Gong Ji Cheol or better known by his stage name Gong Yoo is one of the renowned stars of the South Korean Entertainment Industry. Working under SOOP Entertainment, he made his television debut with the series “School 4” which was released in the year 2001. He grabbed the quick limelight through his fine and sharp acting skills and managed to gain fans from all over the globe. He has not only aced the television and big screens but has also come up as a perfect host for many programs. In the year 2004, he hosted the “Music Camp”.
His career soared with time, and now he is one of the brightest and most loved personalities in the Korean Entertainment arena. Undoubtedly, the 42-year-old actor has given us one of the best television dramas and movies, which has not only bagged positive ratings but also have captured millions of hearts globally.
Here we have listed some of the best dramas and movies by him that are a must-watch and definitely needed on your watchlist. So, let’s dive in and skim through them.
The Age of Shadows (2016)
Directed by Kim Jee Woon, the South Korean movie won the Best Pictures award in the category of Action Features at the 2016’s Fantastic Fest. The film is very popular for both its plot and cast performance all over the globe.
We meet Lee Jung-chool, who is the captain of the Korean police captain who has been charged by the Japanese colonial government with rooting out members of the country’s resistance movement. He had a reputation for selling out his own people in order to secure a favorable position with the Japanese, but all his ideologies went through a breakdown when one of his classmates and a resistance fighter, Kim Jang-ok, died.
His personality turnover is sensed by the leader of the resistance, Che-san, and tries to get him in his favor. The plot goes through a major turnover when a coded psychological dance begins between Lee and the key member of the resistance movement, Kim Woo-jin.
- Starring: Song Kang-ho as Lee Jung-chool, Gong Yoo as Kim Woo-jin, Han Ji-min as Yeon Gye-soon, Uhm Tae-goo as Hashimoto, Shin Sung-rok as Jo Hwe-ryung, Heo Sung-Tae as Ha ll-soo.
- Genres: Action, Drama.
- Watch on: Amazon Prime Video and Netflix.
- Running Time: 140 minutes.
Train to Busan (2016)
The action-horror South Korean movie “Train to Busan” is one of the best releases by Gong Yoo. The film was screened in the Midnight Screenings section of the 2016 Cannes Film Festival. The movie set the record and raised the bar after being the first Korean movie of 2016 for having an audience of over 10 million theatergoers.
The majority of the movie takes place on a high-speed train going from Seoul to Busan, but the to-be normal journey turns into a disastrous experience as a sudden zombie apocalypse breaks throughout the country because of a chemical leak at a biotech plant, and all the passengers are threatened. We meet a fund manager and a divorced father, Seo Seok-woo who loves his work and his young daughter and is all set to spend her birthday with her mother in Busan. Though, their journey turns into a nightmare as the apocalypse takes several lives.
Do grab your tissues while watching the film if you haven’t yet.
- Starring: Gong Yoo as Seok-woo, Kim Su-an as Su-an, Ma Dong-seok as Yoon Sang-hwa, Jung Yu-mi as Seong-kyeong, and Choi Woo-sjik as Min Young-guk.
- Genres: Horror, Action, Drama, and Thriller.
- Watch on: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Vudu.
- Running Time: 118 minutes.
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Silenced (2011)
The South Korean crime drama film is directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk and is based on the real events that took place at Gwangju Inhwa School for the hearing-impaired. The movie not only portrays the issue of sex crimes against minors and the disabled but also has done its best to educate people about it.
The incident came to a highlight through the movie, and the reality of the school was shown on the big screens. The place, which should have been a second home for the students, becomes their nightmare as the young deaf students were continuously assaulted sexually by the faculty members over a period of five years in the early 2000s.
We meet Kang In-ho, who is a newly appointed art teacher at Benevolence Academy, which is in the fictional city of Mujin. He is excited and thrilled about his job but quickly notices that students try their best to put as much distance they can between them. He is confused about the situation until he discovers the shameful reality of the school.
Disgusted by the mentality of the people of the area and the school, he decides to fight for the children’s rights and bring out the truth to the world.
- Starring: Gong Yoo as Kang In-ho, Jung Yu-mi as Seo Yoo-jin, Kim Hyun-seo as Kim Yeon-doo, Jung In-seo as Jin Yoo-Ri, and Baek Seung-hwan as Jeon Min-su.
- Genres: School, Teen, Abuse, Crime, and Drama.
- Watch on: Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
- Running Time: 125 minutes.
