After playing the titular role in the tvN drama "Goblin," Gong Yoo's popularity in Asia and in other countries increased to a higher level. Recently, the South Korean actor was invited to hold fan meeting events in more than 10 countries.
Avid fans of the "Coffee Prince" star might soon get to see the Hallyu celebrity in a special meet and greet event. Gong's agency told local reporters that the actor received several offers to hold a fan meeting in 15 countries.
A representative from entertainment company Management SOOP mentioned that Gong was asked to meet his fans in several Asian countries such as China, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, as well as Australia and even the U.S., Korea Herald quoted the representative as saying. Event organizers even offered an attractive compensation package with special perks in the hope that it will entice the actor to accept the fan meeting proposal.
However, it is still unclear if the actor has accepted any of the said offers. Gong currently has a full schedule and would only be available to embark on potential fan events and international promotions toward the latter part of March, according to Management SOOP.
Meanwhile, Gong's popularity in South Korea and other countries further increased given the success of his recent movies and TV drama projects. The actor starred in the global hit zombie apocalyptic movie "Train to Busan," as well as the highly-acclaimed film "Age of Shadows."
Gong's portrayal of the immortal Shin in the tvN fantasy series "Goblin" also earned him rave reviews given his acting. The drama, also known as "Guardian: The Lonely and Great God," even became one of the said cable channel's top rating series.
Moreover, "Goblin" posted steady viewership shares and also topped a weekly popularity index several times during its 16-episode run. At the end of its nearly two-month broadcast, the tvN series maintained its top spot on the Content Power Index (CPI) with a score of 301.2 points, according to CJ E&M and Nielsen Korea, as cited by Yonhap News.
Gong's drama even bested the star-studded "Legend of the Blue Sea" which served as Lee Min Ho and Jun Ji Hyun's TV comeback. The said mermaid drama landed at fourth place, while "Romantic Doctor Teacher Kim" and "Missing Nine" nabbed the second and third spots, respectively.
"Goblin" aired its final episode on Jan. 21 on tvN, followed by a two-episode special released on Feb. 3 and Feb. 4. Watch a clip from the drama below: