According to the report, star screenwriter Kim Eun Sook spent approximately five years trying to cast Gong Yoo as Kim Shin, the immortal lead character in Guardian: The Lonely and Great God , commonly known as Goblin .

The actor reportedly rejected her offers several times before finally accepting the role. Gong Yoo later explained that his hesitation was not caused by the script, but by the psychological pressure he had developed toward drama productions and acting work. Despite achieving major success through Coffee Prince , Train to Busan , Silenced , The Age of Shadows and other projects, Gong Yoo admitted that he struggled to fully enjoy the peak of his career.

While the public viewed him as one of Korea’s most successful stars, he experienced confusion, isolation and emotional pressure behind the scenes. He also found it difficult to discuss those feelings because he worried others might consider his concerns ungrateful.

His eventual decision to join Goblin became a major turning point. The drama developed into one of tvN’s biggest hits and further strengthened his status as a leading Korean actor. Gong Yoo later expanded his global recognition with a special appearance as the recruiter in Netflix’s Squid Game . Although his screen time was limited, the character played a crucial role in beginning the story and returned in Squid Game 2 .

The actor was also reportedly named by Harper’s Bazaar as one of the 50 most attractive men from the past 60 years, becoming the only Korean actor included on the list. Gong Yoo is now focusing on his next project, Netflix’s Tantara, which also stars Song Hye Kyo and is written by acclaimed screenwriter Noh Hee Kyung.

Sources: Daum | 무비그라피