The final months of 2024 will be massive for Gong Yoo and his fans thanks to two upcoming NetflixK-dramas. One of the most popular and acclaimed Korean lead actors, Gong Yoo has starred in a fewK-drama classicsas well as in some of the most successful Korean series and movies of all time.Gong Yoo’s careerincludes more traditional K-dramas such asGoblinandCoffee Princeas well as modern hits such asSquid Game.It’s been a few years since Gong Yoo’s last leading TV role, but the next two months will make up for it.
WhileGong Yoo has been acting for over two decades now, his career achieved new heights in 2016 with the release ofTrain to Busan. The film gained widespread recognition and is often listed as one of the best zombie movies ever. Gong Yoo’s international impact would continue a few years later with 2021’sSquid Game, which became Netflix’s most-watched TV show. Gong Yoo seems to carefully pick his next projects, which makes his upcoming Netflix K-drama and hisSquid Gameseason 2 returneven more exciting.
Gong Yoo Will Dominate The Next Two Months Between The Trunk And Squid Game 2
The Trunk Premiers November 29; Squid Game 2 Premiers December 26
The Trunk, a Netflix K-drama starring Seo Hyun-Jin and Gong Yoo, has been in development for a while and will finally premiere in November 2024. Even before the first trailer was released,The Trunkis one of the most anticipated K-dramas of the yearnot only because of its cast but also because of its premise. Based on Kim Ryeo-Ryeong’s novelTrunk, the Netflix show tells the story of a contract marriage agency that helps people find partners with whom they can have a fake marriage.
Squid Game’s third and final season premiers in 2025.
Seo Hyun-Jin plays In-ji, who has used the fake marriage service four times and is currently looking for her fifth fake husband.Gong Yoo will play Jung-won, a divorced man who also signs up for a fake marriage. As expected, In-ji and Jung-won are assigned to each other. However, things become more complicated after a mysterious trunk appears on the beach revealing secrets about the fake marriage agency. On July 23, 2025, Gong Yoo will show up in anotherNetflix K-drama, this time a returning one –Squid Gameseason 2, reprising his role as the Salesman.
Gong Yoo’s Two Upcoming Shows Will Make Up For His Time Away From The Screen
It’s Been Three Years Since Gong Yoo’s The Silent Sea Premiered On Netflix
Gong Yoo’s last TV project wasThe Silent Sea, a Netflix sci-fi series with elements of horror released in 2021. AlthoughThe Silent Seawas not as big as Gong Yoo’s other Netflix original of that year,Squid Game, it received good reviews and featured an impressive cast.The Silent Seaalso worked as a spiritual successor toTrain to Busanconsidering it starred Gong Yoo in yet another horror role, although the Netflix show was more about suspense than scares.
The Silent Sea
Han Yoon-jae
Regardless, the fact that Gong Yoo is finally back with another project is exciting. It’s also interesting howThe Trunkdiffers from his most recent Netflix shows, namelySquid GameandThe Silent Sea. It’s not uncommon for established, experienced actors to tackle different projects beyond the usual romance K-drama formula – especially in the age of Netflix webseries – but it’s nice thatGong Yoo is once again the lead in what seems to be a romance story.Gong Yoo’sSquid Gamereturn is also incredibly exciting, even more so because we know very little about the Salesman.
Gong Yoo’s The Trunk And Squid Game Roles Will Be Very Different From Each Other
Gong Yoo Plays Squid Game’s Most Mysterious Character
While we still don’t know much aboutThe Trunk’s plot other than what the book tells us, it is safe to say Gong Yoo’s 2024 roles will be very different from each other.The Trunkis in the romance and mystery drama genres, which can make for a great combination, especially in a webseries with fewer episodes than the average broadcast K-drama.Squid Game, on the other hand, is a K-drama thriller with a horrifying premise and some incredibly violent sequences. Gong Yoo’s Salesman is arguablySquid Game’s most mysterious and terrifying character.
20 Best K-Dramas Of 2024
There has been no shortage of incredible K-dramas in 2024, but some have defied expectations to become the year’s best shows in the genre.
Gong Yoo only had two scenes inSquid Game, appearing in the first and final episode of the NetflixK-dramaphenomenon. It’s unclear how big of a role the Salesman will have inSquid Game2, but Gong Yoo was the final actor to be announced for the new season back when the cast was revealed. One of thefirstSquid Gameseason 2 imagesfeatured the Salesman talking to Gi-hun in a restaurant, whereas a recently released teaser trailer saw Gong Yoo’s character getting ready for his day and inviting the audience to play a game with him.
Squid Game
Cast
Squid Game is a South Korean series released in 2021 that follows numerous financially struggling participants who are invited to partake in children’s games with deadly outcomes. As they compete, they vie for a substantial cash prize, all while navigating lethal challenges orchestrated by mysterious figures.
The Trunk
The Trunk, releasing on June 11, 2025, follows the mysterious discovery of a trunk on the shoreline, unveiling a hidden marriage service and the peculiar relationship of a couple intertwined in its secrets.
