'Secret Gratitude' Gong Myung: "No Worries About the 'Younger Man' Image... I Just Want to Show Even More of Myself" [Interview ③]

*This content was translated by AI.

• tvN Saturday-Sunday Drama 'Secret Gratitude' Interview with Actor Gong Myung, who plays No Ki-jun

Actor Gong Myung expressed his satisfaction with the 'younger man' label he received through 'Secret Gratitude'.

Recently, Gong Myung met with StarNews at the Saram Entertainment headquarters in Mapo-gu, Seoul, for a wrap-up interview commemorating the conclusion of the tvN Saturday-Sunday drama 'Secret Gratitude'.

'Secret Gratitude' is a tense, close-contact audit romance between Joo Jin-a (played by Shin Hye-sun), a charismatic audit manager who keeps a secret, and No Ki-jun (played by Gong Myung), an audit team ace demoted overnight to the department responsible for uncovering internal misconduct (PM).

In the drama, Gong Myung plays No Ki-jun, a deputy in the audit team of Haemu Group. Although No Ki-jun was recruited into the core audit department, he is later transferred to 'Audit Team 3', where he also develops a pink romance with Joo Jin-a.

Gong Myung, who received great love for his younger man character in the work, said, "I feel the popularity through the reactions from those around me. People close to me, including the director, have shared their reactions. I thought, 'Ki-jun is indeed being loved a lot as a younger man character.' At the same time, he added, "But I want to break through even more. If I get to play a younger man character later, I will do even better," expressing his ambition.

Gong Myung said he has no concerns about becoming firmly established with the 'puppy-like younger man' image. He stated, "Some people have asked me, 'Aren't you worried about the image becoming fixed?' and also asked, 'Don't you have a need for other characters?' But I am not worried."

Gong Myung showed a firm side, saying, "That means there is an image that people expect and want to see from me. So I just feel I need to show that side even better than before, not just as I have shown before, and I am not worried."

He also honestly addressed the changes in his appearance over time. Gong Myung said, "Looking at my old photos, my features have definitely become more distinct. I think it's because my double eyelids have become deeper. Originally, I had no double eyelids, but then the line appeared and became completely deep. Looking at old photos or such, I feel I look too young." When asked if he is satisfied with his changed appearance, he replied yes, adding, "I think what I feel is that I am becoming more mature. I started this job when I was 20 or 19, and the image of my 30s that I had expected is what I see now, so I am pleased," smiling.

Meanwhile, regarding the sudden hearing loss he recently experienced, Gong Myung revealed his current status, saying, "Fortunately, I am recovering well now." He explained, "In any case, the cause was stress, which is the root of all diseases. I ate well, rested well, and did everything I could in the early stages. I consistently visited a Korean medicine clinic."

He continued, "I thought I was someone who didn't get stressed, but it seems it had been accumulating without me realizing it. It seems my body just sent a signal saying, 'You shouldn't be treating your body so harshly.'"

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*This content was translated by AI.