Actor Gong Myung is poised to become the face of 2025’s “first love” narratives, thanks to a string of heartfelt performances in dramas and films. From A Week Before I Die to Please Stop Drinking, Square, and History of Confession, Gong Myung has steadily built an impressive resume that showcases his emotional depth.

Following the recent premiere of A Week Before I Die (written by Song Hyun-joo and Jang Jung, directed by Kim Hye-young and Choi Hana), Gong Myung is making a swift return with tvN’s new Monday-Tuesday drama Please Stop Drinking (written by Myung Soo-hyun and Jeon Jeon-hyun, directed by Jang Yoo-jung), premiering on May 12. This marks his second major release in just one month, reflecting his rising momentum after a four-year hiatus due to military service.

In A Week Before I Die, Gong plays Ram Woo, a young man who returns as a grim reaper six years after his death to revisit his first love, Hee-wan (Kim Min-ha). The fantasy romance toggles between their high school past and present-day grief, blending nostalgia with emotional gravity. Gong’s portrayal captures Ram Woo’s internal struggle—from a once-annoying teen to a heart-wrenching presence in Hee-wan’s life—as he watches her unravel after his death.

Particularly touching are the flashback scenes of Gong Myung in a school uniform amid lively classrooms, evoking viewers’ own memories of first love. His character, though initially stoic and cold, is gradually revealed to be on a mission: to rekindle Hee-wan’s desire to live, bringing the “grim reaper with a heart” trope to poignant new levels.

Now, in Please Stop Drinking, Gong Myung once again plays a character rooted in a first love story. The drama revolves around Han Geum-ju (Choi Soo-young), a seasoned mechanic attempting sobriety for the first time after reuniting with her anti-alcohol first love, Seo Eui-joon (played by Gong Myung). At the drama’s press conference, Gong remarked, “I’m playing the role of first love again,” expressing his goal to become 2025’s definitive “first love icon.”

Indeed, Gong Myung is living out his “seventeen era”—a term that captures his youthful, romantic screen persona—by releasing two major dramas in the first half of 2025 alone. But this dedication to his craft didn’t start after his military discharge in December 2021. During his service and shortly after, he starred in numerous films, making his absence from the small screen barely noticeable.

Among his post-enlistment releases were Hansan: Rising Dragon, Killing Romance, and Citizen Deok-hee, all hitting theaters in 2022. He also made special appearances in Netflix’s 20th Century Girl and Noryang: Sea of Death. These projects solidified his standing as a versatile actor even during his so-called “gunbaekgi” (military blank period).

After officially wrapping up his service in 2023, Gong Myung only accelerated. His confirmed upcoming projects show just how far he’s come from the “first love” archetype. On June 6, he will star in Netflix’s Gwangjang (written by Yoo Yoo-sung, directed by Choi Sung-eun), an eight-episode noir series based on the webtoon of the same name. Gong plays Goo Joon, the ambitious heir of the Bongsan family, navigating a gritty return 11 years after leaving a criminal organization in order to uncover the truth behind his brother’s death.

Next, Gong appears in Netflix’s coming-of-age film A History of Confessions (directed by Nam Goong-sun), set in 1998. The story centers on Park Se-ri (Shin Eun-soo), a 19-year-old girl with a perm complex who plots a daring love confession. Gong Myung plays Han Yoon-seok, the mysterious transfer student who becomes a key figure in her plan.

Finally, the actor rounds out his 2025 lineup with Husbands, a Netflix original comedy-action film directed by Park Kyu-tae. This project reunites him with Jin Sun-kyu, his co-star from Extreme Job, under the helm of the 6/45 director. The film promises a lighthearted, energetic tone and positions Gong to expand further into comedy and action genres.

With a packed 2025 that balances nostalgic romance, gritty noir, and breezy comedy, Gong Myung is evolving far beyond his earlier image. While he may be known for playing “first loves,” his growing filmography proves he’s capable of much more—and this year may just be his breakout moment.