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| Song Joong-ki / Courtesy of Blossom Entertainment |
By Bahk Eun-ji, Park Si-soo
Shortly after his debut in 2008, actor Song Joong-ki shot to stardom with his pretty face and romantic mid-tone voice. But there was one critical career element missing: good acting.
For that reason, he soon faced difficulty in expanding his fan base beyond young women. But Song joined the military in August 2013 and went missing from TV for nearly two years.
Some might have assumed he would never return to the screen.
But they were wrong. He has returned, with equally good looks but much-improved acting skills, influenced by his bitter-sweet experiences in the barracks. And his fully matured acting is considered one of the key drivers of the huge success of "Descendants of the Sun."
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| Song Joong-ki / Courtesy of Blossom Entertainment |
The KBS TV drama series, also featuring top actress Song Hye-kyo, got off to a flying start last month, creating a sensation in Korea and China.
"I still have a long way to go," Song said during a pre-release media briefing for the drama in Seoul on Feb. 22. "I think what I experienced in the military will help me be a better actor in the drama."
In the 16-episode series, whose fifth episode aired Wednesday, Song plays Yoo Si-jin, an army lieutenant in the fictional war-torn country of Uruk, who falls in love with outspoken doctor Kang Mo-yeon (Song Hye-kyo).
On Tuesday, the Korea Childhood Leukemia Foundation expressed gratitude to the actor for helping children with cancer.
It said Song has donated tens of millions of won since 2011. It did not disclose the exact amount because the actor did not want to make it public.
More than 10 patients have had surgery thanks to his donation, the foundation said.
Meanwhile, Song broke his right wrist on the drama's set and is in rehabilitation, his management company said last week.
He recently had the cast removed, but has been advised to continue rehabilitation, Blossom Entertainment said.
Song also tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in November while performing stunts for the drama.
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| Song Joong-ki / Courtesy of Blossom Entertainment |
With its popularity, music from the show is sweeping domestic music charts.
As of Wednesday, "This Love," a ballad sung by K-pop duo Davichi, topped MelON, Genie Music, Naver Music, Bugs Music, Monkey3 and Soribada.
"Everytime," a pop duet by Chen of K-pop band EXO and Punch, topped the weekly music chart and download chart of Gaon.
Unlike most Korean series that are produced episode by episode, "Descendants of the Sun," written by Kim Eun-sook, has been completed. It is also the first Korean series to be shown simultaneously in Korea and China.
In China, "Descendants of the Sun" reached 120 million views on Chinese online video platform IQiyi last week. Chinese online media Sina, describing the drama's growing popularity, said it has become the most-mentioned Korean drama on social media, comparing it with "My Love from the Star," starring Jun Ji-hyun and Kim Soo-hyun.
Song is next scheduled to appear in the movie "Gunhamdo" by director Ryoo Seung-wan. It starts filming in June.
