Gong Yoo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gong Yoo
Gong in September 2021
Born	Gong Ji-cheol (1979-07-10) July 10, 1979 (age 46) Busan, South Korea
Education	Kyung Hee University
Occupation	Actor
Years active	2001–present
Agent	Management SOOP
Korean name
Hangul	공지철
Hanja	孔地哲
RR	Gong Jicheol
MR	Kong Chich'ŏl
Stage name
Hangul	공유
Hanja	孔劉
RR	Gongyu
MR	Kongyu
Signature

Gong Ji-cheol (Hangul: 공지철), born on July 10, 1979, is a famous South Korean actor. He is better known by his stage name, Gong Yoo (Hangul: 공유). He has starred in many popular TV shows and movies. Some of his most well-known works include the TV series Coffee Prince (2007), Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (2016–2017), and the Netflix series Squid Game (2021–2025). He also starred in the films Silenced (2011), The Suspect (2013), Train to Busan (2016), and The Age of Shadows (2016).

Early Life and Education

Gong Ji-cheol was born in Busan, South Korea, on July 10, 1979. He is the only son and second child of his parents. His father used to be a manager for a baseball team called the Lotte Giants. Gong Yoo went to Dongin High School. Later, he studied Theater and Film at Kyung Hee University.

Acting Career

Starting Out: 2001–2004

Gong Yoo earned a degree in theater from Kyung Hee University. He began his career in entertainment in 2000 as a video jockey. In 2001, he made his acting debut in the TV series School 4. After that, he took on many smaller roles in different dramas and movies. He also hosted a music show called Music Camp in 2004.

Big Break: Coffee Prince (2005–2007)

In 2005, Gong Yoo got his first main role in the TV show Hello My Teacher. He starred alongside actress Gong Hyo-jin. This was followed by a romance drama called One Fine Day in 2006.

His career really took off when he was cast in the romantic comedy Coffee Prince. This show became very popular. It not only made him a leading actor but also helped him become a "hallyu" star, meaning he became famous across Asia.

Military Service and Return (2008–2015)

Gong Yoo started his mandatory military service on January 14, 2008. He finished his service on December 8, 2009. During his time, he worked in the public relations department and was a DJ for the army radio station.

After his military service, he returned to acting in the romantic comedy Finding Mr. Destiny. This movie did quite well in Korea.

He then helped create a movie based on a novel called The Crucible. This movie was released internationally as Silenced on September 22, 2011. The film brought a lot of public attention to important issues. It even led to new laws being passed in South Korea to better protect children and people with disabilities from certain crimes.

Gong Yoo in December 2013

In 2012, Gong Yoo starred in the romantic-comedy series Big. In 2013, he returned to movies with The Suspect. In this film, he played a North Korean spy.

In November 2013, Gong Yoo became a special representative for United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Korea. He traveled to different countries to help raise awareness about children in need. In 2014, he was also named an ambassador for the National Tax Service. He helped encourage people to pay their taxes honestly.

Recent Successes (2016–Present)

Gong Yoo had a very successful year in 2016 with several hit projects. His first film that year was A Man and a Woman. Then, he starred in the hugely popular zombie movie Train to Busan. This film was a massive success, attracting over 11 million viewers in South Korea. He also appeared in another successful movie, The Age of Shadows, which also did very well at the box office.

In December 2016, Gong Yoo returned to TV in the fantasy-romance drama Guardian: The Lonely and Great God. He played the main character, a goblin. This drama was a huge hit, and Gong Yoo won the Best Actor award at the Baeksang Awards for his performance.

In 2018, Gong Yoo was cast in the film Kim Ji-young, Born 1982. This was his third time working with actress Jung Yu-mi. He played the role of Kim Ji-young's husband.

Gong Yoo in October 2021

In March 2020, Gong Yoo made a special appearance in the film Wonderland. In 2021, he starred in the action thriller film Seo Bok with Park Bo-gum. Gong Yoo played a former intelligence agent chasing the first human clone. Later that year, he appeared as the Recruiter in the first season of Squid Game. He returned to this role in the second season in 2024, and fans really enjoyed his brief appearance.

In December 2021, Gong Yoo also starred in the Netflix original sci-fi thriller series The Silent Sea. In this show, he played team leader Han Yoon-jae. The series is set in a future where Earth has very little water. It follows a team on a mission to an abandoned moon station. The show became one of the most-watched non-English series on Netflix.

In 2024, Gong Yoo starred in the South Korean TV series The Trunk. This is a mystery drama based on a novel.

Filmography

Film

Television Series

Music Videos

Hosting

Radio Shows

Discography

Soundtrack Appearances

Awards and Nominations

State Honors

Listicles

See also

In Spanish: Gong Yoo para niños