Cover image via postimg.org
1. He grew up in Busan, South Korea
Gong Yoo was born on July 10, 1979 and was raised in Busan, South Korea.
Image via BBC
2. Gong Yoo is just a stage name
His real name is Gong Ji Chul.
Image via Soompi
3. He studied at Kyung Hee University where he earned his B.A. degree in Theater
Image via Magazine M
In 1993 [Kyung Hee University] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyung_Hee_University) received the UNESCO Prize for Peace Education. The UNESCO Prize for Peace Education's main goal is to encourage excellent effort in the drive to reach a better quality education. The prize is endowed up to 60,000 US dollars and honours extraordinary activities for peace education in the spirit of the UNESCO constitution, according to Wikipedia.
4. He hates bungee jumping and amusement park rides!
But when he started filming for '[The Suspect] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTaFbJd-74Q)' (which was released in 2013), he has to do his own stunts!
"I hate things like bungee jumping or those scary rides at amusement parks but for the movie, I had to jump off the Han River bridge 12 times. Even after the first two or three times, my body was still stiff but after my fourth or fifth time, my body started to accept it. After that, I started thinking of how to use my arms and legs to look good while I jumped," shared Gong Yoo to the [press] (http://www.soompi.com/2013/11/27/gong-yoo-talks-about-jumping-off-a-bridge-for-his-film-in-high-cut-pictorial/).
Image via KDrama Stars
5. He made his acting debut in the 2001 television series 'School 4'
After starring in 'School 4', he started getting lead roles in 2005 including 'Biscuit Teacher and Star Candy', 'One Fine Day' (2006), 'Coffee Prince' (2007) and 'Big' (2012).
Image via HubPages
6. He's a real life crooner!
Remember the movie 'Finding Mr. Destiny' where he starred in back in 2010? He's the one who sang its OST! Here's a video of him singing 'Second First Love':
In 2012, Gong Yoo starred in the K-drama, 'Big' and he's also the voice beind its melodramatic OST, 'Not For Anyone' which is also available on [Spotify] (https://open.spotify.com/track/57MAK5oGUJ3Z0Cx37E9ER7)!
Here's Gong Yoo singing the song 'Didn't Know At That Time' live!
7. And if his singing voice didn't sweep you off your feet, he can also play the piano!
8. He thinks that being an actor 'seems to be a lonely job'
"Although we're always standing in front of the public and receiving their love, being an actor seems to be a lonely job. I'm getting through it wisely. I'm usually tough on myself, but sometimes I'll say to myself, 'You've done a good job getting through it all," he shared during an interview with [Soompi] (http://www.soompi.com/2016/09/20/gong-yoo-talks-candidly-loneliness-actor/) this year.
Image via Imgur
9. Can we also just say that he didn't age a bit?!?!
Image via SAYS PH
10. He starred in three well-received films this year!
Gong Yoo appeared in the melodrama 'A Man and A Woman' in February. He is the lead actor in the highly-acclaimed thriller zombie blockbuster, 'Train to Busan' and also one of the lead actors in the action thriller 'The Age of Shadows' which hit theaters on 7 September.
11. He said that he'll be happy if '[Train to Busan] (http://says.com/ph/kulture/8-things-zombie-film-fans-need-to-know-before-watching-train-to-busan)' will hit the 5 million mark in viewership
"**Even imagining reaching 10 million is terrifying. I would be happy with five million. Even five million would be my highest score ever**," shared Gong Yoo.
However, 'Train to Busan' is actually the first Korean movie of 2016 to overcome the **10 million viewers mark**, according to Soompi! On the other hand, 'The Age of Shadows' surpassed 6 million admissions within two weeks!
Image via Korea Times
12. He is in talks with the '[Train to Busan] (http://says.com/ph/fun/what-would-happen-if-train-to-busan-happened-in-the-philippines)' director, Yeon Sang Ho, about his vision for the film's [sequel] (http://says.com/ph/kulture/wow-train-to-busan-will-have-a-sequel)!
"I talked about this with Director Yeon Sang Ho, and I said that I thought my character Seok Woo might be living somewhere as a zombie," Yoo told the [press] (http://www.soompi.com/2016/09/05/gong-yoo-talks-potential-sequel-hit-film-train-busan/). "But Director Yeon said that when Seok Woo fell off the train, he broke his neck and died. But I suppose since Ma Dong Seok's character is living on as a zombie, they could do a sequel from his character's perspective."
Image via Amino Apps
13. Gong Yoo was offered a role in the '[Descendants of the Sun] (http://says.com/my/entertainment/descendants-of-the-sun-craze)' as Captain Yoo Si Jin aka Big Boss, but…
Gong Yoo politely declined because of his heavy work line-up during that time!
**Too bad, eh? But, the good thing is…**
Image via Tumblr
Here's a bonus fact: Gong Yoo will be appearing in another romantic-comedy series starting this December!!!
Gong Yoo will be starring in a new K-drama series entitled 'Goblin' which was also written by Kim Eun-sook, author of one of the most famous series in the history of K-dramas, '[Descendants of the Sun] (http://says.com/my/entertainment/malaysians-watch-descendants-of-the-sun-for-the-first-time)'!
"I'm worried about a lot of things lately. But since it's the first romantic-comedy I've done in a while, I want to do a good job. I want to show everyone something a little different," shared Gong Yoo according to [Soompi] (http://www.soompi.com/2016/09/20/gong-yoo-talks-candidly-loneliness-actor/).
**WHO'S EXCITED????**
Image via Viki
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