20 Years of Gong Yoo: The Evolution of a ‘Reluctant Celebrity’
Take a trip down memory lane as we look back on the beloved South Korean actor’s storied career and his evolution in front of the camera!
It’s the tail-end of 2021, and we’re all ready to wrap up one of the biggest years of K-Drama ever. As more South Korean titles gain global attention on streaming platforms, we’re willing to wager there’s no fan—old or new—who doesn’t know Gong Yoo.
Born Gong Ji-cheol on July 10, 1979, the popular TV and film actor has made our hearts race and flutter (or both) in the many romance dramas and action thrillers he’s appeared in since debuting in 2001. Whether you fell in love with him in his breakthrough role as Choi Han-kyul in 'Coffee Prince' or felt feelings during his cameo in 'Squid Game', you can only expect this kind of affection for someone as magnetic as this 42-year-old actor. Who wouldn’t want to know more about the man with those expressive eyes, the strong jaw, and the shy smile?
Notoriously private, Gong Yoo has remained tight-lipped about his personal life despite his superstardom in South Korea and beyond. Admittedly a “reluctant celebrity,” he only recently signed up for an Instagram account (@_gongyoo_official_) where he has gained 2.4 million followers in less than a month.
Besides celebrating his two decades in the entertainment industry, we’re also looking forward to seeing him on 'Silent Sea'—his newest drama premiering on Netflix on December 24! While we wait, here’s a look at Gong Yoo’s transformations from pre-debut to the present! Swipe through the gallery below:
Gong Yoo Evolution
Gong Yoo Evolution
Pre-Debut
A rare glimpse of a future heartthrob as a young boy. Who wouldn’t find these bangs super cute?
Photo Credit: ZULA
Pre-Debut
Everyone knows Gong Yoo’s love for basketball—and we’re not surprised given his towering height!
Photo Credit: Zula
Mnet VJ Audition (2000)
Before even debuting as an actor, a 21-year-old Gong Yoo auditioned to become a VJ for the South Korean music channel Mnet. Now we know the secret to his gorgeous smile. It’s those braces! We’re digging the popular curtain hairstyle of the ’90s on him, too.
Photo Credit: thelonelyandgreatgodguardian
School 4 (2001)
After his stint on Mnet, he officially landed his first role on the small screen as Hwang Tae-young—the insanely cute Sewon Arts High School student who broke hearts with that too-cool-for-school spiky haircut!
Photo Credit: Koreaboo
Love in the Air (2002)
The next year, he also appeared in an episode of ‘Love on the Air’ to meet his real-life high school crush on TV. We could tell he prepped for this with all the gel!
Photo Credit: Koreaboo
Twenty Years (2003)
Having appeared in several more supporting roles between 2002 to 2003, Gong Yoo’s turn as Seo Joon in the drama ‘Twenty Years’ gave us this medium-length, textured cut, colored hair era.
Photo Credit: MyDramaList
My Tutor Friend (2003)
He made his debut on the big screen in the same year, playing troublemaker Lee Jong-soo in the film ‘My Tutor Friend’. Already 23 years old at this point, but still taking on high school roles? That’s Gong Yoo for you!
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Spy Girl (2004)
In 2004, he starred in a string of films that started with ‘Spy Girl’ where he took on the role of Choi Ko-bong—a young man who falls in love with an undercover North Korean spy. Even after three years, he still looks the same as he did in ‘School 4’ with this effortless spiky ’do!
Photo Credit: Hancinema
College Graduation (2004)
In 2004, Gong Yoo also graduated from Kyung Hee University with a degree in Theater. Celebrity or no celebrity, he still would’ve been on top of our campus crushes list with his charming eyes and disarming smile. What a cutie!
Photo Credit: Koreaboo
She's On Duty (2005)
He then went on to play yet another high school student in ‘She’s on Duty’ at 26 years old. We think cropping his hair shorter gave off a more haksaeng vibe!
Photo Credit: TheMovieDB
Hello My Teacher (2005)
In 2005, Gong Yoo made our hearts flutter as the intelligent and athletic Park Tae-in as his star continued to rise in South Korea. He’s got the “king of the high school” character down pat at this point. He even has the mane for it!
Photo Credit: Hancinema
One Fine Day (2006)
This romantic melodrama introduced us to Gong Yoo’s most rugged character yet, gangster Seo Gun in ‘One Fine Day’—one of his more unmissable roles characterized by the unkempt hair, the couldn’t-care-less stubble.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Coffee Prince (2007)
The drama that cemented Gong Yoo’s status as a Hallyu star, ‘Coffee Prince’, premiered in July 2007 and introduced us to Choi Han-kyul—the attractive café manager slash chaebol heir with the fluffy boyband hair.
Photo Credit: Fanpop
Coffee Prince (2007)
Photo Credit: Fanpop
Coffee Prince (2007)
Photo Credit: Tumblr
Military Service (2008-09)
At the height of his fame, Gong Yoo enlisted for his mandatory military service in 2008 where he did active frontline service and hosted a radio show for the Korean Forces Network before being discharged in 2009. Of course, he had to abide by the law and shave his Choi Han-kyul hair in the process!
