Your Ultimate Song Joong-Ki Drama Guide
We’re never not looking for more of this Hallyu heartthrob!
Song Joong-ki’s road to international stardom and to being one of the highest-paid actors in South Korea is one that seems somewhat written in the stars. While he had never really sought out working in the entertainment industry, it was a calling that, rather, ultimately sought for him. (In fact, even after he decided he wanted to be an actor, he still made sure to continue his studies part-time, graduating with a degree in Business Administration, with a minor in Broadcasting in 2012! Swooooooon!)
Song Joong-Ki as Captain Yoo Si-jin in 'Descendants of the Sun'
His acting debut was in A Frozen Flower (2008), a period film about the royal family violating the protocol for love and relationships. The following year, he appeared in small but notable roles in Triple and Will It Snow For Christmas?. What proved to ultimately be Joong-ki’s breakout role was his portrayal of Gu Yong-ha/Yeo-rim in Sungkyunkwan Scandal (2010) as a rich, apathetic playboy. (His bromance with Yoo Ah-in, in particular, was a hit with the viewers!) It was also in this year that he joined the cast of variety TV show, Running Man, and stayed on as a fixture until 2011.
2012 was a year that he described as “phenomenal” for his career, with him nabbing lead roles in both film and television. He played the titular character in A Werewolf Boy, a fantasy melodrama which rated well and brought him much critical acclaim. He also took on his first leading role in dark melodrama in The Innocent Man, a portrayal that meant taking home a total of three awards at the 2012 KBS Drama Awards. In 2013, he enlisted for mandatory military service, and was discharged on May 26, 2015.
He made his small screen comeback in the epic hit Descendants of the Sun, alongside actress Song Hye-kyo, playing Captain Yoo Si-jin of the South Korean Special Forces unit. The drama was so popular, both in Korea and beyond, and won the actor and the entire DOTS (Descendants of the Sun) team a multitude of awards, including the Daesang (or Grand Prize), at the KBS Drama Awards and APAN Star Awards that year. It was a performance that also reestablished the actor as a leader of the Hallyu (Korean wave), leading to him topping popularity polls and landing many endorsements.
Since playing the Big Boss, Song Joong-ki has picked out roles that have only broadened his scope as an actor including period action film The Battleship Island (2017) and Arthdal Chronicles (2019). He’s off to a raring start in 2021, with his space opera film, Space Sweepers, as well as current black comedy Vincenzo, where he plays Vincenzo Cassano, a consigliere to the mafia.
Below, we round up all fourteen of his drama appearances and performances, for easy reference when you go checking off your Song Joong-ki drama list!
Your Ultimate Song Joong-Ki Drama Guide
Your Ultimate Song Joong-Ki Drama Guide
Get Karl! Oh Soo Jung (2007)
Looking for a romcom to set your heart aflutter? This drama series is based on the real-life love story of Lee Ju-young, the CEO of the drama's production company who reunited with her current husband ten years after breaking up with him.
Photo Credit: SBS
Get Karl! Oh Soo Jung (2007)
This drama marked Song Joong-ki’s first minor role in television, where he showed up as a young reporter.
Photo Credit: SBS
My Precious Child (2008)
Also known as My Precious You, this 54-episode family drama by KBS tells the story of Jang In-ho, played by Lee Tae-ran, who is a workaholic radio PR. She encounters a man with the same first and middle name, Lee In-ho, played by Kim Sung-su. He is a talented singer and songwriter, as well as a radio jock, but has a lot of baggage and problems.
Photo Credit: KBS
My Precious Child (2008)
This standard family drama is hilarious, filled with lots of warmth, sweet romance, and wacky moments. Song Joong-ki as Jang Jin-ho also does not disappoint, the drama depicts him and his lady love as an entertaining and memorable couple, with energy that only grows towards the end of the series.
Photo Credit: KBS
Triple (2009)
This romantic drama revolves around the world of ice skaters and advertising executives! Min Hyo-rin is Lee Ha-ru, a figure skater with big dreams. In a tragic accident, she lost her mom and step father at the age of 13, finding herself separated from Shin-hwal, her stepbrother. Years later, she moves back to Seoul to pursue her ice skating dreams and moves in with Shin-hwal, along with two other roommates, and they begin to fall for each other as the story progresses.
Photo Credit: MBC
Triple (2009)
Fun fact, the title “Triple” refers to the triple jump performed by figure skaters, as well as the three roommates of the main character. This drama marked Song Joong-ki’s first real minor role in a network drama, playing the role of Ji Poong-ho. This performance also showcased his talent and history of being a national competitive figure skater in real life when he was much younger, prior to incurring an injury that would force him off the ice.
