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The Korea Times

By KTimes
Time spares no one, not even Korean actor Gong Yoo. Yet, unlike many who fear the visible marks of ageing, Gong welcomes his wrinkles, finding charm in the natural progression of life.
During an interview on December 5, Gong discussed Netflix series The Trunk – his latest project. The show explores a bizarre marriage arrangement set against the backdrop of a mysterious floating trunk that unravels a secretive matchmaking service.
In the series, Gong plays Han Jeong-won, a man who marries but becomes deeply lonely. Forced into a contractual marriage because of his former wife, Lee Seo-yeon (played by Jung Yoon-ha), Han navigates the complexities of love and relationships.

Gong was drawn to the series for its nuanced exploration of love.
“I believe even in romantic relationships there are darker aspects. Many dramas and films portray love in a bright, glorified way, but I wanted to delve into its shadows.
“I wanted to explore that side of relationships and act out those emotions. I was curious why the character Jeong-won is in so much pain.”
While filming The Trunk, Gong reflected deeply on the nature of love, describing it as either “existential love” or “possessive love”.
“Possessive love can ruin relationships. Under the name of love, it can harm both oneself and those around you. When you truly love someone, you constantly wrestle with petty emotions. Being composed and finding strength simply in the other person’s presence – that’s what I think existential love is about.”

Seo Hyun-jin stars alongside Gong as No In-ji, a woman who finds herself isolated by her matchmaking career.
Playing In-ji’s fifth husband, Gong expressed admiration for Seo, saying: “I couldn’t imagine anyone else as No In-ji. Even after filming ended, I thought, ‘If not Seo Hyun-jin, who could have done it?’”
He described her as a relentless and meticulous actor, adding: “I finally understood why she doesn’t gain weight – she works so intensely. Watching her perform on set was a real joy.”
Gong emphasised that The Trunk is not a dual-protagonist story, but rather one that centres more on No In-ji’s journey.
Reflecting on his evolving priorities, he noted: “In the past, I might have wanted to be the title role, but as time passed, I realised that’s not what matters.
“Having experienced being the lead, I now focus on whether the story genuinely intrigues me. If I’m not curious about the story, being the title role holds no meaning.”

Gong’s grounded outlook extends to his personal perspective on ageing.
“I love the wrinkles on my face. They can become part of my mise-en-scène as an actor. I am not averse to ageing,” he said.
Yet he admitted to being momentarily surprised by changes, like developing double eyelids with age. “It was unfamiliar at first – an unexpected change from ageing. I liked my eyes without double eyelids, so it felt awkward at first, but it’s not because I dislike ageing.”
Released on November 29, The Trunk invites viewers into its mysterious world of unconventional love stories, adding another thought-provoking performance to Gong’s illustrious career.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.
Read the original story at The Korea Times.


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Gong Yoo talks about why he loved working with Seo Hyun-jin on new Netflix Korean drama The Trunk and how he’s not averse to ageing


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