Gong Yoo has put a dampener of sorts to the enthusiasm of his fans who are crazy about him. He says people like him because of his recent successes and their interest would eventually fade.
In an interview with The Straits Times, published on May 10, Gong Yoo said, "Although acting is something I adore, I think it is evident that people's interest in me will not be everlasting." He added, "Also, if I feel a dip in my passion towards acting, I think it will be difficult for me to keep acting in front of the camera. Therefore, I don't think I will be able to know how long more I will keep on acting."
As for his current popularity and legions of female fans, who are crazy about him, the actor said with a smile, "They have been fooled by my character in the drama [Goblin]." He even apologised to them for having given them the wrong idea about his charms joking, "It has been hard on you all."
"Although I am sensing the popularity I have gained from 'Train to Busan' and 'Goblin,' in actual fact, my mood or feelings have not changed greatly due to that. I am just thankful for the support," Gong Yoo revealed.
The actor has had a brush with fame and popularity among the fans before, especially with 'Coffee Prince,' his breakout TV role and then the very popular and critically acclaimed zombie movie, 'Train to Busan.' "However, in the case of Train To Busan, it was a new experience for me. I know I have mentioned this earlier, but I think the power that a movie holds was something fresh for me," Gong Yoo said.
Gong Yoo is also known for his kind heartedness and charitable qualities. He is also very much aware of social maladies and the need to bring those issues to light. He played the lead role in the 2011 film, 'The Crucible' about sexual abuse of hearing impaired children, based on true accounts. "After reading the book [written by Gong Ji-young], I wanted to adapt it into a movie to raise awareness, to let people know that such an incident happened," he said.
Gong Yoo's star power certainly helped the issue get noticed. Following the theatrical release of the movie, there was a public outrage that led to South Korean laws being amended to provide stricter punishments against such offenders in the future.
Gong Yoo, who recently won the best drama actor prize at the 2017 Baeksang Arts Awards for 'Goblin,' also revealed that despite his immense popularity, he is like any other person when it comes to his personal life. "I've been living the same routine for the past 16 or 17 years. I either exercise or listen to music. Otherwise, I catch an early morning movie alone or watch a movie alone at home. Oh, I also clean up my cats' poop," the 37-year-old actor said.
In his recent tour to Hong Kong, Gong Yoo revealed to the fans that he is quite the sportsman. A series of private photos of the actor showed Gong Yoo riding a horse, playing basketball, playing flying fox as well as appearing in a swimsuit. Another interesting titbit was learned recently that both Gong Yoo and his close friend and actress Gong Hyo-jin are related by bloodline, to Confucius, making them cousins.
