Why Gong Yoo decided to take on the lead role in the upcoming Korean sci-fi series 'The Silent Sea'

Gong Yoo decided to take on the lead role in the upcoming Korean science fiction space film titled "The Silent Sea" because he wanted take on a challenge that came with doing a new genre.

The Korean actor will be playing Han Yunjae, the youngest captain of the Space and Aeronautics Administration’s expedition team.

"I’ve mentioned this before but the reason I chose to be a part of The Silent Sea is because I had always wanted to challenge myself to play a role in a genre series," Gong Yoo said in a virtual press conference on Wednesday attended by GMA News Online.

"As a member of the audience, when I like to consume content, I am very interested in the dystopian backdrop so everything came in together in terms of the subject matter, the story, the backdrop. It all felt very refreshing," he added.

Gong Yoo said there was no reason for him not to join the production.

"I wouldn’t say always but I am a person who wrestles with ideas, who looks into the idea of diversity often and there were a lot of times when I felt like we could do better," he said.

"So as an actor, I always thought about expanding that horizon in terms of the genres," he added.

The Korean actor said fans can expect his role to be "very different" from his roles in his previous shows which are mostly romantic comedies.

"I play a role very different from my previous roles and it’s a unique character not like a character I’ve played before," he said.

"I don't want to bombard you with words but I will leave you with this: If you watch the series, you will know," he added.

In a different interview with Netflix, Gong Yoo said since his character is someone who is a former veteran and so he said he decided to make his character "tough."

"To show his cynical approach to life in a visual way, I had many discussions with the costume and makeup teams," he said. "I wore a tattoo that looks like his unit symbol and makeup to darken his tan."

"The Silent Sea" follows a story of an elite crew sent on a mission to Balhae Lunar Research Station which is Korea's first lunar base that was permanently closed five years ago.

As soon as the team landed at the moon, they find unimaginable mysteries lurk inside the station where they are trapped in isolation realizing they were sent on a deadly mission.

The elite team consists of astrobiologist Song Jian (Bae Doona), captain Han Yunjae (Gong Yoo), chief engineer Ryu Taesuk (Lee Joon), team doctor Doc Hong (Kim Sun-young), chief security officer Gong Soohyuk (Lee Mu-saeng), and pilot Kim Sun (Lee Sung-wook).

The newest Korean Netflix series is written by Park Eun-kyo, directed by Choi Hang-yong, and executive produced by actor Jung Woo-sung.

"The Silent Sea" is set to premiere on Netflix on December 24, 3 p.m. (Philippine time). — LA, GMA News