By now, you've probably heard about Netflix's Squid Game. The viral Korean drama features a mix of up-and-coming stars (opens in new tab) and longtime actors who have gained international recognition throughout their careers. One cast member who has fans buzzing despite his relatively short run is Gong Yoo. Gong Yoo is the handsome recruiter for "The Game" (and a possible second season) that keeps the show moving. (Open in new tab)

Yoo is a familiar face to fans of Korean content. The 41-year-old actor has appeared in some of the biggest K-dramas and movies of the past two decades. For those new to watching Yoo, here's what we know about him and what you should see him in next.

Real name Kong Ji-chul was born in July 1979 near Busan, South Korea. His stage name is a combination of his father's surname (Gong) and his mother's (Yoo). According to his parents, he is a descendant of Confucius, born to relatives on the Korean peninsula of the Chinese philosopher Confucius.

Yoo debuted in 2001 and got his breakthrough role in the romantic drama Coffee Prince (2007), in which he played a cafe owner who falls in love with his employee. He recently reunited with the cast of the classic K-drama (opens in new tab) in a special called "My Dear Youth - Coffee Prince (2020)" (opens in new tab).

The busiest year of his career was 2016, when he starred in the fantasy romance drama Guardian: The Great and Lonely God, also known by the nickname Goblin after Yoo's immortal character. For his portrayal of the immortal Goblin, he won the Best Actor Award at the Hyakuso Arts Awards.

During his 20-year acting career, Yoo has played unique roles. He told CNN, "I tend to choose projects that feel fresh. So my filmography has become more diverse, especially in my thirties."

Yoo also starred in the zombie film Train to Busan (2016), which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. The heartwarming thriller sold 5 million tickets in South Korea, breaking opening week records and garnering international acclaim.

The actor's performance may have been helped by the fact that he was scared in real life. He told Anthem magazine (open in new tab) that he tries to stay away from actors who play zombies, even when they are not on set. 'This is obviously fiction, but there were times when I was genuinely scared. It's scary when you're in a role and you're manipulating fear in the tight confines of a train and you accidentally get grabbed by one of the zombies. That's for the bloopers; my facial expressions are real."

Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk first worked with Yoo on the film Silenced (2011). The film was based on a real scandal at a school for the deaf in which at least eight students were abused by staff. The film sparked outrage in South Korea and led to the passage of the Dogani Law, which imposes harsh penalties on those convicted of sex crimes against children and the disabled.

Yoo told CNN that the role was groundbreaking. He said, "Rather than protesting in the streets, the most effective thing I could do as an actor [using my popularity] is to lobby for funding.

Despite his celebrity, Yoo has kept a private life. He has said in interviews that he does not enjoy being recognized on the street and spends most of his time at home. Yoo took a two-year break from acting after a string of hits in 2016.

When asked about the media intervening in his personal life, Yoo told CNN, "Cameras, I hate them. That's something I have to put up with in my work as an actor. After all, fame is why 'Gong Yoo' exists. That's what drives me forward. But where there is something to gain, there is also something to lose. That's why I try not to reveal too much of my private life."

Yoo also stays away from social media. He says, "I don't tweet, I don't Instagram, I don't do that at all. I prefer this [interview] to social media," he said.

Yoo is close with some of his "Goblin" co-stars. He met Lee Dong-wook, who played the Grim Reaper, while serving in the military in 2008 and was friends with him before they did the show together; since the show ended in 2016, he has sent coffee trucks to support Lee and actor Kim Go-eun (opens in new tab) while they film other shows.

Last year, Yoo, along with several Korean celebrities, including "Parasite" director Pon Joon-ho, made a huge donation to COVID-19's relief efforts. According to the South China Morning Post (opens in new tab), he made the donation (about $84,000) in his own name and asked that it be used "for medical staff and to help low-income and disadvantaged people."