The Mysterious Salesman from Squid Game? Turns Out He’s an Immortal Goblin! Gong Yoo’s Legendary K-Drama

 "That Squid Game Salesman? Turns Out He’s a Goblin!"

When it comes to the ultimate winter K-drama, Goblin is the first that comes to mind. Even years after its release, it remains a beloved classic and one of the most iconic K-dramas of all time.

Part of what makes this drama so special is its star-studded cast. Gong Yoo, widely recognized for his cameo as the mysterious salesman in Squid Game Season 2, takes on the lead role. The series was written by Kim Eun-sook, Korea’s most renowned screenwriter, best known internationally for Netflix’s The Glory. As one of the most influential figures in K-drama history, her works have shaped the industry and captivated audiences worldwide.

But Goblin is more than just a love story. At its core, it’s about an immortal goblin, his fated bride, and a love that transcends time—all beautifully woven together with breathtaking cinematography and an unforgettable soundtrack. With a stellar cast including Gong Yoo, Kim Go-eun, Lee Dong-wook, and Yoo In-na, combined with Kim Eun-sook’s signature poetic dialogue, the drama delivers some of the most memorable moments in K-drama history.

So, what makes Goblin a timeless masterpiece? Let’s take a closer look at why this fantasy romance continues to be one of the most celebrated K-dramas ever made.

✔ Goblin (도깨비, 2016-2017)

📌 Logline

A fantasy romance about Kim Shin, a goblin cursed with immortality, who meets his destined bride, Ji Eun-tak, and embarks on a journey of love and fate.

🎬 Drama Information

✔ Title: Goblin (도깨비)

✔ Director: Lee Eung-bok

✔ Writer: Kim Eun-sook

✔ Cast: Gong Yoo, Kim Go-eun, Lee Dong-wook, Yoo In-na, Yook Sung-jae

✔ Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Drama

✔ Episodes: 16

✔ Aired: December 2, 2016 – January 21, 2017

✔ Available on: Netflix, Viki (availability may vary by region)

🎭 Audience Reception

Goblin is widely regarded as one of the most successful fantasy romance dramas in Korean television history. With a peak viewership rating of 20.5%, it became a massive hit. Its emotional storytelling, breathtaking cinematography, and unforgettable OST left a lasting impression on audiences.

Just as Coffee Prince is synonymous with Korean summer dramas, Goblin has become the ultimate winter K-drama. Its impact was so profound that it became a cultural phenomenon in Korea. The drama’s international success further cemented K-dramas' global influence.

📖 Plot Summary (Spoilers Included)

The Goblin’s Curse and the Arrival of His Bride

Cursed with immortality, Kim Shin (Gong Yoo) has wandered through centuries, waiting for his fated bride—the only one who can release him from his eternal life. One day, he crosses paths with Ji Eun-tak (Kim Go-eun), a bright and resilient girl who can see ghosts. Claiming to be the Goblin’s bride, Eun-tak unknowingly sets their intertwined destiny into motion.

A Fateful Bond and Blossoming Love

As Kim Shin and Eun-tak spend more time together, their bond deepens, and for the first time in centuries, Kim Shin finds meaning in life again. Meanwhile, an enigmatic Grim Reaper (Lee Dong-wook) struggles with his forgotten past, unknowingly forming a peculiar yet profound connection with Kim Shin.

Unveiling the Past and the Price of Destiny

Kim Shin learns the shocking truth—the Grim Reaper is none other than the reincarnation of the Goryeo king who once ordered his execution. Their intertwined fate takes an emotional toll, while Eun-tak, torn between love and duty, wrestles with the painful reality that breaking Kim Shin’s curse means losing him forever.

🔴 Resolution – Love Beyond Time and a Bittersweet Reunion

In the end, Kim Shin fulfills his fate, sacrificing himself for the greater good. Eun-tak, left behind, loses all memories of him and continues her life unaware of their past love. However, years later, destiny brings them together once more. Though her memories remain hazy, a lingering familiarity stirs within her, hinting that some bonds are never truly broken. As the drama closes, it leaves the poignant message that their love will transcend lifetimes, destined to find its way back again and again.

💡 Cast & Characters

✔ Gong Yoo as Kim Shin

A goblin cursed with immortality, Kim Shin has wandered the earth for over a thousand years, waiting for his fated bride to break the curse. Goblin became one of Gong Yoo’s most iconic roles, solidifying his status as a top K-drama lead, much like his breakout performance in Coffee Prince.

✔ Kim Go-eun as Ji Eun-tak

A bright and spirited girl who is destined to be the Goblin’s bride, yet carries a painful past. Kim Go-eun’s natural and heartfelt portrayal made Eun-tak an endearing character. Her playful expressions and innocent charm even became widely parodied, proving her impact on pop culture.

✔ Lee Dong-wook as Grim Reaper

A mysterious reaper who guides souls to the afterlife, unaware of his own past. Lee Dong-wook perfectly captured the character’s stoic yet comedic charm, gradually revealing his emotional depth. Before Goblin, he was mostly known for second-lead roles, but this drama firmly established him as a leading actor.