The Suspect (2013)
Directed by Won Shin-Yun, the South Korean action thriller movie “The Suspect” was one of the career turnovers for Gong Yoo.
The plot of the movie revolves around Ji Dong-Cheol, who was once one of the top special forces agents in North Korea. But due to changes in the political pattern, he was forced out of his position while on a mission. He loses his mind and vows revenge when he finds the corpses of his wife and daughter, who were sold as slaves to China.
Finding out his ex-colleague was behind their deaths, Dong-chol goes to South Korea to chase him out. He works as a chauffeur for Chairman Park, who hands him a special pair of glasses before losing his life in an assassination. Later, he discovers that he is being hunted down by the South Korean intelligence service. His escape is aided by a documentary filmmaker, and he finds himself on the run again, trying to recover top-secret materials that were asked to be found out by his dying boss.
- Starring: Gong Yoo as Ji Dong-cheol, Park Hee-soon as Min Se-hoon, Jo Sung-has as Kim Seok-ho, Yoo Da-in as Choi Kyung-hee, Kim Sung-kyun as Ri Kwang-jo, and Jo Jae-yoon as Captain Jo.
- Genres: Thriller, Action, and Drama.
- Watch on: Netflix, Vudu, and Amazon Prime Video.
- Running Time: 137 minutes.
A Man and a Woman (2016)
The South Korean romance movie is one of the career hits by Gong Yoo and is directed by Lee Yoon Ki. The movie did quite well with the ratings, and Gong Yoo’s screen presence was highly appreciated in the same.
The plot of the film follows two lost and troubled persons named Sang Min and Ki Hong. While Sang Min has arrived in Finland for her son, who is set to attend a special camp, she feels really alone and alienated in the new country. On the other side, Ki Hong, who is an architect by profession, is working on dispatch duty in Finland. His life, too, is tiresome as his family is unstable with a depressed daughter and a mentally unstable wife.
They meet each other at a gathering point of the special camp and start to feel comfortable around each other. On the way back from camp, they get stuck together due to a road blockage and spend the night together carried away by irresistible passion. Though the next morning, they part ways without even knowing the name of one another.
Will they find their way back together again?
- Starring: Gong Yoo as Ki Hong, Jeon Do Yeon as Sang Min, Park Byung Eun as Ahn Jae Suk, Park Min Ji as Ha Jung, Yoon Se Ah as Se Na, and Kang Ji Woo as Yoo Rim.
- Genres: Romance and Life.
- Watch on: Amazon Prime Video and Tubi.
- Running Time: 1 hour 55 minutes.
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Goblin (2016)
The super hit drama series “Goblin,” also known by the name “Guardian: The Lonely and Great God,” was the sensation for all the K-Drama fans out there. The character of Gong Yoo was loved globally by all the viewers, and the series did really well in all aspects.
The tvN drama narrates the story of an unbeatable general in Goryeo’s military, Kim Shin, who died in a tragic incident. Now he possesses immortality but is tired of living for years while all the people around him die at some point in time. For the immortal 900 years of his life, he is on the search for his mortal bride, who can pull out the sword and end his life. Hence, freeing him from this endless cycle of immortality.
His search comes to an end when he stumbles upon an upbeat and positive high-school student who possesses the ability to see dead people. She has a rough past but still has remained strong in every situation. She agrees to be his wife and free him from his immortal life, but the simple task becomes complicated as the two of them fall in love.
- Starring: Gong Yoo as Kim Shin, Kim Go Eun as Ji Eun Tak, Lee Dong Wook as Grime Reaper, Yoo In Na as Sunny, and Yook Sung Jae as Yoo Duk Hwa.
- Genres: Comedy, Romance, Melodrama, and Fantasy.
- Watch on: Netflix, Viki, Prime Video, and Apple TV.
- Number of Episodes: 16.
Coffee Prince (2007)
Directed by Lee Yoon-Jung, the South Korean drama series is one of the highest-rated ones out there and has received loads of positive appreciation not only from the audience but also from the critics.
The plot of the story revolves around Choi Han Gyul, who is a careless and irresponsible grandson of chairwoman Bang of Dong-in Foods. The company rules the coffee market and is thriving with success. Han Gyul never had a job in his life is stuck over his one-sided love for Han Yoo Joo, who only considers him as a friend.
Next, we meet Go Eun Chan, who starts to dress as a man for getting a job to meet her needs. Considered as a tomboy, she is hired by Han Gyul, who is unknown to her real sexuality. He begins to pretend to be gay and in love with her to escape all the blind dates set by his grandmother. Though, his plan tumbles down when he receives an ultimatum from his grandmother and thus, takes over a rundown old coffee shop to prove his capability to her.
