# Gong Yoo

Gong Ji-cheol (Korean: 공지철) (born July 10, 1979), better known by his stage name Gong Yoo (Korean: 공유), is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his roles in the television dramas Coffee Prince (2007), Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (2016–2017), The Silent Sea (2021), and Squid Game (2021), and the films Silenced (2011), Train to Busan (2016) and The Age of Shadows (2016).

## Quotes

* I still don’t know how to define or answer what is the meaning behind life and death. And I don’t think I will be able to define them in the future either. It’s difficult. What I can do, is to live my life, which is only given to me once, without regret until it runs its course. That’s I think the best I can do, at the present.
** "Gong Yoo talks life, death and 20 years in the business" in Korea JoongAng Daily (19 April 2021)
* I don’t really have a lot of desires, or that’s what I think of myself. But if I were to pick one, I would want for people to live peacefully. I don’t understand why some people harass or hurt others, or why they do these things because they envy others — we fight and wound each other and it might be a natural phenomenon that arises among weak humans, but I still hurt thinking about social issues such as Asian hate.
** "Gong Yoo talks life, death and 20 years in the business" in Korea JoongAng Daily (19 April 2021)
* I think I was pretty much constant, unvarying, for 20 years. So, I do want to give myself a pat on the back for focusing on one career without any dramatic slumps for the last 20 years. But [personally] I don’t want a son like me. I don’t think that highly of myself.
** "Gong Yoo talks life, death and 20 years in the business" in Korea JoongAng Daily (19 April 2021)
* In the perspective of the audience, the movies that make me think are the most precious. I want to naturally be projected onto the film or role. From there, applying my tendencies and emotions is what I believe is the most natural way for actors to tell a story.
** "Gong Yoo Talks About The Difficulties Of Getting Out Of Character And His Approach As An Actor" (15 April 2021)
* I am extremely grateful for all the attention and anticipation for my work, but I will admit that sometimes it does put pressure on me. Honestly speaking, I tend to be someone who follows my own heart and is drawn to and chooses productions that resonate with me.
** "Interview with Gong Yoo and Bae Doona, stars of The Silent Sea" in The Hindu (24 December 2021)
* Even when I choose projects, if before, I looked only at my own character, I am now more interested in what the producers are trying to say through this project and what kind of statement they want to make.
** "How Much Has Gong Yoo Changed Since His Debut? Actor Spills Tea In Recent Interviews" in Korea Portal (19 September 2021)
* Usually, I'm attracted by screenplays that stir my curiosity. I try to ask myself why the writer wants to tell this story.
** "Star actor Gong Yoo hopes his filmography can show who he is" in Yonhap (14 April 2021)
* I think an actor's filmography represents the direction and the course of the acting that an actor has pursued. I'm filling in my filmography to let people know who I am and how I see the world as an actor.
** "Star actor Gong Yoo hopes his filmography can show who he is" in Yonhap (14 April 2021)
* As long as you have a television screen or a streamer, we are living in an era where we can connect and enjoy any content from any place around the world very easily.
** "Gong Yoo: Extremely happy that the K-content is receiving so much love globally" (24 December 2021)
* I tend to pick projects that give me a sense of freshness. So my filmography, especially after hitting my 30s, has become a lot more diverse.
** "Gong Yoo on becoming South Korea’s leading man" in CNN (30 August 2017)
* But if there’s something you gain, there’s also something you can lose. Therefore, I try not to showcase my personal life.
** "Gong Yoo on becoming South Korea’s leading man" in CNN (30 August 2017)
* When I become a character in a movie or drama … I can think about the character only and not the complicated matters of my own life. I feel ecstasy in those moments and it’s what keeps me going as an actor. It’s not about the money, it’s not about the honor.
** "Gong Yoo on becoming South Korea’s leading man" in CNN (30 August 2017)