Top 10 Best Films of Gong Yoo

Goblin: The Lonely and Great God (2016) tells the story of an immortal goblin, Kim Shin (Gong Yoo), who has lived for over 900 years, constantly suffering from the loss of loved ones. His only chance at redemption comes when he meets his bride, Eun Tak (Kim Go Eun). She is the only one who can pull the sword from his body, which will end his immortality and allow him to pass on. However, if she doesn't, she will die. Their love story is bittersweet but undeniably romantic. With the captivating performance of Lee Dong Wook as the Grim Reaper, the series became a massive hit.

Considered a fantasy masterpiece, the show captivated not only South Korea but also Asia. The cast is outstanding both in talent and appearance: Gong Yoo, Kim Go Eun, Lee Dong Wook, Yoo In Na, Yook Sung Jae, and more. The scriptwriter, Kim Eun Sook, took five years to persuade Gong Yoo to take on the role of Kim Shin, and his portrayal of a strong, resilient yet lovable goblin in love exceeded all expectations.

DETAILS:

Director: Lee Eung Bok

Writer: Kim Eun Sook

Cast: Gong Yoo, Jo Woo-jin, Kim Go-eun, Lee Dong-wook, Lee El, Yook Sung-jae, Yoon Kyung-ho, You In-na

Episodes: 16 + 1 Special Episode

Train to Busan (2016) is set during an outbreak of a mysterious virus in South Korea, transforming people into zombies. These aggressive undead spread the infection rapidly, and the horror escalates when one of them boards a train traveling from Seoul to Busan. Among the passengers are Seok Woo (Gong Yoo) and his daughter Soo An (Kim Soo An), a soon-to-be parents couple (Ma Dong Seok and Jung Yu Mi), a high school football team, and a wide range of other characters from businessmen to beggars.

Train to Busan became a massive success. Within three weeks of release, it became the first Korean film to attract over 10 million viewers in local cinemas. Hollywood studios rushed to acquire the remake rights. The standout performance came from young actress Su An, who portrayed the pain and helplessness of witnessing the deaths of loved ones and the cruelty humans showed toward one another. Gong Yoo and Ma Dong Seok's contrasting physical appearances and personalities—one slim and sharp, the other large and warm—added depth to their roles, creating an unforgettable on-screen dynamic.

DETAILS:

Director: Yeon Sang-Ho

Writers: Park Joo-Suk, Yeon Sang-Ho

Cast: Ahn So-Hee, Choi Gwi-Hwa, Choi Woo-Sik, Gong Yoo, Jang Hyuk-Jin, Jung Suk-Yong, Jung Young-Ki, Jung Yu-Mi, Kim Chang-Hwan, Kim Eui-Sung

Runtime: 118 minutes

The Age of Shadows (2016) is based on a lesser-known historical event involving Hwang Ok, a Japanese-Korean officer who was arrested in 1923 for his alleged involvement in a bombing orchestrated by a resistance group called "Uiyeoldan". Set in the 1920s, in Shanghai and Seoul, the film follows a tense pursuit between two opposing forces: one, a Korean anti-Japanese group smuggling explosives from Shanghai to Seoul to destroy Japanese military bases, and the other, Japanese spies trying to thwart their plan.

Gong Yoo plays Kim Woo Jin, the second-in-command of the resistance group. Despite knowing that Lee Jung Chul (Song Kang Ho), a double agent working for Japan, has infiltrated his ranks, Kim Woo Jin enlists his help to carry out the bombing. Caught in a moral dilemma, Lee Jung Chul must choose between completing his mission or aiding Kim Woo Jin's cause. The film topped Korean box offices for three consecutive weeks, attracting over six million viewers within two weeks of release.

