Song Joong-ki interview: 'I will try to stay true to myself'

Song Joong-ki, left, and Song Hye-kyo in a scene from “Descendants of the Sun” / Courtesy of KBS

Song Joong-ki speaks at a media meeting, Friday. / Courtesy of Blossom Entertainment

By Park Jin-hai

The megahit drama “Descendants of the Sun” that has swept Asia, creating a new fandom for the past two months, hit its grand finale Thursday.

Song Joong-ki, featured as Yoo Si-jin, the captain of a South Korean special forces unit in the military romance drama, has been at the center of attention all along. He said that he is pretty much satisfied with his performance despite controversies over excessive nationalism and product placement in the drama.

“I’ve heard diverse opinions and criticisms. But, I would like to say that I am satisfied with playing the role,” said Song during an interview at the Grand Hyatt Seoul, Friday. “Many of the controversies are beyond my control and if I comment on them it would bring more misunderstandings to the drama. Since drama belongs to the viewers and I think whatever their thoughts are is right.”

As for the implication of nationalism, Song made it clear that he had not intended to feature the role in that sense. “While I was playing the scene where Capt. Yoo salutes the national flag on an overseas mission, I was not acting in that mind. I thought that moment is the time that Yoo pledges to his family and loved ones that he is well and he will return home safe so don’t worry.”

Below is an excerpt from the interview with the 30-year-old actor.

Q: You came back from a promotional tour of “Descendants” in Hong Kong. Did you feel the popularity there?

A:

I’ve read about the drama’s popularity overseas, but it was the first time that I witnessed for myself how many fans there were. After the promotion, I went out to the street for a magazine photo shoot, and there I really felt that so many people had seen the drama. It was so surprising and I felt much joy.

Q: The drama has been a huge hit, changing your life a lot. You’ve grown from a rookie to the most-sought-after celebrity. Do you struggle to keep the same determinations you had when you started out?

That’s a question that I ask myself a lot these days. I try to stay the same but I also think that change is inevitable. What I mean is, if you stay the same as in your rookie days, you can’t deal with all the new responsibilities you are faced with.

It means that I feel responsibility to all the staff members and my fans and that I will not let them down. All things aside, though, I try to stay true to myself.

People say I’m a hallyu celebrity now, but I don’t really feel that way. My recognition has risen for a moment following the drama.

I learn a lot from people like Song Hye-kyo, heroine of the “Descendants,” and Lee Kwang-soo, a cast member of variety show “Running Man.” They are the ones that are really hallyu stars.

Q: Haven’t you feel some kind of repulsion with the too-cheesy lines that screenwriter Kim Eun-sook wrote?

A: While I was acting, I didn’t feel that way. Even the lines some might think so, I had co

nfidence that I could deliver them my own style, buffering the part that might sound slightly cheesy.

When I work with other people, I try to make up for their shortcomings with my strengths, and I let others make up for my flaws with their strengths. I think my job is an art of coordination.

Q: Capt. Yoo has been a diehard and immortal character, surviving gunshots. Didn’t you think that he was unrealistic?

He comes back to life after whatever happens. That was actually what I liked about him.

I regard the “Descendants” as a melodrama and all scenes have been the trappings to increase the element of romance, I thought. In that sense, I am very satisfied and have great respect for the decisions of the writers.

Q: You are strong in acting “melo” scenes. Is there a secret recipe?

Whether it be melo or not, I think the import thing is to play by the book. I refer to the book and script all the time. I try to think why the writer wrote the particular scene at that time.

If I had to say the secret recipe for acting melodrama, I think it comes from myself in real life. I have a belief that when I do melo scenes, I try to make them less cheesy.

Q: Do you in real life resemble Capt. Yoo?

I think I am a conservative, not-so-cool kind of guy. But acting out Yoon, I learned a lot about how women love to be treated.

The character explains why female fans are so into this character. I particularly learned a lot about what women want to hear from their men.