When Captain Yoo Si-jin first peeked from behind hospital curtains in the first episode of Descendants of the Sun (2016), an audible gasp reverberated across Asia. In that brief moment, millions were instantly drawn to the combination of intrigue, mystery and warmth emanating from his gentle face and expressive eyes. Over the next 15 episodes, a heady mix of Song Joong-ki’s gentle confidence, self-effacing humor, and sinister slant for combat proved to be irresistible for audiences who had long wished for a modern, sensitive male lead. Almost overnight, the boyish Joong-ki was catapulted from domestic heartthrob to global Hallyu superstar.
Photo from Blossom Entertainment/HanCinema
Birthday: September 19, 1985
Instagram: @hi_songjoongki
But way before that record-breaking k-drama, the smart (he holds a business degree from the elite Sungkyunkwan University) and athletic (he was a short track speed skater in high school) actor was already making hearts flutter. His charisma and comedic talent were on full display as a mischievous student in Sungkyunkwan Scandal (2010), as well as in the heart-warming rom-com Penny Pinchers (2011).
The following year, he proved he had serious acting chops behind all that charm, transforming into A Werewolf Boy (2012) and into a scorned lover seeking revenge in The Innocent Man (2012).
Naturally shy and private, his co-workers all attest to how easy it is to get along with him. We see snippets of this fun-loving nature in his stint as the “brainy” and “enthusiastic” cast member of the hit variety show Running Man.
In 2019, we saw him shed his youthful looks, and buff up to portray the would-be hero of a mythic ancient city in Arthdal Chronicles.
Yet despite the ups and downs of his career, Song Joong-ki remains focused and unfazed, with his trademark charm still radiating from every non-existent pore. From mischievous Running Man noona-killer to the mob boss Vincenzo, he continues to help set the standard for modern Asian masculinity that is all at once desired by women, envied by men, and set as the impossible standard by mothers everywhere for their future sons-in-law.
We’re sure that even as a murdered conglomerate employee reincarnated as the chaebol’s youngest son in Reborn Rich (2022), a North Korean defector in My Name Is Loh Kiwan (2024), or a former child actor in My Youth (2025), Song Joong-ki will continue to win hearts everywhere.
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