15 Things About The Drop-Dead Gorgeous Song Joong-Ki A.k.a. Vincenzo Cassano
He's one of the highest-paid actors and most in-demand CF kings in the Hallyu scene. Now, he's even the most delicious-looking "corn salad" in K-dramaland
Meet the most delicious-looking "corn salad" in K-dramaland. If you've made it your weekly habit to follow Vincenzo, then you know who we're talking about.
The drop-dead gorgeous Song Joong-ki has been delighting us every weekend with each hilarious, intense, and action-packed episode of black comedy series Vincenzo. In this ongoing K-drama, he takes on the role of Vincenzo Cassano, an Italian mafia and a consigliere who's been making us swoon with his dapper looks and killer moves.
Vincenzo is the much-awaited small screen comeback of this 35-year-old actor after the K-drama Arthdal Chronicles and his much-publicized divorce with actress Song Hye-kyo which was finalized in July 2019.
Aside from Vincenzo, Song Joong-ki also recently starred in the South Korean space Western film Space Sweepers, wherein he took on the role of a spaceship pilot.
He also started filming on location in Colombia for the crime thriller movie Bogota, which is about "the youths who leave Korea for Colombia in the 1990s."
Check out the gallery below for more about the handsome, well-loved oppa Song Joong-ki:
About Korean Actor Song Joong-Ki
About Korean Actor Song Joong-Ki
His zodiac sign is Virgo.
Song Joong-ki was born on September 19, 1985. Virgos are known for being perfectionists, organized, and attentive. The Virgo man, in particular, is the quiet yet sexy and intelligent type; he’s also likely to age gracefully, and that’s evident in how baby-faced Song Joong-ki still is even at 35.
Photo Credit: Netflix
He took up business administration in college.
Guess where? Sungkyunkwan University, the foremost educational institution of the Joseon dynasty. For his fans, that’ll easily ring a bell, as Song Joong-ki’s breakthrough role was via the K-drama “Sungkyunkwan Scandal” in 2010. The best traits of Virgos were showcased throughout his student life. In high school, he was known to have been a straight-A student and was even said to be a student body president. In college, where he majored in business administration, he was also considered a role model among his fellow students, someone who consistently did well in academics and even in extracurricular activities. The humble Song Joong-ki once said in a Max Movie interview, however, that he got high grades and managed to enter Sungkyunkwan University not because he was smart but because he “did his best studying for the college entrance exams.”
Photo Credit: Netflix
He wanted to be a national representative in short track.
Song Joong-ki dedicated many years of his life training and competing in short track speed skating. He even won awards for it, and served as his home city Daejeon’s representative at a national competition. However, he suffered an ankle injury in high school and could no longer pursue it. “It was until junior high school years that I wanted to be a national representative in short track. It was my whole life back then, and I did feel sad after I couldn’t pursue that dream, but I’m all better now. I was able to study to get over my loss,” he told Max Movie back in 2012. He did get to play the role of a national speed skater in the 2009 K-drama “Triple.”
Photo Credit: @historydnc
He was first spotted by an agent on the subway.
Song Joong-ki was just about to enter college when that opportunity presented itself. He didn’t accept the offer, however, since his father wasn’t comfortable with the idea of him entering the entertainment industry at first, plus he was unsure of whether pursuing acting as a profession was for him.
Photo Credit: @hi_songjoongki
.jpg)
His debut project was an erotic period film.
This film is “A Frozen Flower,” set during the Goryeo dynasty, with the story revolving around the ways the characters violated royal family protocol in their pursuit of love. The then 23-year-old Song Joong-ki only had a few lines in the film, but it was a memorable experience for him nonetheless as he got to learn from senior actors Jo In-sung and Joo Jin-moo; the movie also starred actress Song Ji-hyo. Although this film is considered to be his debut, he did have a minor role in the 2007 series “Get Karl! Oh Soo Jung.”
Photo Credit: @historydnc
.jpg)
He has 11 films and 15 series in his filmography so far.
His big screen projects range from a cameo to supporting roles to lead roles even to a dubbing stint. What can be considered the first film he top billed in is the 2010 drama film “Hearty Paws 2,” which earned him a Best New Actor nomination at the 31st Blue Dragon Film Awards. His other notable films are “Penny Pinchers (2011), “A Werewolf Boy” (2012) (which earned him the Favorite Actor award at the 6th Nickeloden Kids’ Choice Awards and even premiered at the 21st Toronto International Film Festival), “The Battleship Island” (2017), and most recently, 2021’s “Space Sweepers.” Song Joong-ki also led the voice cast for the Korean dubbing of 3D animation “Rio” (his counterpart for the voice of Blu in the American film is Jesse Eisenberg). In the K-drama scene, the projects that earned him acting awards and nominations are “Sungkyunkwan Scandal,” “Deep Rooted Tree,” “The Innocent Man” (the project that gave him his first lead role in a series), and “Descendants of the Sun” (which earned him two Daesang awards from the 5th APAN Star Awards and 30th KBS Drama Awards). He also starred in “Arthdal Chronicles” that’s long been rumored to have a season 2, and he was part of the cast of “OB & GY.”