Photo Credit: MBC
My Fair Lady (2009)
Starring Yoon Eun-hye, Yoong Sang-hyun, Jung Il-woo, and Moon Chae-won, this romance drama follows Hye-na Kang, heiress to the Kang-san Group and owner of the “Lady Castle” palace. Due to a tragic plane accident, she lost her parents at a young age and was made to live with her grandfather, surrounded by servants. One day, Dong-chan, becomes a butler at the property and attempts to gain her money and heart. Things run amok when a rich lawyer, Tae-yun, tries to step in between them.
Photo Credit: KBS
My Fair Lady (2009)
Song Joong-ki lights up the screen as he makes a cameo in this series as a handsome butler at the Castle!
Photo Credit: KBS
Will It Snow For Christmas? (2009)
Who doesn’t love a romantic drama set during Christmastime? This drama follows the romantic relationships of four main characters: Cha Kang-jin (Ko Soo), Han Ji-wan (Han Ye-seul), Min Tae-jun (Song Jong-ho), and Lee Woo-jeong (Seon Woo-seon). Despite this, the story truly expounds on the relationship of Kang-jin and Ji-wan, who meet as teens but lose contact after Ji-wan runs away following the death of her older brother. Their paths cross, eight years later, when he attends her engagement party to Park Tae-joon.
Photo Credit: SBS
Will It Snow For Christmas? (2009)
The drama sees both Song Joong-ki and Kim Soo-hyun in minor roles, so this is an auto-like for us, most definitely! Song Joong-ki plays Han Ji-yong, Ji-wan’s older brother.
Photo Credit: SBS
Obstetrics and Gynecology Doctors (2010)
Also known as OB & GY, this medical drama depicts the difficult decisions and moving stories that take place daily at the OB-GYN department. It focuses mainly on Seo Hye-young, played by Jang Seo-hee, a talented and determined obstetrician who has just transferred to the countryside hospital. Things get extra complicated as she finds out that she is pregnant with a married man, and she meets Lee Sang Shik, the chief of NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit), and her long-time friend Wang Jae Suk, who also shows his interest in her.
Photo Credit: SBS
Obstetrics and Gynecology Doctors (2010)
The drama does a good job in portraying the real emotions these doctors face when dealing with mothers and babies, and the emotions of being new mothers, as well. With almost every episode conveying that, it’s an excellent medical drama to put on if you love the genre, or perhaps aspire to be in the medical field yourself! Song Joong-ki plays the supportive role as Ahn Kyeong-woo, a surgeon and doctor in the OBGYN department.
Photo Credit: SBS
Sungkyunkwan Scandal (2010)
Who’s in for a coming-of-age, romantic comedy sageuk starring Park Min-young, Park Yoo-chun, Yoo Ah-in, and Song Joong-ki? Based on the bestselling novel, The Lives of Sungkynkwan Confucian Scholars by Jung Eun-gwol, this historical drama is equal parts entertaining and lots of fun, while conveying the empowering message of equal rights for both genders. It is set during an era where society does not allow females to be educated or employed. We follow Kim Yoon-hee as she disguises herself as her brother, Kim Yoon-shik, to make ends meet for her family.
Photo Credit: KBS
Sungkyunkwan Scandal (2010)
She gets into the prestigious Sungkyunkwan, the Joseon Dynasty’s highest educational institute, where she encounters uptight Lee Sun-joon, Gu Yong-ha, Moon Jae-shin, and Ha In-soo. She learns to balance dealing with all of these characters whilst keeping her secret under wraps, as well as trying to keep her feelings for Sun-joon at bay. Bromance chemistry between Song Joong-ki’s Yong-ha and Yoo Ah-in’s Jae-shin are more than enough reason for you to tune in on this one!
Photo Credit: KBS
Tree Deep With Roots (2011)
This mystery romance sageuk drama takes its name from the poem, Yongbieocheonga, that says that trees with deep roots do not sway. It tells the story of King Sejong, the creator of Hangul. Early in his reign, Yi Do/King Sejong had a strained relationship with his father and harbored guilt for people’s suffering and death, the latter included his own in-laws and their slaves. Their deaths were a consequence from an attempt to save them from King Taejong, his brutal father.
Photo Credit: SBS
Tree Deep With Roots (2011)
Song Joong-ki plays a young Yi Do, a role that got him recognized at the 2011 SBS Drama Awards as Producer’s Choice Award. It demonstrated his range and talent as an actor growing and extending, preparing for bigger roles to come in his career.
Photo Credit: SBS
The Innocent Man (2012)
Also known as Nice Guy, this dark melodrama is the first one in which Song Joong-ki lands a lead role, playing Kang Ma-ru, a smart but poor medical student who has the responsibility to look after his sister. He had been betrayed by the love of his life, Jae-hee, who leaves him for a rich CEO because she always dreamed of being rich. This turned him into a playboy seeking revenge.