DETAILS:

Director: Kim Jee-Woon

Writers: Lee Ji-Min, Park Jong-Dae, Kim Jee-Woon

Cast: Han Ji-Min, Song Kang-Ho, Gong Yoo, Lee Byung Hyun

Runtime: 140 minutes

The Suspect (2013) follows Ji Dong Chul (Gong Yoo), a former elite North Korean agent who has retired and become a personal driver for Chairman Park. However, he still harbors a deep grudge against the man responsible for the deaths of his wife and child, waiting for the right moment to exact his revenge. When Chairman Park is mysteriously assassinated, Dong Chul becomes the prime suspect. Before his death, Park passes on a pair of glasses containing a top-secret formula that Dong Chul must either protect or destroy, as its contents could have catastrophic consequences if it falls into the wrong hands. While carrying out his late boss's wishes, Dong Chul realizes this is also his chance to finally find the man who killed his family, turning his pursuit into a quest for vengeance.

The Suspect marks Gong Yoo's debut in the action genre. While his performance may have lacked polish, his portrayal of Ji Dong Chul left a lasting impression on audiences, especially with his intense determination and raw emotion.

DETAILS:

Director: Won Shin-Yeon

Writers: Lim Sang-Yoon, Won Shin-Yeon

Cast: Gong Yoo, Park Hee-Soon, Yu Da-In, Jo Sung-Ha, Jo Jae-Yoon, Kim Eui-Sung, Kim Sung-Kyun

Runtime: 137 minutes

Big is a 2012 South Korean television drama that aired on KBS2, written by the Hong sisters, and starring Gong Yoo, Lee Min-jung, and Suzy of miss A. In Vietnam, the series was licensed and broadcast by TVM Corp. on HTV3.

Gil Da-ran (Lee Min-jung), a high school teacher, is engaged to the handsome doctor Seo Yoon-jae (Gong Yoo). However, an unexpected accident leads to an 18-year-old student, Kang Kyung Joon (Shin Won Ho), swapping souls with Yoon-jae. By coincidence, Da-ran is also Kyung Joon's homeroom teacher. As the situation becomes more complicated, Kyung Joon, now in Yoon-jae's body, begins to fall for another girl, adding to the chaos.

DETAILS:

Director: Ji Byung-Hyun, Kim Sung-Yoon

Writers: Hong Jung-Eun, Hong Mi-Ran

Cast: Gong Yoo, Lee Min-Jung, Shin Won Ho, Suzy, Shin Ji Soo

Episodes: 16

Silenced (2011) tells the haunting story of Kang In-ho (Gong Yoo), a young teacher recently assigned to teach art at a school for the deaf in Mujin. Struggling with financial difficulties after the loss of his wife and with his young daughter suffering from asthma, In-ho starts his new life in a city far from Seoul. There, he meets Yoo-jin (Jung Yu-mi), a worker at the local Human Rights Center, and as he interacts with the children at the school, he begins to notice unsettling behavior in their responses.

While the film never explicitly shows graphic abuse, the subtle expressions of the characters, the innocent cries of the children, and the chilling realism of the story create a deeply disturbing atmosphere. The impact of Silenced lingers long after the credits roll, leaving viewers haunted by the silence between people and the devastating consequences of injustice.

DETAILS:

Director: Hwang Dong-Hyuk

Writer: Kong Ji-Young (novel), Hwang Dong-Hyuk

Cast: Gong Yoo, Gwang Jang, Hye-jin Park, Hyeon-soo Kim, Hyo-Seob Eom, In-seo Jeong, Jin-ho Choi, Kim Jee-Young, Seung-hwan Baek, Yu-mi Jung

Runtime: 125 minutes

When talking about the most successful dramas in Gong Yoo's career, Coffee Prince (2007) undoubtedly stands out as a true phenomenon that took Asia by storm. Upon its release, it became an instant hit not only in South Korea but internationally, and it was this role that catapulted Gong Yoo into the limelight as a rising star.