Photo Credit: @historydnc
.jpg)
He’s nominated as Best Actor for “Vincenzo.”
In case you missed it, “Vincenzo” may still be ongoing, but Song Joong-ki has delivered such a remarkable performance for his role as “dark hero” Vincenzo Cassano, so much so it earned him a Best Actor (TV) nomination at the 57th Baeksang Arts Awards. He’s nominated alongside Kim Soo-hyun for “It’s Okay to Not be Okay,” Lee Joon-gi for “Flower of Evil,” Um Ki-joon for “The Penthouse: War in Life,” and Shin Ha-kyun for “Beyond Evil.”
Photo Credit: @historydnc
.jpg)
He’s also known for variety show “Running Man.”
Song Joong-ki also became popular for his stint on variety show “Running Man,” which also starred one of his best friends in the industry, Lee Kwang-soo, and his “A Frozen Flower” co-star Song Ji-hyo. He worked on this project from 2010 to 2011. In 2016, he made an appearance on the fourth season of the Chinese spin-off of “Running Man,” titled “Keep Running.” In relation to this, he has also done hosting stints, notably for “Music Bank” and awards shows like the Mnet Asian Music Awards.
Photo Credit: @historydnc
.jpg)
He’s a talent under History D&C.
Song Joong-ki used to be managed by Sidus HQ and Blossom Entertainment (which was his agency for seven years). In January last year, it was announced that he had signed with a new agency, History D&C, whose roster of artists include Song Joong-ki’s “Vincenzo” co-star Yang Kyung-won and “Hi Bye, Mama!” star Go Bo-gyeol.
Photo Credit: Netflix
He enlisted for mandatory military service in 2013.
2012, the year before Song Joong-ki enlisted in the military, was particularly notable for him, as he worked on several projects then. Although his career was doing so well, he was already 27 at the time and can no longer put off military enlistment. He enlisted in the military on August 27, 2013 and entered the military camp in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province. He served in the 22nd Division Reconnaissance Battalion and carried out operations in the DMZ (Korean Demilitarization Zone). 10 days before he enlisted, on August 17, he held a fan meeting. He finished military service on May 26, 2015. His much-awaited acting comeback was via the famous K-drama “Descendants of the Sun” with his ex-wife Song Hye-kyo. Song Joong-ki was successful at re-establishing himself as a Hallyu star with this series, wherein his character is the captain of the South Korean Special Forces Unit who meets a doctor (Song Hye-kyo) and they go through an earthquake, an endemic, and a war together.
Photo Credit: Netflix
.jpg)
He was an ambassador for Korea Tourism Organization.
With the overwhelming, phenomenal success of his K-drama “Descendants of the Sun,” Song Joong-ki was deemed the perfect choice to be the Korean Tourism Honorary Ambassador by the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO). With this role, he actively promoted Korean tourism worldwide. Other Hallyu stars KTO has collaborated with in the past are Lee Min-ho, Lee Jong-suk, Girls’ Generation’s Yoona, BIGBANG, and EXO. He was also an honorary ambassador and spokesmodel for Incheon International Airport from 2017 to 2020.
Photo Credit: History D&C
.jpg)
He released a men’s beauty book in 2010.
It’s obvious that Song Joong-ki is one of the ageless, baby-faced actors in the Hallyu scene. And while he has his good genes to thank, he also makes sure to invest time in taking care of his skin. South Korea is known for being a beauty haven, and even Korean men are big on skincare and makeup. In 2010, he co-authored a men’s beauty book called “Beautiful Skin Project” with Korean beauty editor Hwang Min-young.
Photo Credit: History D&C
.jpg)
He’s one of the highest-paid actors and most in-demand CF kings in Korea.
Song Joong-ki reportedly makes $68,000 per episode. Other highest-paid actors in the Hallyu scene are Kim Soo-hyun, Hyun Bin, So Ji-sub, Jo In-sung, Lee Min-ho, and Ji Chang-wook. Through the years, Song Joong-ki has also become the face of various brands from fashion and beauty to food and drinks to tech and banking to furniture to even an airline. Did you know that his first-ever commercial was for Dunkin’ Donuts back in 2008?
Photo Credit: History D&C
.jpg)
He’s a philanthropist.
He has partnered with different organizations to support and champion certain advocacies. Song Joong-ki is known for helping cancer-stricken children and doing various humanitarian relief efforts. Last year, he donated KRW100 million to Hope Bridge-Korea Disaster Relief Association, to aid in COVID-19 relief efforts.
Photo Credit: History D&C
He’s now on Instagram!
Yes, he just joined the social media platform last February and he already has 3.2 million followers, as of this writing. In case you aren’t following him yet, do so now! His verified Instagram account’s handle is @hi_songjoongki. He’s only following one account, and that’s his agency’s @historydnc.
Photo Credit: Netflix
Vincenzo is available for streaming and download on Netflix.
Lead photos from Netflix and History D&C
Top Stories
Metro Beauty Picks Of The Week
BEAUTYMar 14, 2023
