'Squid Game' star Gong Yoo: does he have new projects for Netflix?

In December, PinkVilla reported that South Korean Actor Gong Yoo was in talks to star in an upcoming hot Netflix drama by famed screenwriter Kim Eun-hee. However, the actor has surprisingly rejected the offer earlier this month.

Why did Gong Yoo reject this big opportunity?

Gong Yoo, born Gong Ji-cheol on 1 July 1979, is a South Korean actor. He’s currently one of Korea’s top A-listers.

The actor was born in Busan, South Korea where he grew up in. After graduating high school, Gong Yoo went on to study Theater and Film at Kyung Hee University, also known as one of South Korea’s most elite universities!

His father, Gong Won was known to have managed the Lotte Giants, one of South Korea’s professional baseball team during the 80s. Further, Gong Yoo is also related to fellow A-lister and actor Gang Dong-won!

Did you know that Gong Yoo is also a descendant of the Chinese philosopher Confucius? IB Times reported this information in 2009 and states Gong Yoo is part of the 79th generation of the Chinese sage’s descendants, and a member of the only non-Chinese branch of the great sage’s family.

Despite being known as an actor now, Gong Yoo initially entered K-showbiz as a video jockey in 2000. Gong Yoo was one of the video jockeys on South Korean music channel Mnet then, and only transitioned to acting a year later in 2001 by starring in teen drama ‘School 4’.

(Image: KBS)

Despite starting to land more prominent roles from 2005, Gong Yoo’s true rise to fame came only in MBC’s ‘Coffee Prince’ in 2007 where he starred opposite Goong actress Yoon Eun-hye!

(Image: MBC)

Gong Yoo became not only a household name in Korea after the drama overnight from his role in ‘Coffee Prince’, but also internationally! From Manila Times, ‘Coffee Prince’ was one of the hit dramas leading the ‘Hallyu’ wave at that time and was very favoured by international audiences.

(Image: MBC)

Despite having to take a year’s break from acting after enlisting in military service in 2008, Gong Yoo’s career did not take a dent. The actor came back stronger than ever in ‘Finding Mr. Destiny’ – the film was an enormous hit in Korea!

(Image: CJ Entertainment)

Some of Gong Yoo’s other work includes ‘One Fine Day’, ‘Big’, and ‘A Man and a Woman’.

(Image: MBC)

Then in 2016, Gong Yoo started in the hit film ‘Train to Busan’. The film was so popular in and out of Korea and propelled Gong Yoo into international stardom again!

Did you know that a Hollywood remake of ‘Train to Busan’ will be coming out soon in 2023?

(Image: Next Entertainment World)

Gong Yoo’s international stardom was further secured when he was cast to act in the now world-famous ‘Squid Game’? He plays the role of an antagonist in the hit series.

(Image: Netflix)

His subsequent lead role in Netflix’s ‘The Silent Sea’ further helped Gong Yoo gain more international accolades when Forbes called ‘The Silent Sea’ one of the best sci-fi series to date. This solidified his status as one of Netflix’s biggest Korean stars.

(Image: Netflix)

But early this year, Pinkvilla reported that Gong Yoo made a surprising rejection to star in another Netflix potential K-hit written by screenwriter Kim Eun-hee – known for her work in ‘Kingdom’ and ‘Jirisan’ – both of which are also top hits on Netflix.

Kim Eun-hee is one of Korea’s top screenwriters. Voi reports that the screenwriter is slated to release a new drama titled ‘The Devil’, and her offer to cast Gong Yoo on the potential hit was rejected by the actor himself.

This might’ve been a missed opportunity for the actor given that Kim Eun-Hee’s work often end up becoming big international hits.

Voi reports that Gong Yoo rejected the role due to his busy schedule with promoting ‘The Silent Sea’.

This news is unfortunate for fans of both Gong Yoo and Kim Eun-hee’s work. But, we hope to see the two finally collaborating someday!