From detective comedies to historical epics: the versatile rise of actor Gong Myung
In short: Born Kim Dong-hyun, the South Korean actor known as Gong Myung has navigated a diverse career since his 2013 debut. From breaking box office records in action comedies to portraying leisurely princes in historical dramas, he has established himself as a prominent figure in contemporary South Korean entertainment and television.
Gong Myung, born Kim Dong-hyun, first entered the public eye in 2013 through the web series After School: Lucky or Not. His early career was defined by his membership in 5urprise, an actor group managed by the agency Fantagio. During his formative years in the industry, he took on various supporting roles in projects such as the 2015 historical drama Splendid Politics and the 2016 romance-comedy Drinking Solo. His visibility grew significantly when he joined the reality show We Got Married in 2016.
The actor achieved a major career milestone in 2019 with the action-comedy film Extreme Job. Playing the youngest member of a detective team, Gong contributed to a production that became the third most-viewed film in South Korean history, exceeding 10 million ticket sales in only 15 days. This success earned him six nominations for Best New Actor, with two wins. Following this, he transitioned to Saram Entertainment in April 2020, continuing his work in both television and film, including the 2021 historical-fantasy drama Lovers of the Red Sky.
Gong's professional trajectory was briefly interrupted by mandatory military service. After receiving a summons in November 2021, he enlisted on December 14, 2021. He completed his service and was discharged on June 13, 2023. Since his return, he has continued his acting career, including a lead role in the 2025 TVing production Way Back Love. Beyond his own work, he is also known for his family connection to the music industry, as his younger brother, Kim Dong-young, is a member of the boy group NCT.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Gong Myung
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