2012–2014: Career beginnings Gong first trained as a singer under
SM Entertainment for seven years after winning the "Best Looks" portion of the SM Youth Best Contest in 2005. She left in 2012 after losing interest in singing, and then signed an actor management contract with Yuko Company. Shortly after making her entertainment debut in a
commercial for
feminine hygiene product White (
Yuhan-
Kimberly) in 2012, Gong began appearing in small roles in
television dramas.
2015–present: Rise in popularity In 2015, the relative newcomer drew mainstream notice when she joined the
fourth season of the Korean reality show
We Got Married, where she was paired with singer-actor
Lee Jong-hyun. Gong started to gain attention as an actress with her role in the historical drama
Six Flying Dragons (2015–2016). She won the New Star Award at the
SBS Drama Awards. Gong was also casts in the revenge series
The Master of Revenge. She was then cast in her first leading role in youth
sageuk My Only Love Song, which co-stars her
We Got Married partner Lee Jong-hyun. The drama premiered on
Netflix in 2017. In 2017, Gong starred in tvN's romantic comedy
Introverted Boss. The same year, she took on a lead role in science fiction mystery series
Circle. It was announced that Gong signed with
BH Entertainment in March 2018, after her contract with Yuko Company expired and both her and the company decided not to renew. In 2018, she starred in
KBS' science fiction romance drama
Are You Human? with
Seo Kang-joon. She also starred in the short film
My Dream Class, and sang the theme song for the movie. In 2019, Gong was cast in the historical romance drama
Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency. On July 13, 2020, Gong signed with a new agency, Varo Entertainment. It was also announced that Gong has been cast in the upcoming film
Handsome Guys alongside
Lee Hee-joon. In March 2021, Gong was confirmed to be starring in
tvN's fantasy drama
Bulgasal: Immortal Souls which aired in December 2021. Gong was recognised for her work in the film
Aloners where she has won multiple awards, including the "Best New Actress" award at the
42nd Blue Dragon Film Awards. In 2022, Gong was cast in the
SBS drama
The First Responders alongside
Kim Rae-won and
Son Ho-jun. The second season premiered in 2023. In 2025, Gong starred in Netflix's
crime thriller television series
Karma directed by
Lee Il-hyung. It is based on the
Kakao webtoon of the same name by Choi Hee-seon, about people who are unexpectedly entangled and destroy each other while pursuing their own desires. Gong starred as Queen Dowager Yoon Yi-rang in the television series
Perfect Crown in 2026. She was praised for her performance and interpretation of her character.
Maeil Business Newspaper deemed Gong a standout, while
OSEN Ha Su-jeong wrote that she "exuded charisma as the Queen Dowager". Pop culture critic Ha Jae-geun commented to
Ilgan Sports that Gong "held the center [of the series] well with her very serious and weighty acting," adding that "she has been an actress who has shown great acting skills, but she is shining even brighter in this work". ==Filmography==