Actor Gong Yoo (45) has returned with the melodrama thriller ‘Trunk’. He portrayed a restrained and gloomy male lead, delicately expressing a difficult growth period. However, the unrealistic setting and extreme characters and developments have divided opinions.
Released on the 29th of last month, the Netflix original series ‘Trunk’ (written by Park Eun-young and directed by Kim Kyu-tae) depicts a mysterious marriage service revealed by a trunk that surfaced by a lakeside, and the strange marriage story of two characters, No In-ji (played by Seo Hyun-jin) and Han Jeong-won (played by Gong Yoo).
Based on the novel of the same name by writer Kim Ryeo-ryeong, the series is directed by Kim Kyu-tae, who also directed ‘Our Blues’ and ‘It’s Okay, That’s Love’. It presents the unfamiliar theme of ‘temporary marriage’ in a mysterious way, focusing on the relationships and love between characters.
In a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 5th, Gong Yoo began, “I was mentally very exhausted throughout the filming period.” He continued, “I had to be restrained while acting. Since the character is not one who expresses outwardly, I tried to stay as close to Jeong-won’s emotions as possible. Personally, I also avoid letting my emotions get too ahead of me. My acting tone is usually restrained, but I think it was even more so in this work.”
“When I look at myself as an actor from a third-person perspective, I realize I have a very restrained personality. I deeply resonated with the line in the script that says, ‘I think about subtraction first.’ I also have a habit of thinking about and preparing for the worst-case scenario. This character was a challenging role in many ways, but there were many aspects I could relate to, which is why I decided to participate.”
However, opinions about the work were divided. He stated, “I decided to take on the role shortly after reading the script,” and added, “I was already prepared for the clear division of opinions that would come with that decision. I fully respect the aspects that are received uncomfortably, but personally, I was more moved by the message I wanted to convey through this extreme setting, so I didn’t worry too much.”
Regarding his co-star Seo Hyun-jin, he said, “She is an actress I have wanted to act with for a long time,” adding, “I have been a fan of hers personally.”
He remarked, “While working on the project, I felt throughout the filming that she is a very precise actress with a deep understanding of the work. I received a lot of help from that,” and praised her, saying, “I think she is an intense actor and person. That made me think she could act like that, and I thought that’s why Hyun-jin wouldn’t gain weight. I believe she is a very sharp, smart, and delicate actress.”
He recalled being impressed by Seo Hyun-jin’s performance. “There was a scene where Hyun-jin and I were in despair. I was curious about how that scene was shot, so I asked to see it on the monitor. You might have only seen the condensed images from post-production and editing, but that take itself was long. I thought it was really intense,” he revealed.
He added, “It must have been really hard. Such acting requires tremendous energy, and I think it can also be damaging to oneself, even though it’s acting. When I see Hyun-jin’s performance during emotional scenes, I think about that. I have even told Hyun-jin directly about that,” showing deep trust in her.
The day before the interview with Gong Yoo, on the 4th, Seo Hyun-jin’s interview for ‘Trunk’ was canceled. Many entertainment events were canceled that day due to the confusion following President Yoon Suk-yeol’s declaration and lifting of martial law on the night of the 3rd.
Gong Yoo expressed, “I felt frustrated and angry about the absurd situation. As a citizen, I felt the same way as everyone else,” and added, “I had a schedule the morning after the declaration of martial law, but something happened in the early morning, and I couldn’t do anything. I stayed up all night with my eyes wide open until it was lifted, unable to sleep due to anxiety.”
He continued, “My phone was really going crazy at that time. I was dumbfounded when I heard it, turned on the TV, and watched the live broadcast. I saw a situation that I had only seen in movies, something that was truly absurd, becoming a reality, and I was at a loss for words. Even while watching, I couldn’t believe it.”
He added, “I never thought such a thing would happen in my life. I must have felt the same emotions as all the citizens,” and said, “After that, I was engulfed in an infinite sense of fear about what would happen next, and I was anxious. I was on edge. In fact, even now, I can’t predict the future at all,” he sighed.
He also expressed his thoughts on the renewed attention to his interview remarks from 20 years ago, stating, “I feel like I am being politically exploited as a public figure.”
In a 2005 interview with a media outlet, Gong Yoo answered the question, “Who are the three men you think are the coolest?” with “My father, Michael Jordan, and Park Chung-hee.” This remark has resurfaced and caused controversy. The declaration of martial law by President Yoon came 45 years after the last declaration following the assassination of President Park Chung-hee during the 10.26 incident, shocking many.
Gong Yoo reflected on the situation, saying, “Twenty years ago, when I was not familiar with the entertainment industry and was not mature as a human being, I never thought that a line I wrote in a written interview with a fashion magazine would keep resurfacing and lead to misunderstandings. I think it was ultimately a mistake and a happening.”
He added, “Every time a political issue or situation arises, I feel that I am politically exploited as a public figure. I have never expressed my intentions, yet I feel like I am being used on channels like YouTube (politically). Of course, it’s uncomfortable, but I didn’t respond because I don’t agree with that intention at all.”
He also mentioned, “When such things happen, and when they repeat, I sometimes feel a sense of disillusionment as a human being,” and acknowledged, “Although it wasn’t my intention, I recognize that it could have been a wording that might have made someone uncomfortable and could lead to misunderstandings. I really didn’t expect it to be interpreted this way.”
Furthermore, he stated, “What’s certain is that I haven’t lived (immorally), and I am not that kind of person. The impact of wording that was lacking during a time when I was also lacking is really significant. What’s certain is that I am also a person like you all. I feel the same frustration and anger as everyone else about what happened two days ago.”
