Song Joong-Ki

Song Joong-Ki (born September 19, 1985, near Daejeon, South Korea) is a South Korean actor who established himself in the so-called K-drama genre with his performance in Sungkyunkwan Scandal (2010), a television series set during the Chosŏn dynasty (1392–1910), and went on to play a variety of other roles in film and television. He gained international fame with the massively popular TV drama series Descendants of the Sun (2016).

Born in rural Daejeon, South Korea, Song was the second eldest of three siblings. Growing up, he participated in short-track speed skating and represented Daejeon at the National Sports Festival on several occasions. However, an injury in high school prevented him from pursuing the sport professionally. In 2005 he began studying business part-time at Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, which has one of the top business schools in South Korea, while pursuing an acting career.

Song made his acting debut in 2008, playing a soldier in the historical film A Frozen Flower (Ssang-hwa-jeom), set during the last years of the Koryŏ dynasty (935–1392 ce). Another of his early roles was in the television series Triple (2009; Teuripeul), in which the former athlete played Ji Poong-Ho, a gold medalist speed skater. Song also had several minor parts on television, appearing in Will It Snow at Christmas? (2009) and Obstetrics and Gynecology Doctors (2010; Sanbuingwa), and in films such as Five Senses of Eros (2009; Ogamdo) and Heart Is…2 (2010; Ma-eum-i Doo-beon-jjae I-ya-gi). In addition, he was a regular host on the weekly music program Music Bank between 2009 and 2010.

Song’s breakthrough came in 2010 when he was cast as Gu Yong-Ha, a rich playboy in Sungkyunkwan Scandal. The historical TV show, about a young woman who disguises herself as a man to attend Sungkyunkwan University, became a cult classic, and Song received the Korean Broadcasting System’s (KBS’s) popularity award for a male actor. Also in 2010 Song, known for his “pretty boy” face and porcelain skin, published a book on skin care for men.

After earning praise for his performances in the romantic comedy Penny Pinchers (Ti-kkeul-mo-a ro-maen-seu) and the historical drama Tree with Deep Roots (both 2011), Song was cast in the lead role in A Werewolf Boy (2012; Neuk-dae-so-nyeon). The film became the most successful K-drama up to that time when it surpassed seven million ticket sales within two months. Song also had the lead role in the television series The Innocent Man (2012; Sesang Eodiedo Eobneun Chakhan Namja).

In 2012 Song graduated with a degree in business administration, and the following year he took a break from acting to fulfill his mandatory military service. He returned to television in 2016, playing Yoo Si-Jin, a captain in the South Korean army, in the drama Descendants of the Sun (Tae-yang-eui hoo-ye). The hit show put Song on the international stage and garnered him a number of awards, including Korea’s highest award for television, the Daesang (Grand Prize) at both the KBS Drama Awards and the APAN Star Awards ceremonies. In 2017 he married his costar, Song Hye-Kyo (fans dubbed them the “Song-Song couple”); they divorced in 2019. Song then played a freedom fighter during Japanese colonial rule (1910–45) in the film The Battleship Island (2017; Gunhamdo) and appeared in the first season of the TV fantasy series Arthdal Chronicles (2019; Aseudal Yeondaegi). His projects in the 2020s have included the TV series Vincenzo (2021– ; Binsenjo), for which he learned Italian, and Reborn Rich (2022; Jaebeoljib Maknaeadeul).