Gong Yoo fascinates the audience at the 24th Florence Korea Film Fest in Florence, Italy
2026-03-25The 24th edition of the Florence Korea Film Fest, scheduled to take place from 20 to 28 March 2026, has transformed Florence, Italy into an international stage dedicated to Korean cinema, and among the most eagerly awaited guests is undoubtedly Gong Yoo, famous for his performances in Train to Busan (2016) and the K-dramas Coffee Prince (2007, MBC TV) and Guardian: The Lonely and Great God – Dokkaebi (2016–2017, tvN). This year, the festival took place under the patronage of the Municipality of Florence, with the support of the Department of Culture. Alongside local institutions, the festival benefited from the collaboration of the Korean Cultural Centre in Italy, Consulate of the Republic of Korea and long-standing partners such as Fondazione Sistema Toscana, Cinema La Compagnia and KOFIC – Korean Film Council, as well as support from private sponsors linked to the lifestyle, technology and cultural promotion sectors between Italy and Korea. Gong Yoo opened the festival with a press conference for journalists, a limited-attendance Masterclass: an actor’s feelings for all enthusiasts and fans, and a special appearance during the tribute screening of his film Train to Busan.
The festival director, Riccardo Gelli, commented on Gong Yoo’s participation, stating:
'The star Gong Yoo, one of the world’s best-known and most beloved actors, will finally be our guest. We will celebrate his career with a retrospective and a masterclass. His presence will also give us the opportunity to mark the tenth anniversary of the film Train to Busan.'
Alongside him, the festival also celebrated director Yeon Sang-ho, the director of Train to Busan, with a retrospective of his films. The joint appearance of the two artists was one of the highlights of the programme, underscoring the importance of their collaboration on the international film scene. To pay tribute to Gong Yoo’s career, the festival presented a special selection of his films, offering the public the chance to rediscover the actor through his performances screened at the Cinema La Compagnia in Florence. From 21 to 27 March, the following films will be screened: Train to Busan (2016), The Suspect (2013), A Man and a Woman (2015), Silenced (2011), Kim Ji-young, Born 1982 (2019) and The Age of Shadows (2016).
Gong Yoo was impressed when he learnt that tickets for his masterclass had sold out in a matter of minutes:
'I’m truly moved; I didn’t expect such a huge turnout. My wish is to connect with my fans as much as possible. Being in Florence for the first time is also a dream come true; it’s a city I’ve longed to visit ever since I was a child.’
His passion for the city of Florence stemmed from watching the 2001 Japanese film Between Calmness and Passion by director Isamu Nakae, a film famous in Korea and also shot in Italy, specifically in Florence. Personally, I hope that Gong Yoo and his team enjoyed Italy and its fans during their stay and their meetings with the Italian public. From the photos posted on his official profile, I saw many photos dedicated to Italian food and city, and the actor seemed happy to be in Italy. Looking ahead, he says he would like to work with Luca Guadagnino (Italian film director, screenwriter and producer) of whom he says he has seen all his films and admires him greatly.
At the start of the Masterclass: an actor’s feelings, there was also an official ceremony during which the actor received a parchment from Giovanni Bettarini, Florence’s Councillor, with the following citation:
‘The City of Florence presents this parchment to the actor Gong Yoo, a masterful performer who, with elegance and intensity, transforms every glance and every gesture into a bridge of universal understanding. Through his extraordinary expressive ability, he has given a face and soul to unforgettable characters, capable of moving audiences across the globe and elevating cinematic and television storytelling to heights of global excellence.’
During the masterclass, which I attended as an Honorary Reporter, actor Gong Yoo responded in an informal and engaging manner to the questions posed by Caterina Liverani, with translation by interpreter Yeda Kim, whom I thank for enabling the Italian audience to follow the masterclass. There was also a sign language interpreter present, so that everyone could understand. Gong Yoo spoke about his performances K-dramas and films, his perspective, and the choices he has made. Personally, I was struck by his willingness to open up to the public in a sincere, precise and honest manner.
Even during the interview for RAI (Italian radio and television), it was perhaps the actor’s most intimate confession; in fact, when asked, ‘Would you go back to your twenties?’, Gong Yoo replied ‘No’, because it was a difficult time for him, and now he prefers to live in the present; he would tell his twenty-year-old self that the worries of his youth were not in vain and that this period was necessary to become the person he is today.
The public’s love for Gong Yoo was evident from the long queue waiting for him outside the cinema, the venue for the masterclass dedicated to him, which sold out in a matter of minutes. Although the seats were all sold out, many people still wanted to wait for him outside the cinema to show him their support and appreciation. Whilst I was queuing to get in, I could feel the enthusiasm of his fans, eager to see and hear him. Furthermore, the audience was not made up solely of Italians: there were also people from abroad in attendance.
In the days immediately following the masterclass and press conference, Gong Yoo was interviewed by numerous Italian and international journalists, who featured him in news reports, including on RAI (Italian Radio and Television) and SBC News Korea, looking back over his film career and highlighting his exclusive appearance at the Florence Korea Film Fest.
Info and credits:
Florence Korea Film Fest in Florence, Italy
RAI (Italian Radio and Television)
SBC News Korea
Gong Yoo’s Instagram official profile
How about this article?
- Like2
- Support0
- Amazing0
- Sad0
- Curious0
- Insightful0
