Actor Gong Yoo is undeniably become a superstar in South East Asia, thanks to his successes from zombie flick 'Train to Busan' and tvN's drama 'Goblin.' In fact, quite unsurprisingly, he has also become the most sought after South Korean male actor for television and cinema projects. And inevitably, he is also being invited to hold fan meetings in numerous countries, beyond South East Asia.
Website Soompi reports they learnt that on February 10, agencies outside of Korea as well as Gong Yoo's agency, Management Soop, said the actor is receiving invitations to hold fan meetings in 15 different countries, including China, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, United States, Canada, and Australia. And to court him properly, such agencies are offering handsome perks and compensations to the 37-year old Busan native, so that he does not refuse them.
However, though numerous agencies around the world are fighting for getting a date from Gong Yoo, the actor is still unable to respond to such invitations. At the moment he is said to be busy filming commercials and various other projects that are scheduled everyday until mid-March, Soompi notes. After that the actor will be busy touring overseas.
Soompi notes that in Taiwan, Gong Yoo is ranked after big stars such as Song Joong-ki, Park Bo-gum, and Yoo Ah-in as "Hallyu's 4th Great King." It also notes that many Taiwanese stars like Shu Qi ('The Transporter') and Vivian Sung have professed their admiration for him on social media, and why not? Gong Yoo has proven his mettle with roles in television dramas 'The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince,' 'Goblin,' and then there were the films 'Silenced,' 'The Age of Shadows' and 'Train to Busan.'
If one speaks of his most successful role as the immortal warrior Kim Shin in writer Kim Eun-sook's 'Goblin' itself, he has shown great range in that drama alone. Actress Choi Ree recently shared what it was like to work with Gong Yoo in 'Goblin.' She said "It was an honor to work with Gong Yoo sunbaenim, whom I've liked since elementary school. We're both celebrities but Gong Yoo sunbaenim amazed me. I could feel that his acting is relaxed. He had something special even when reading one line."
Indeed he effortlessly pulled-off various moods ranging from the most grim, intense anger to the most clueless, innocent and comedic. Through his performance and subtle facial expressions alone he convinced the audience of the world-weariness of an immortal Goblin. And who can forget the final scenes in the last episode of 'Goblin' when he has to accept the death of his beloved.
It was not for nothing that in an airport a female fan tightly hugged Gong Yoo while he was exiting an airport, despite all the security around the actor. It just goes on to how the tremendous love, not just frenzy that his viewers have for him. He has captivated countless hearts and they are genuinely grateful for it; perhaps even feel blessed.
Hopefully, we'll hear of Gong Yoo signing up for another career-defining project soon, whether it be in the form of a television drama like 'Goblin' or a blockbuster movie like 'Train to Busan.'