✔ Yoo In-na as Sunny

A strong and charismatic woman who runs a fried chicken shop and finds herself drawn to the Grim Reaper. Yoo In-na’s nuanced performance brought both elegance and vulnerability to the role, making her love story one of the most beloved in the drama.

✔ Yook Sung-jae as Yoo Deok-hwa

A mischievous yet warm-hearted chaebol heir and Kim Shin’s nephew. As a member of the idol group BTOB, Yook Sung-jae impressed audiences with his effortless comedic timing and scene-stealing presence, proving his versatility as both an actor and entertainer.

🎥 Key Features of the Drama

✔ Kim Eun-sook’s Masterpiece

Goblin is one of the most acclaimed works by Kim Eun-sook, the renowned writer behind Descendants of the Sun, Secret Garden, and Netflix’s The Glory. She is widely considered one of the most influential screenwriters in Korean drama history, having created numerous hit series. Goblin played a key role in shaping the fantasy romance genre in K-dramas.

✔ Record-Breaking Ratings

With peak viewership surpassing 20%, Goblin became a massive hit both in Korea and internationally. Through streaming platforms like Netflix, it gained global recognition and solidified its status as a modern classic. In Korea, the drama is often associated with winter, much like how Coffee Prince is linked to summer.

✔ Cinematic Visuals & Unforgettable OST The drama’s sophisticated color palette and stunning cinematography are further elevated by its emotional OST, featuring Stay With Me and Beautiful, which add even more depth to the drama’s atmosphere. Notably, the iconic track Stay With Me gained even more attention, thanks to EXO’s Chanyeol, who lent his vocals to the song. You can listen to it via the link below. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcKR0LPwoYs

✔ Filming Locations Turned Tourist Hotspots

Following the drama’s success, several filming locations became popular tourist attractions, including Jumunjin Beach in Gangneung, Seokchon Lake in Seoul, and the Ferris Wheel in Incheon. One of the most iconic scenes—where Kim Shin holds a bouquet of buckwheat flowers and meets Ji Eun-tak by the crashing waves—was filmed at Jumunjin Beach, which quickly became a must-visit destination for fans.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrIIQZPkcVU

📌 Best Lines from the Drama

✔ "날이 좋아서, 날이 좋지 않아서, 날이 적당해서... 모든 날이 좋았다." (Nari joaseo, nari joji anaseo, nari jeokdanghaeseo... modeun nari joatda.)

👉 "Because it was a good day, because it was a bad day, because it was just the right day... Every day was good."

• A heartfelt confession from Kim Shin to Ji Eun-tak, expressing his unwavering love for her. This line became one of the most memorable and frequently quoted lines in the drama.

✔ "이 검이 빠지는 순간, 나는 사라질 것이다." (I geomi ppajineun sungan, naneun sarajil geosida.)

👉 "The moment this sword is pulled out, I will disappear."

• A pivotal line that defines Kim Shin’s fate as a goblin. It builds tension in the storyline and highlights the weight of his destiny.

✔ "널 처음 본 순간부터 사랑했다." (Neol cheoeum bon sunganbuteo saranghaetda.)

👉 "I have loved you from the very first moment I saw you."

• Kim Shin’s confession to Ji Eun-tak, emphasizing the fateful and deep-rooted nature of their romance.

🍿 Recommended Similar Dramas

✔ My Love from the Star (별에서 온 그대, 2013)

A fantasy romance about an alien who has lived on Earth for centuries and falls in love with a human. Like Goblin, it explores themes of destined love and the passage of time. The lead role of Cheon Song-yi was played by Jun Ji-hyun, one of Korea’s top actresses. Her fashion and speech style in the drama sparked major trends and became a cultural phenomenon.

✔ Hotel Del Luna (호텔 델루나, 2019)

A romantic fantasy drama about a mystical woman who runs a hotel for wandering souls and a human man who gets caught up in her world. Known for its breathtaking cinematography and emotional depth, Hotel Del Luna was often compared to Goblin and was even marketed as its "female counterpart." The drama also gained significant attention for starring IU, a renowned singer and actress.

✔ Descendants of the Sun (태양의 후예, 2016)

Written by Kim Eun-sook, the same screenwriter behind Goblin, this drama tells the gripping love story between a soldier and a doctor in a war-torn country. With its intense emotions and grand-scale production, it became a global sensation. The two lead actors, Song Hye-kyo and Song Joong-ki, took their on-screen romance into real life, becoming the beloved "Song-Song Couple" and capturing the hearts of fans worldwide.

✔ Secret Garden (시크릿 가든, 2010)

A fantasy romance about an unexpected body-swapping incident that brings together a wealthy CEO and a fearless stuntwoman. Another masterpiece by Kim Eun-sook, Secret Garden beautifully blends fantasy and romance. Starring Hyun Bin and Ha Ji-won, the drama became a massive hit and remains a K-drama classic.

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