Career Song Joong-ki

1 career

1.1 2008–2011: career beginnings , breakthrough
1.2 2012–2015: leading roles , military enlistment
1.3 2016–present: overseas popularity

career
2008–2011: career beginnings , breakthrough

song made acting debut in 2008 period film frozen flower. following year, appeared in couple-swapping segment believe in moment of omnibus 5 senses of eros , continued take on small notable roles in triple , snow christmas?. song became regular host of kbs friday music program music bank 2009 2010. appeared in 2010 medical drama ob/gyn doctors, , animal movie sequel hearty paws 2.

song s breakout role came in fusion historical drama sungkyunkwan scandal played role of 18th-century joseon-era rich, indolent playboy. despite stable unspectacular ratings, drama became cult hit , on-screen bromance then-unknown yoo ah-in popular viewers. song joined cast of variety program running man 2010 2011.

in may 2011

song later released book beautiful skin project, bestselling health , beauty guide men (which re-released in japan in 2013). in late 2010, went on bicycling tour around sydney, aired 2 episodes on tv via elle, offshoot of eponymous fashion magazine. moreover, tv special of actor s trip japan entitled m real: song joong-ki aired 2 parts in 2011. song later became mc jtbc audition program made in u.

in 2011, song starred jobless deadbeat in romantic comedy penny pinchers. acting performance praised critics, declaring him charismatic, swoon-worthy leading man viable presence.

song took on role of young king sejong in deep rooted tree (2011). critics praised song s performance, calling portrayal of genius realizes futility of power in life , hides in books cope growing under rule of tyrannical father taejong. song received pd award @ 2011 sbs drama awards role.

he later narrated six-part documentary tears of antarctic mbc program tears of earth (2012), focuses on pressing environmental issues on planet , donated entire salary charity. reprised role narrator when series re-edited , released in theaters pengi , sommi (2012). later went on fan-meeting tour called song joong-ki asia fan meeting tour – thrill & love, holding fan meetings in thailand, singapore, taiwan , south korea.

2012–2015: leading roles , military enlistment

at innocent man press conference, september 2012

song described 2012 phenomenal year career. played titular character in fantasy romance film werewolf boy, premiered @ 2012 toronto international film festival. in preparation role, song watched nature documentaries , observed stray dogs on streets learn how mime , imitate body movements of animal. repeatedly watched tim burton s 1990 romantic fantasy edward scissorhands, matt reeves 2010 vampire flick let me in, , gollum in lord of rings. film screened @ busan international film festival, , became successful korean melodrama of time, more 7 million tickets sold.

in december 2012

the same year, took on first leading drama role in television, innocent man. assured , nuanced portrayal of antihero received praise critics , audience. drama attracted high ratings, along impressive box office run of werewolf boy, cemented song s image in press savior of melodrama genre both on big , small screen.

in february 2013, after contract entertainment agency sidus hq expired, song announced joining blossom entertainment.

prior enlistment mandatory military service, song held fan meet on august 17, 2013. enlisted on august 27 @ 102nd draft camp in chuncheon. served in infantry unit assigned patrol , conduct reconnaissance missions along dmz , discharged on may 26, 2015.

2016–present: overseas popularity

song made small screen comeback in descendants of sun alongside actress song hye-kyo, playing military officer. drama incredibly popular in korea peak viewership rating of 41.6% , in asia, viewed 2.5 billion times on iqiyi. drama reestablished song leader of hallyu , topped popularity polls in asia.

song made korean tourism honorary ambassador korea tourism organization actively promote korean tourism worldwide. listed 1 of top 100 future generation of leaders, @ #34. became face of on 30 brands in 2016 alone , 1 of recipients of korea s brand of year award. embarked on series of sold-out asian tour spanning 10 different cities, met more 60,000 fans.

song began filming period film battleship island not long after descendants aired. stars alongside actors ji-sub , hwang jung-min , portrays member of korean independence movement, sneaks onto hashima island rescue fellow member.