korean films. Gong Yoo’s acting here is one of his best so far, and that scene with him towards the end of the film will make you tear.