Across his career, famous actor Song Joong Ki has appeared in various works, but which of them were most notable?
As of the moment, Song Joong Ki is probably one of the most commercially successful Korean actors, with no failed projects on both the large and small screen. Below are some of his watch-worthy projects.
1. Sungkyunkwan Scandal (2010)
While this K-drama was released ages ago, it was Song Joong Ki’s first step to stardom, and a must-watch for fans of the actor. Despite its historical settings “Sungkyunkwan Scandal” is generally a light-hearted K-drama that revolves around the love and friendship of 4 students in the Sungkyunkwan – the highest educational institute of ancient Korea.
The series featured actress Park Min Young as a crossdressing female lead, who goes against the societal prejudice that women cannot be educated nor employed. It is also a super star-studded K-drama with Park Yoo Chun playing the rigid male lead, Yoo Ah In as the mysterious second male lead, and Song Joong Ki as a cheeky gossiper who binds the group together.
2. Deep Rooted Tree (2011)
This K-drama series revolves around the male lead Kang Chae Yoon, who holds a deep grudge against King Sejong, for the king has inevitably caused the deaths of everyone he loved. Once a slave, Kang Chae Yoon spends years training to become a palace guard to kill the king and finds his childhool love Dam, only to get entangled in a series of mysterious schemes.
While Song Joong Ki only appears in the first 4 episodes of thesis drama, he brought home multiple awards for his excellent performance as the young King Sejong. The drama was also well-written, and Song Joong Ki looked absolutely handsome in the attire of a crown prince and later king.
Song Joong Ki made a deep impression despite only appearing in 4 episodes.
3. A Werewolf Boy (2012)
“A Werewolf Boy” became a box office hit shortly after its release in 2012, with over 6.6 tickets sold in Korea. The tear-jerking movie was a breakthrough in Song Joong Ki’s acting abilities, as he had to portray a great variety of emotions, from awe to sorrow, without saying any lines.
“A Werewolf Boy” revolves around the young woman Soon Yi, who went to the countryside to improve her health. One day, she meets a wild boy who never knows humanity, and teaches him the basics of acting like a human. They eventually develop a beautiful relationship that are greatly hindered.
4. Descendants Of The Sun (2016)
If “A Werewolf Boy” was a breakthrough for Song Joong Ki’s acting, then “Descendants Of The Sun” was the actor’s big break in popularity. Upon airing, this romantic K-drama immediately exploded with fame actress Asia, and recorded shocking viewership ratings that peaked at 38.8%.
In “Descendants Of The Sun”, the fictional country of Uruk is being savaged by war, and Song Joong Ki’s character is among the many Korean soldiers stationed there to protect civilians and perform special missions.
Meanwhile, his girlfriend, played by actress Song Hye Kyo, is also sent to be a battlefield doctor, making for a turbulent, hilarious, yet tragic love story. With war hanging over the couple, they never know if they may one day lose their loved ones.
5. Arthdal Chronicles (2019)
In a mythical land called Arth, the inhabitants of the ancient city of Arthdal contend with power struggles, while some encounter love along the way. Here, Song Joong Ki transforms into the male lead Eun Seom, who goes through hardships to bring his tribe back to life and learns of his true origins in the process.
The ambitious series was Korea’s first historical fantasy, and gather a strong cast consisting of Song Joong Ki, Jang Dong Gun, Kim Ji Won, Kim Ok Bin, and many more. Among those, Song Joong Ki stands out by playing two contrasting characters – the heroic yet naive Eun Seom, and his brother – the cunning and cold Saya.
This is a beautiful series, both in terms of visuals and contents, and is a unique project amid the K-drama land.
6. The Battleship Island (2017)
In 2017, Song Joong Ki starred in the period action film “The Battleship Island”, which includes three major storylines. First, there’s Lee Kang Ok (played by Hwang Jung Min), a talented bandmaster who moves to Japan in search of money. Then, there’s the street fighter Choi Chil Sung (played by So Ji Sub), who, despite his harsh and rough exterior, has a good heart. Finally, Song Joong Ki acts as Park Moo Young, a member of the Korean independence movement who infiltrates the island in order to rescue a fellow fighter.
These 3 very different characters have a chance encounter in Hashima, Japan, and join hands to save people enslaved in the “battleship island”. With explosive action sequences, meaningful messages, and extremely powerful acting, “The Battleship Island” is totally worth a watch.
7. Vincenzo (2021)
Vincenzo marks the return of Song Joong Ki to the Korean small screen after years of military service and cinematic works. This dark comedy K-drama tells the tale of male lead Vincenzo (Song Joong Ki), who was adopted by the Italian mafia head Don Fabio, and eventually became their consultant.
However, after Fabio died, his son tried to murder Vincenzo in fear of the cunning consultant taking his place, forcing our male lead to flee to Korea. Meanwhile, Vincenzo knows of a stash of gold hidden under an old plaza, and strives to take it for himself. It is during his journey of taking the old that he ends up going against the evil corporation Babel Group and meeting the female lead Hong Cha Young.
The series soon made waves in Korea anđ around the world, and boasted Song Joong Ki’s visuals and acting skills beautifully. Through this K-drama, Song Joong Ki managed to deliver a wide range of emotions, from cheeky to downright cruel, and yet emotional when faced with his loved ones.
8. The Innocent Man (2012)
“The Innocent Man” started with a talented medical student called Kang Maru (played by Song Joong Ki), who found love with his next door neighbor. However, as his love got into trouble for murdering a man, he took the blame in her place, and even went to prison for her.
However, the woman Maru dedicated his all too, soon got married with a wealthy CEO, leaving Kang Maru as aimless, cold, and calculative male host.
Eventually, Kang Maru approached the step-daughter of his ex-love with the aim to uproot her life. However, he ended up falling for this cold woman, who is played by actress Moon Chae Won.
As a melodrama, “The Innocent Man” is filled with schemes, betrayals, and yet still has heart-wrenching romance. Song Joong Ki and Moon Chae Won both portray their character convincingly, and deliver an intense chemistry filled with both love and hatred.
“The Innocent Man” is another prime evidence of Song Joong Ki’s talent.
9. Penny Pinchers (2011)
Compared to the previous entry, Song Joong Ki played a much brighter character in the romance-comedy film “Penny Pinchers”. Here, the actor transforms into the unemployed college student Chun Ji Woong, who is an eternal optimist who dates around despite not having a dime in his pocket. However, he soon runs into trouble, as his mother abruptly cuts him off and leave Ji Woong homeless.
Meanwhile, the female lead Gu Hong Sil (played by Han Ye Seul), is an extremely frugal girl who denounces all money-wasting activities. She cannot comprehend a person like Ji Woong and vice versa, and yet both fall for each other.
10. Hearty Paws 2 (2010)
In “Hearty Paws 2”, Song Joong Ki assumes the role of Dong Wook, whose studies are falling behind because he spends too much time playing with puppies. As a result, Dong Wook’s mother decides to send the puppies away to a relative.
The movie is not at all complex, yet manages to deliver a warm message about love between animals and humans. In addition, Song Joong Ki is extremely adorable in this early movie.
Source: Yeutre
