“I had no idea I was receiving this much attention in Italy. It makes me think I should come here more often.”
Actor Gong Yoo greeted the audience with a slightly surprised expression, seemingly overwhelmed by the completely packed venue with not a single empty seat.
The moment his comment about “coming more often” was translated, the audience erupted into loud applause and cheers of “Bravo!”
Jang Eun-young, co-executive director of the festival, said, “This is the 24th year of the Florence Korea Film Festival, and we’ve never seen popularity like this before. It’s honestly overwhelming.”
Gong Yoo’s masterclass event held at La Compagnia Theater in Florence, Italy on March 21 (local time) sold out all seats within just three minutes of ticket sales opening. His film Train to Busan, which gained strong word-of-mouth locally, was also completely sold out even before the festival began.
Fans began lining up in front of the theater as early as 6:30 a.m. on the day of the event, hoping to secure front-row views.
Those who received single-digit queue numbers proudly showed them off, visibly excited. Among the fans were many middle-aged women with graying hair.
Imane Seradouni, a self-proclaimed Korean film enthusiast, said, “In the past one to two years, the popularity of Korean content has grown significantly. I’ve seen many middle-aged women studying Korean after watching the drama Guardian: The Lonely and Great God.”
Even fans who failed to secure tickets lingered around the venue, hoping for a chance encounter with Gong Yoo. Some had even traveled from the United States and France specifically for the event.
Aza Kawalska from New Jersey said, “I couldn’t get a ticket, so I’m just waiting here. I’ve watched many of Gong Yoo’s works, including Coffee Prince, Guardian: The Lonely and Great God, and Silenced.”
Some fans arrived with gifts they had personally prepared. One fan displayed a large handmade banner filled with photos of Gong Yoo, while another held a sign written in Korean that read, “I love you.”
Among Gong Yoo’s works, Coffee Prince, Guardian: The Lonely and Great God, and Train to Busan drew particularly strong interest from the audience.
During the event, Gong Yoo actively engaged with fans, asking questions such as, “Did Coffee Prince, which aired 20 years ago, feel outdated emotionally?” and “Did you enjoy Guardian: The Lonely and Great God?” The audience responded enthusiastically in Italian, saying they loved them.
He also spoke in detail about the themes and production processes behind works reflecting Korean society, including Silenced, Kim Ji-young: Born 1982, and Squid Game, receiving warm applause and support from the audience. The talk session continued for over an hour.
The city of Florence presented Gong Yoo with a cultural contribution award in appreciation of his participation.
Now in its 24th year, the Florence Korea Film Festival is considered a pioneer of global Korean film festivals, inspiring similar events in cities such as Paris, London, and Toronto. Unlike many government-led events, it is a privately organized festival. Over the years, it has introduced more than 2,000 Korean films and welcomed over 100 filmmakers to Florence.
Sources: Daum
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