Gong Hyo-jin (born April 4, 1980) is a South Korean actress. Although her last name can be written as Gong from the Revised Romanization, she actually prefers it to be written and spelled as Kong, from McCune–Reischauer romanization She is best known for her leading role in the film Crush and Blush (2008), as well as for her popular television series Sang-doo! Let's Go to School (2003), Thank You (2007), Pasta (2010), The Greatest Love (2011), Master's Sun (2013), It's Okay, That's Love (2014), The Producers (2015), and Don't Dare to Dream (2016). She is considered to be the queen of romantic comedies due to her successful portrayals in her rom-com dramas.
Gong Hyo-jin was born in 1980 in Sinwol-dong, Gangseo District, Seoul, South Korea. When she was a junior in high school, she moved to Australia with her mother and younger brother, while her father remained in Korea to support the family. Gong attended high school at John Paul College in Brisbane. Gong has spoken fondly of her memories of her time there, and in 2011 she was designated as one of the goodwill ambassadors for "Year of Friendship," the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations between Australia and South Korea.