Photo Credit: KBS
The Innocent Man (2012)
Ma-ru sets his sights on approaching Seo Eun Gi (Moon Chae-won), the chaebol daughter of the man Jae-hee married, only to find himself caring for her and developing feelings for her in the process. Initially a cold-hearted, calculated girl, she falls for Ma-ru without knowing why he approached her in the first place. An accident causes her to suffer memory loss and she becomes a nicer person who is in search of all the clues that will help her regain her memory.
Photo Credit: KBS
Descendants of the Sun (2016)
This award-winning drama needs little to no introduction because even if you aren’t a K-drama fan, you likely are familiar no less with this romance story that captivated the world. The drama follows the love story between Captain Yoo Shi-jin (Song Joong-ki) from the South Korean Special Forces, and Doctor Kang Mo-yeon (Song Hye-kyo), who is a surgeon at Haesung Hospital in Seoul. They find themselves in the middle of wild events and life-threatening dangers, both in Korea and in the fictitious, war-torn country of Urk.
Photo Credit: KBS
Descendants of the Sun (2016)
A role that further solidified Song Joong-ki’s achievement as a Hallyu star, Descendants of the Sun won big in 2016 with a whopping total of 17 wins and 15 nominations. Beautiful scenery, great writing, and undeniably chemistry between actors are reasons why we’ll watch this Song Joong-ki starrer again, and again, and again.
Photo Credit: KBS
The Sound of Your Heart (2016)
Based on the webtoon of the same name, this sitcom follows the stories of cartoonist Cho Seok (Lee Kwang-soo) and his adventures with his wife Aebong (Jung So-min) and his older brother, Jo Joon (Kim Dae-myung).
Photo Credit: KBS, Netflix
The Sound of Your Heart (2016)
Song Joong-ki makes a cameo and plays a successful webtoon writer who is also good friends with Cho Seok. He appears in both episode 1 and episode 20.
Photo Credit: KBS, Netflix
Man to Man (2017)
This action thriller drama stars Park Hae-jin, Park Sung-woong, Kim Min-jung, Chae Jung-an, and Yeon Jung-hoon, the cast bringing to life an action-packed series that follows an elite black ops agent on a secret mission to protect a Hallyu star. The drama follows the twists and turns they encounter, and the budding bromance between the star and his bodyguard.
Photo Credit: JTBC, Netflix
Man to Man (2017)
Song Joong-ki makes an appearance in a guest role in episode 9 as a bank teller.
Photo Credit: JTBC, Netflix
Arthdal Chronicles (2019)
Set in the fictional land of Arthdal during ancient times, Arthdal Chronicles is a fantasy historical drama that depicts the birth of civilization and nations in ancient times and tells the story of mythical heroes, their struggles, and the unity and love present in the lives of people living in Arth. The star-studded cast for season 1, which is divided into three parts, includes Jang Dong-gun, Song Joong-ki, Kim Ji-won, and Kim Ok-vin.
Photo Credit: tvN, Netflix
Arthdal Chronicles (2019)
Song Joong-ki plays Eun Som and Saya. As Eun Som, he was born with a fate to bring disaster to Arthdal. Because of his mother’s struggles to save him, he goes through many hardships as he grows up, finding his way back in Arthdal after years. This drama marks the reunion of Song Joong-ki with his DOTS co-star, Kim Ji-won, who plays Tan-ya, successor of the Wahan tribe with ambitions to become a politician.
Photo Credit: tvN, Netflix
Vincenzo (2021)
Words cannot express how obsessed we’ve been with Vincenzo since it premiered in February this year! It follows Song Joong-ki as titular character Vincenzo Cassano, an Italian lawyer and Mafia consigliere of Korean descent. At a young age, he was adopted by Don Fabio and was welcomed into the Cassano mafia family as though he were of blood relation. When Fabio passes away, Fabio’s biological son and Vincenzo’s adopted brother Paolo tries to kill him but fails. Vincenzo flees to Seoul to recover hidden gold within the Geugma-dong Apartment Complex, a building that he owns, but encounters innumerable social justice problems and corruption by the Babel Group.
Photo Credit: tvN, Netflix
Vincenzo (2021)
In order to reclaim the building (for a crazy cast of tenants and for himself), and recover the fortune hidden beneath it, he uses his special set of skills and cunning talent. In the process, he becomes involved with Hong Cha-young (Jeon Yeo-been), the type of lawyer who will stop at nothing to win a case. She takes over her father’s law firm, Jipuragi, which means “last straw”, and he joins the firm as an advisor, achieving justice in his own way. This black comedy drama is full of action and laughs, and has not stopped with its twists and surprises. We especially love the writing, the ensemble cast, and the sleek visuals Song Joong-ki delivers in stylish, tailor-fit suits!
Photo Credit: tvN, Netflix
Which ones are you planning to watch (or rewatch) to get your Song Joong-Ki fix? We say all!
Have fun watching, unnies!
Jeon Yeo-been and Song Joong-Ki in Vincenzo