Photo Credit: Zula
Military Discharge (2009)
Photo Credit: Gong Yoo Philippines
Finding Mr. Destiny (2010)
Gong Yoo’s comeback film ‘Finding Mr. Destiny’ is a rom-com that follows Han Gi-joon, the charming owner of an agency that tracks down first loves and ends up falling in love with one of his clients as he travels around the world with her. He’s super cute in all the movie’s promotional posters, embodying a different Mr. Destiny in each one!
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Mr. Destiny (2010)
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Mr. Destiny (2010)
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Finding Mr. Destiny (2010)
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Silenced (2011)
A film close to Gong Yoo’s heart, ‘Silenced’ followed Kang In-ho—an art teacher in a school for the hearing-impaired—who fights for abuse against his young students. He wears his long-ish hair down without much care, though you can’t miss those bright eyes anywhere!
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Big (2012)
His anticipated comeback to the small screen was ‘Big,’ a romantic comedy-fantasy where his handsome doctor Seo Yoon-jae swaps bodies with 18-year-old Kang Kyung-joon. Stepping into two characters’ shoes couldn’t have been easy, but Gong Yoo’s effortlessly dashing looks made it all possible!
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Big (2012)
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Monster Magazine (2012)
Perhaps one of his most memorable photoshoots still widely shared to this day, this ab-baring set from ‘Monster Magazine’ gave us the gift of a ripped and tattooed Gong Yoo!
Photo Credit: Monster Magazine
Dating Agency: Cyrano (2013)
The next year, he made a highly anticipated cameo in ‘Dating Agency: Cyrano’ where he appeared all clean and well-groomed as a target of the matchmaking firm.
Photo Credit: Koala's Playground
The Suspect (2013)
He then transformed into a top North Korean special forces agent, Ji Dong-chol—all tough and rugged with his grown-out buzz cut and a five o’clock shadow.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
A Man And A Woman (2015)
Gong Yoo then took on the role of Ki-hong as the titular ‘Man’ in the film. Here, he plays an emotionally worn husband and father who engages in an affair with a stranger he meets in Finland. Who else loves the curtain hair?
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (2016)
Of course, all self-respecting K-Drama fans would know Kim Shin—the begrudged Goryeo Dynasty general who is cursed to live an immortal life as a goblin. We knew Gong Yoo could carry even period hairstyles well, but this just proved it.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (2016)
In the present day, Kim Shin is ageless with his tapered, medium-length wavy hair!
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (2016)
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Train to Busan (2016)
Another international hit, Train to Busan introduced us to Seok-woo—a divorced father who worked day in and day out who ends up fighting zombies on a train. Blood, sweat, tears, and zombie eyes? Nobody makes it look as good as Gong Yoo.
Photo Credit: Indiewire
The Age of Shadows (2016)
A key figure in the resistance at the center of this period action-thriller is Gong Yoo’s Kim Woo-jin, the owner of an antique shop used to smuggle explosives from China to Korea. We’re absolutely digging this slick pompadour style.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Cannes Film Festival (2016)
He also sported the same hairstyle in his appearances at the Cannes Film Festival while promoting Train to Busan.
Photo Credit: International Business Times | AU Edition
Kim Ji-young: Born 1982 (2019)
After a two-year hiatus following his massive success in 2016, Gong Yoo then took on a supporting role in the film ‘Kim Ji-young: Born 1982.’ His character Jung Dae-hyun is the husband to the movie’s titular lead, characterized by his brushed-down long bangs.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
La Mer (2020)
The next year, he was announced as the new face of luxury skincare brand La Mer where he flaunted his flawless visuals and casual curtain hairstyle.
Photo Credit: La Mer Korea
Coffee Prince Reunion (2020)
He also reunited with the rest of the ‘Coffee Prince’ cast in a documentary years after the runaway hit drama. Looks like Gong Yoo loved his curtain hairstyle at the time!
Photo Credit: The Korea Times
Seobok (2020)
Although the pandemic delayed the release of this much-awaited film, Seobok was still highly anticipated by Gong Yoo fans as they get to see him back on the big screen as an ex-intelligence agent who finds himself protecting the first human clone born from stem cell cloning and genetic engineering. Taking on yet another rugged character, his hair was styled in a semi-bowl cut with brushed-down bangs.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Seobok Press Conference (2020)
Off-screen, Gong Yoo sported a sleek and sexy undercut during the press calls for Seobok.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Squid Game (2021)
Off-screen, Gong Yoo sported a sleek and sexy undercut during the press calls for Seobok.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
The Silent Sea Promo (2021)
Fast forward to the end of the year, his much-awaited sci-fi Netflix series is about to air on December 24! In this photo call with the streaming platform, we see up-close just how flawless his visuals are at 42 years old! What, no pores?
Photo Credit: Netflix Philippines
The Silent Sea (2021)
In the series, he plays the leader to a group of space explorers named Han Yoo-jae. The slicked back undercut, the stubble, and that tattoo is enough to have us waiting for the premiere yesterday.
Photo Credit: Netflix Korea
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