Goblin 10th Anniversary Special: What to Expect from the Reunion of Gong Yoo, Kim Go-eun, and Lee Dong-wook?

In the winter of 2016, tvN's Goblin became a national phenomenon in South Korea. Marking its 10th anniversary, the series is returning in a different form. On the 26th, tvN confirmed it will air a 10th-anniversary travel-variety special (working title: Goblin 10th Anniversary) in the first half of the year, reuniting leads Gong Yoo, Lee Dong-wook, Kim Go-eun and Yoo In-na. Industry observers are watching to see how the beloved drama will reconnect with audiences a decade on.

Long after its finale, Goblin has continued to circulate on global streaming platforms and has taken on a classic, enduring mood. Rather than staging a predictable studio reunion, the special will send the four leads on a trip together. There they will revisit iconic scenes and memorable lines, reflect on how they've grown as actors over the past decade, and share behind-the-scenes memories that shaped the series.

A tvN representative described Goblin as the network's signature series, saying the special should spark nostalgia for viewers’ \"favorite\" shows while boosting the channel's brand value.

That a 10th-anniversary special is even feasible now speaks to the show's massive popularity when it aired. In 2016, Goblin became the first cable drama to surpass a 20% audience rating, breaking expectations for non-terrestrial series.

The series' accolades are notable: at the 53rd Baeksang Arts Awards, writer Kim Eun-sook won the TV Grand Prize while Gong Yoo took Best Actor. Goblin also won five awards at the Korea Drama Awards and four awards at the Cable TV Broadcasting Awards, earning both popular acclaim and critical recognition. Kim Eun-sook's incisive dialogue, director Lee Eung-bok's visual staging, and a standout OST lineup helped create an emotional tone that still feels timeless a decade later.

Part of the excitement around this anniversary special stems from curiosity about the actors' off-screen relationships. The fact that their on-screen bonds have endured for a decade strengthens the program's authenticity. Gong Yoo, Lee Dong-wook, Kim Go-eun and Yoo In-na have maintained a close friendship since the show ended, with variety appearances and interviews offering glimpses of them celebrating birthdays or sharing nights out together.

Notably, Lee Dong-wook and Yoo In-na reunited as leads in Touch Your Heart after their poignant chemistry in Goblin, a pairing that satisfied many fans. One of the key questions for viewers is how that genuine chemistry will translate in a travel-variety setting.

In an era when content lifespans are short, assembling all the main cast for a tenth-anniversary special is unusual. Mere popularity alone wouldn't be enough; Kim Eun-sook's universal themes—immortality and fated love—still resonate as powerfully now as they did a decade ago. While the special could have been a simple nostalgia play, it also has the potential to reframe the series' meaning through the actors' matured performances and the quiet weight of time.

Gong Yoo remains one of Korea's top actors, Kim Go-eun has established herself as a versatile, respected performer, and Lee Dong-wook and Yoo In-na continue to draw admiration for their screen presence. Seeing these performers—each at a high point in their careers—reunite around the shared memory of Goblin is likely to deliver an emotional impact that goes beyond a standard broadcast.

A decade ago, viewers tuned in each winter—wrapped in scarves and waiting for snow—because Goblin offered a kind of warm consolation. Audiences will be watching to see whether the Goblin 10th Anniversary special, slated for early 2026, can recapture that warmth or deliver a deeper, more resonant emotion after ten years.

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