Gong Yoo Reflects on Past Comments About Park Chung-hee, Claims Political Misuse

Following the recent state of emergency, actor Gong Yoo has found himself in the spotlight again due to comments he made about former President Park Chung-hee during a magazine interview years ago. On December 5, while promoting the Netflix original series 'Trunk' at a café in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, Gong addressed the resurfacing of his past remarks. In a July 2005 interview with Vogue Girl magazine, he had responded to the question, 'Who do you think is the coolest man?' by naming his father, Michael Jordan, and Park Chung-hee.

Gong explained, 'That was 20 years ago when I was in my early twenties and had no understanding of the entertainment industry.' He acknowledged that his thoughts were less mature at the time and that the interview was conducted in writing. He expressed concern about being politically exploited, stating, 'I feel like my words have been misinterpreted and used to create divisions, which is understandably uncomfortable for me.' However, he added, 'I believe I shouldn't react because that's not who I am.'

Reflecting on the current situation, Gong shared, 'Having worked in the industry for over 20 years, I sometimes feel disillusioned as a human being when I see these issues being brought up again.' He admitted that his past wording could have caused misunderstandings and discomfort for some people, acknowledging it as a lack of caution on his part.

Gong emphasized, 'I have not lived with a flawed moral compass. During the state of emergency, I watched the events unfold with frustration and anger.' He described the situation as a potential mistake for him but referred to it as a mere incident. He recalled the state of emergency as something unimaginable, saying, 'It felt like something out of a movie, an event I could never have imagined experiencing in my life.' He shared that like many others, he spent sleepless nights filled with anxiety until the emergency was lifted.

In 'Trunk,' Gong Yoo plays Han Jung-won, a character who experiences profound loneliness after marriage, intertwined with a story about a mysterious wedding service linked to a trunk that appears by a lakeside.