‘Makes No Sense’ Gong Yoo Candidly Addresses President Yoon’s Martial Law Declaration

Actor Gong Yoo shared his candid thoughts on the recent declaration of martial law during an interview for the Netflix series 'Trunk,' held on December 5 at a café in Samcheong-dong, Seoul.

While the interview with co-star Seo Hyun-jin had been scheduled for the previous day, it was abruptly canceled after President Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law on December 3. Following intense political proceedings, the motion to lift martial law was passed unanimously by 190 members of the National Assembly in an early morning session on December 4. Although the declaration was officially rescinded by President Yoon at 4:27 a.m., Seo Hyun-jin’s schedule had already been disrupted.

Recalling the surreal experience, Gong Yoo said, “I had another schedule on the morning of the 4th and was sitting at my desk, doing what you might call ‘studying.’ Suddenly, my phone lit up with messages from people I worked with on 'Trunk.' The chatroom was in chaos, so I turned on the TV and started watching the live broadcast.”

He continued, “It felt like something straight out of a movie. Never in my life did I imagine I’d witness such an unbelievable event. Like everyone else, I spent the night on edge, unable to sleep until martial law was lifted. It was a sleepless and nerve-wracking night.”

In light of recent events, actor Gong Yoo’s decades-old comments naming former President Park Chung-hee(often regarded as a dictator) as "the most admirable man" have resurfaced, sparking renewed discussion. Addressing the issue during a press interview, Gong Yoo clarified his position, emphasizing that his perspective has evolved over time.

“That comment was from an interview I gave more than 20 years ago when I was young, inexperienced, and unaware of the complexities of the entertainment industry,” Gong Yoo explained. “It was a written response for a fashion magazine, and I now recognize that it was an unthoughtful remark that could cause misunderstanding or discomfort for some people. While it wasn’t my intention, I regret that my words have been repeatedly misused in political contexts over the years."

Premiered on November 29, Netflix’s 'Trunk' is a mystery romance that delves into the secrets surrounding a marriage service and an enigmatic trunk discovered by a lakeside. The series unfolds a gripping tale of two individuals caught in a strange, unconventional marriage.