Gong Ji-Chul, more commonly known as Gong Yoo, was born on July 10, 1979, in Busan, Korea. This talented actor has made a name for himself in the film industry, starring in notable movies such as Train to Busan, Silenced, Squid Game, and The Age of Shadows.
Gong Yoo's educational background includes a Bachelor's degree in theater from Kyung Hee University. Prior to entering the entertainment industry, he worked as a model and later as a video jockey for Mnet. He then began his acting career with supporting roles in various Korean films and dramas before landing his first leading role in the 2005 drama "Hello My Teacher".
Gong Yoo's breakthrough role came with the 2007 romantic comedy drama series "The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince", which gained immense popularity worldwide. At the height of his career, he was required to enlist in the Korean Armed Forces due to mandatory military conscription in 2008. During his service, he served on the front line and also hosted his own daily radio program on the Korean Forces Network.
Upon his release from military duties, Gong Yoo's film career began to flourish with the release of genre films such as "Silenced" and the action-thriller "The Suspect" in 2013. The former film, based on the true story of child abuse and sexual assault in a special school, sparked public outrage and led to the passage of the "Dogani Law", a revised bill imposing harsher punishments for sex crimes against minors and the disabled.
Prior to his military service, Gong Yoo was known for his romantic comedy roles, but his portrayal of the teacher in "Silenced" and his transformation into a buffed-up North Korean spy in "The Suspect" showcased his versatility as an actor.
In 2016, Gong Yoo had a successful year with the release of the zombie blockbuster "Train to Busan", the action-thriller "The Age of Shadows", and the romantic fantasy drama series "Guardian: The Lonely and Great God". "Train to Busan" became the top-grossing film in South Korea that year and broke box office records in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, and Malaysia.
Gong Yoo has also been involved in various television commercials and has been appointed as an ambassador by UNICEF in correlation with the 24th year since the Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted. Despite his fame, Gong Yoo is known to be private and does not have any social media accounts.
