10 years ago, Goblin – Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (쓸쓸하고 찬란하神 – 도깨비; Sseulsseulhago Chanlanhasin – Dokkaebi; lit. The Lonely and Great God – Goblin), one of the most iconic Korean dramas, was released. With a perfect cast and unique storyline, Goblin became a massive hit.
On March 26, 2026, tvN confirmed that a commemorative travel variety show, tentatively titled “Goblin 10th Anniversary,” will air in the first half of the year. The program will reunite the drama’s main cast, including Gong Yoo, Kim Go Eun, Lee Dong Wook, and Yoo In Na. The format will follow the actors as they embark on a short trip together, reflecting on memorable scenes, iconic lines, and the lasting meaning of the drama. The reunion marks a rare on-screen gathering of the beloved cast, nearly a decade after the series originally aired in 2016.
A decade has swept by, and looking back now, it is truly heartening to see how each member of the cast has flourished, carving out their own unique path and achieving remarkable milestones in their respective careers.
1. Kim Go Eun
Earlier this year, Kim Go Eun had a comeback as the female lead in the webtoon-based rom-com Yumi’s Cells. Having an interesting combination of 3D animation and live action, but Yumi’s Cell only earned an average nationwide rating of around 2%, making it one of the lowest-rated tvN’s dramas of 2021.
2. Gong Yoo
After Goblin, Gong Yoo took a long break from the small screen. 2021 marks his first comeback after 5 years with a short but memorable cameo appearance in global hit Squid Game, followed by a leading role in the sci-fi thriller drama The Silent Sea. Unfortunately, a few days after its release, The Silent Sea has been receiving mixed reviews and does not achieve as many positive results as other Netflix original Korean series this year.
In 2021, Gong Yoo participated in the Netflix blockbuster Squid Game and received global attention. He is expected to return in season 2 of the series, which is set to air at the end of 2024.
In 2024, Gong Yoo made a comeback with the film Wonderland, collaborating with Suzy and Tang Wei. However, after nearly a month in theaters, Wonderland sold only about 620,895 tickets, equivalent to 5.8 billion won. This performance means that the high-profile film has incurred a loss of 12.2 billion won and did not make the box office splash that audiences had hoped for.
3. Lee Dong Wook
Better than Kim Go Eun, Lee Dong Wook‘s drama Bad And Crazy attracts quite a bit of attention because of its humorous and cool content. It’s also a drama that shows us a very new version of Lee Dong Wook. Unfortunately, Bad And Czary does not seem to be a project that tvN pays too much attention to. It is not heavily advertised. Bad and Czary was a good work, but it didn’t really get attention, making Lee Dong Wook’s comeback also become a mess.
Recently, Lee Dong Wook has the film Harbin set for release, co-starring with Hyun Bin, Park Jung Min, Jo Woo Jin, and Jeon Yeo Been. Additionally, he is in talks to join the television drama Divorce Insurance alongside Lee Kwang Soo.
4. Yoo In Na
While all the remaining 3 actors have their own main roles this year, Yoo In Na continues to have the next supporting female role. This time, she returns in the most marketable project of the year – Snowdrop. With an interesting supporting role, Yoo In Na would have gotten more attention if the drama hadn’t been in controversy and was ostracized by Koreans. Besides, the reputation of the female lead – Jisoo (BLACKPINK) – is so great that Yoo In Na has not received much attention.
Returning to the screen in 2023 with the romantic comedy Bo Ra! Deborah alongside Yoon Hyun Min, Yoo In Na was initially expected to shine, given that this genre is her strength. However, Bo Ra! Deborah struggled with ratings. The show premiered with a viewership rating of 0.665% and maintained a rating below 1% throughout its first 7 episodes. In episode 8, while there was a slight increase in rating to 1.194%, the numbers remained relatively bleak, according to Nielsen Korea.
Even after 10 years, “Goblin” continues to be referenced through its memorable scenes, quotes, and music. With the upcoming reunion special, fans are anticipating a nostalgic journey that will revisit the drama’s legacy and the chemistry that made it unforgettable.
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