The series tells the humorous and romantic story of Han Kyul (Gong Yoo), a moody café owner. The female lead, Eun Chan (Yoon Eun Hye), is a tomboyish girl who works at the café and frequently interacts with Han Kyul. In an attempt to stop his mother from pressuring him to find a girlfriend, Han Kyul and Eun Chan enter a contract to pretend to be in a romantic relationship, with the goal of making his mother believe he's straight. However, over time, they develop real feelings for each other.

DETAILS:

Director: Lee Yoon Jung

Cast: Gong Yoo, Yoon Eun Hye, Lee Seon Gyeon

Episodes: 17

Seobok: Project Clone (2021) is a psychological action film that explores the groundbreaking topic of human cloning, a first for South Korean cinema. The story follows Ki Hun (Gong Yoo), a former secret agent diagnosed with a terminal illness, who is assigned to protect and escort Seobok, the first human clone, to a secure research facility. Created using stem cell cloning and genetic modification, Seobok is humanity's last hope to save Ki Hun's life. However, things take a dark turn when Seobok becomes the target of powerful forces with hidden agendas. As the escort team is ambushed, Ki Hun and Seobok must rely on each other to evade danger.

Gong Yoo delivers an outstanding performance as the troubled, handsome, and hot-tempered Ki Hun, a man haunted by his past and his illness. His portrayal of the former agent is both emotionally complex and compelling, carrying the weight of the film.

DETAILS:

Director: Lee Yong-Joo

Writer: Lee Yong-Joo

Cast: Park Bo Gum, Jang Young-Nam, Gong Yoo, Jo Woo Jin, Jung Mi Nam, Na Gwang Hoon

Duration: 114 minutes

Kim Ji Young: Born 1982 (2019) sparked widespread discussion on social media by addressing the sensitive topic of postpartum depression. Based on the novel by Cho Nam Joo, the film follows Kim Ji Young, a 30-year-old woman trapped in the cycle of her own life. After choosing to leave her job to raise a child and become a housewife, Ji Young's personality begins to change. As she faces increasing stress and exhaustion, she loses control of herself and starts to embody different personas, blurring the line between reality and fantasy, leaving viewers deeply moved.

In this film, Gong Yoo plays Jung Dea Hyun, Kim Ji Young's loving and caring husband. While the perfect husband on the surface, Dea Hyun struggles with his own internal conflicts. He is, however, understanding and supportive of his wife's mental health battle, standing by her side as they confront the challenges together.

DETAILS:

Director: Kim Do-Young

Writer: Jo Nam-Joo (novel), Yoo Young-A, Kim Do-Young

Cast: Jung Yoo Mi, Gong Yoo, Park Sung Yun, Kim Mi Kyung, Lee Bong Ryun, Kim Sung Chul

Duration: 120 minutes

A Man and A Woman (2016) is a deeply emotional psychological romance that delves into the internal struggles and feelings of the characters. The film doesn’t rely on dramatic events or plot twists for excitement, yet it remains incredibly captivating. Through the nuanced performances of Jeon Do Yeon and Gong Yoo, the emotional complexities of their characters unfold gradually. The story explores themes of guilt, emotional compromise, and inner turmoil, all portrayed through the two lead characters. True to its title, this film proves that even with just one man and one woman, the story can immerse the audience in a world of love and desire.

A Man and A Woman may shatter the idealized image of Gong Yoo as the perfect “prince charming” in the eyes of his fans, as he portrays a man who abandons his family. However, his impeccable performance, paired with Jeon Do Yeon’s chemistry, ensures that their characters are hard to dislike. While younger audiences may find it difficult to connect, for married couples or those facing difficulties in their relationships, this film might feel like a dangerously tempting reflection of their own struggles.

DETAILS:

Director: Lee Yoon-Ki

Writer: Shin Eun-Young, Lee Yoon-Ki

Cast: Gong Yoo, Jeon Do-yeon, Jeon Ik-ryoung, Jeong Sun-kyung, Kim Hye Ok, Lee Mi-so, Min Moo-je, Park Byung-eun, Park Min-ji, Yoon Se Ah

Duration: 115 minutes