To make his coffee shop a success, he only hires handsome male employees to attract female customers. Desperate for earning a living for her family, Eun Chan continues to hide her sexuality and work at the coffee shop.
- Starring: Gong Yoo as Choi Han Gyul, Yoon Eun Hye as Go Eun Chan, Lee Sun Kyun as Choi Han Sung, Chae Jung An as Han Yoo Joo, Kim Chang Wan as Hong Gae Shik, and Kim Dong Wook as Jin Ha Rim.
- Genres: Food, Romance, Comedy, and Drama.
- Watch on: Netflix, WeTV, Viki, Apple TV, and Kocowa.
- Number of Episodes: 17.
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One Fine Day (2006)
Directed by Shin Hyun Chang, the South Korean drama series is one of the earliest heart stealers by Gong Yoo.
The plot of the show leads us to Seo Hanuel, who lost her mother in a fire accident and was later adopted by a wealthy family. Though, her life was full of many unexpected twists and turns.
Hanuel’s mother was married to Seon Gun’s father, which made them legally siblings. But after their parents’ death, both of them were sent to an orphanage where they were adopted by different wealthy families.
Though Hanuel’s adoptive parents are really loving but still, she finds it really suffocating. As her mother treats her like her dead biological daughter, and her adoptive brother is literally obsessed with her.
While on the other side, Gun becomes a small-time gangster with sharp talents of swindling and fighting. He finds out that her once sister is adopted by a wealthy family, and he decides to return back to his native country to take out some money from her.
They reunite after 15 years of separation, and the meeting is filled with different kinds of emotions. While Gun tries to swindle money from her, but also can’t help but feel protective towards her little sister.
Soon enough, they both realize that their relation and mutual affection is something completely different from just sibling’s love.
- Starring: Gong Yoo as Seo Gun, Sung Yu-ri as Seo Hanuel, Namkoong Min as Kang Dong-ha, and Lee Yeon-hee as Goo Hyo-Joo.
- Genres: Romance and Melodrama.
- Watch on: Prime Video and YouTube.
- Number of Episodes: 16.
Hello My Teacher (2005)
The South Korean drama series is directed by Kim Hyung Shik and Oh Jong Rok and was loved by all the K-Drama enthusiastic out there. The drama did well in bringing in the needed attention to Gong Yoo and became a real kickstart for him in many ways.
We meet a 25-year-old Na Bori who is desperate to teach at a high school; she was kicked off due to a misunderstanding with her teachers. After receiving her GED, she keeps rejecting all the offers from other high schools and works on getting the job in her old high school just to work side-by-side with her high school love interest, Ji Hyun Woo, who is an art teacher at the same school.
Though, things take a turn when she has to sign a contract for getting into the school, which states that she has to babysit the troublemaker of the school, Park Tae In. Having the title of the king of the school, he plays many tricks on Bori, whose easygoing personality has made her the favorite of many students.
No Jemma gets jealous of the relationship between Bori and Tae In and uses an out of her way trick to get Bori kicked out of the school, but she is not the only one who is against their relationship.
- Starring: Gong yoo as Park Tae In, Gong Hyo Jin as Na Bo Ri, Kim Da Hyun as Ji Hyun Woo, Choi Yeo Jin as Noh Jemma, and Oh Yoon Ah as Chae Eun Song.
- Genres: Romance, Drama, and School.
- Watch on: SBS World and Viki.
- Number of Episodes: 16.
Big (2012)
Directed by Ji Byung Hyun and Kim Seong Yoon, the South Korean drama series is one of the long-time must-watch for all the K-Drama lovers out there.
The plot of the story revolves around Kang Kyung Joon, an 18-year-old boy whose spirit gets transplanted in the body of a 30-year-old Seo Yoon Jae.
Seo Yoon Jae is a well-known and respectable doctor and is engaged to a high-school teacher named Gil Da Ran. Though, coincidentally or not, she is also the teacher of Kang Kyung Joon.
- Starring: Gong Yoo as Seo Yoon Jae, Lee Min Jung as Gil Da Ran, Shin Won Ho as Kang Kyung Joon, Bae Suzy as Jang Ma Ri, Shin Ji Soo as Lee AE Kyung, and Yoon Hae Young as Lee Jung Hye.
- Genres: Comedy, Youth, Romance, and Fantasy.
- Watch on: Netflix, Viki, and Kocowa.
- Number of Episodes: 16.
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