Song Joong-ki
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Song Joong-ki (; born September 19, 1985) is a South Korean actor. He rose to fame in the historical coming-of-age drama '' Sungkyunkwan Scandal'' (2010) and the variety show '' Running Man'' (2010–2011) as one of the original cast members. Since then, he has played a diverse spectrum of roles in the television series '' The Innocent Man'' (2012), '' Descendants of the Sun'' (2016), ''
Arthdal Chronicles ''Arthdal Chronicles'' () is a 2019 South Korean television series written by Kim Young-hyun and Park Sang-yeon and directed by Kim Won-seok, under the production banner of Studio Dragon and KPJ, starring Jang Dong-gun, Song Joong-ki, Kim J ...
'' (2019), ''
Vincenzo Vincenzo is an Italian male given name, derived from the Latin name Vincentius (the verb ''vincere'' means to win or to conquer). Notable people with the name include: Art * Vincenzo Amato (born 1966), Italian actor and sculptor *Vincenzo Bell ...
'' (2021) and ''
Reborn Rich ''Reborn Rich'' () is a 2022 South Korean television series adapted from the original web novel of the same name, starring Song Joong-ki, Lee Sung-min, and Shin Hyun-been. It aired on JTBC from November 18 to December 25, 2022, every Friday t ...
'' (2022), as well as the hit films ''
A Werewolf Boy ''A Werewolf Boy'' (; lit. "Wolf Boy") is a 2012 South Korean fantasy romance film in which a beautiful teenage girl (Park Bo-young) is sent to a country house for her health, where she befriends and attempts to civilize a feral boy (Song Joong-k ...
'' (2012), ''
The Battleship Island ''The Battleship Island'' () is a 2017 South Korean period action film starring Hwang Jung-min, So Ji-sub, Song Joong-ki and Lee Jung-hyun. It is a Japanese occupation-era film about an attempted prison break from a forced labor camp on Hashima Is ...
'' (2017) and ''
Space Sweepers ''Space Sweepers'' () is a 2021 South Korean space Western film directed by Jo Sung-hee, starring Song Joong-ki, Kim Tae-ri, Jin Seon-kyu and Yoo Hae-jin. Regarded as the first Korean space blockbuster, it was released on Netflix on February 5 ...
'' (2021). Song was Gallup Korea's Television Actor of the Year in 2012 and in 2017. He was first included in the ''Forbes'' Korea Power Celebrity list in 2013 placing seventh, and subsequently ranking second in 2017, and seventh in 2018. The success of his TV series and film works internationally established him as a top Hallyu star in the Korean entertainment industry.


Early life and education

Song is the second child (or middle child) of three siblings and was raised in the rural outskirts of
Daejeon Daejeon () is South Korea's fifth-largest metropolis, with a population of 1.5 million as of 2019. Located in the central-west region of South Korea alongside forested hills and the Geum River, the city is known both for its technology and ...
. He competed in
short track speed skating Short-track speed skating is a form of competitive ice skating, ice speed skating. In competitions, multiple skaters (typically between four and six) skate on an oval ice track with a length of . The rink itself is long by wide, which is the s ...
and represented his home city of Daejeon at a national level; his skating background would prove useful for his role as a national team skater in the TV series ''
Triple Triple is used in several contexts to mean "threefold" or a " treble": Sports * Triple (baseball), a three-base hit * A basketball three-point field goal * A figure skating jump with three rotations * In bowling terms, three strikes in a row * ...
''. An injury forced him to give up the sport during his first year of high school. He excelled in his studies all through high school and scored 380 points out of 400 on his national college entrance test, gaining admission to
Sungkyunkwan University Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU or simply ''Seongdae'', Hangul: 성균관대학교; Hanja: 成均館大學校) is a private comprehensive research university in South Korea. The institution traces its origins to the historic Sungkyunkwan, found ...
. While in Seoul preparing for the entrance test, he was scouted on the subway by an agent but did not immediately enter the entertainment industry as he was still ambivalent about his career path, and because his father had initially been against him becoming an actor. He continued to study part-time after deciding to enter the entertainment industry full-time during his third year of university, eventually graduating with a degree in Business Administration (minor in broadcasting) in 2012. Song first appeared in a TV show as a contestant on KBS's ''Quiz Korea'', substituting for a senior who was sick. Song eventually won second place. This brought him significant attention, and he became a cover model for the university magazine ''College''.


Career


2008–2011: Beginnings and breakthrough

Song made his acting debut in the 2008 period film ''
A Frozen Flower ''A Frozen Flower'' () is a 2008 South Korean erotic historical film. It is directed by Yoo Ha and stars Zo In-sung, Joo Jin-mo and Song Ji-hyo. The historical film is set during Goryeo Dynasty and is loosely based on the reign of Gongmin of Go ...
''. The following year, he appeared in the couple-swapping segment "Believe in the Moment" of omnibus ''
Five Senses of Eros ''Five Senses of Eros'' () is a 2009 South Korean omnibus film with five short films depicting love and desire, but in different styles and genres. The shorts are: ''His Concern'', directed by Daniel H. Byun; ''I'm Right Here'' (), directed by Hu ...
'' and continued to take on small but notable roles in ''
Triple Triple is used in several contexts to mean "threefold" or a " treble": Sports * Triple (baseball), a three-base hit * A basketball three-point field goal * A figure skating jump with three rotations * In bowling terms, three strikes in a row * ...
'' and ''
Will It Snow for Christmas? ''Will It Snow for Christmas?'' () is a South Korean television melodrama series starring Go Soo, Han Ye-seul, Song Jong-ho, Sunwoo Sun, and Jo Min-su. It aired on SBS from December 2, 2009 to January 28, 2010 on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21: ...
''. Song also became a regular host of KBS Friday music program ''
Music Bank Music Bank may refer to: * ''Music Bank'' (TV program), a South Korean music program by KBS **''Music Bank World Tour The ''Music Bank'' World Tour is a worldwide live concert tour of South Korean music show '' Music Bank'' by the Korean Broa ...
'' from 2009 to 2010. He then appeared in the 2010 medical drama ''
OB & GY ''OB & GY'' (), also known as ''Obstetrics and Gynecology Doctors'', is a 2010 South Korean medical drama television series. It aired on Seoul Broadcasting System on Wednesdays to Thursdays at 21:55 for 16 episodes beginning February 3, 2010. T ...
'', and animal movie sequel '' Hearty Paws 2''. Song's breakthrough came in the fusion historical drama '' Sungkyunkwan Scandal'' where he played the role of an 18th-century
Joseon Joseon (; ; Middle Korean: 됴ᇢ〯션〮 Dyǒw syéon or 됴ᇢ〯션〯 Dyǒw syěon), officially the Great Joseon (; ), was the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, lasting just over 500 years. It was founded by Yi Seong-gye in July 1392 and re ...
-era rich, indolent playboy. Despite stable but unspectacular ratings, the drama became a cult hit and his on-screen "bromance" with actor
Yoo Ah-in Yoo may refer to: * Yoo (Korean surname), also spelled Ryu or Yu, a Korean family name * YOO, the IATA code for Oshawa Airport See also * You, a pronoun {{Disambig ...
was popular with viewers. Song also joined the cast of variety program '' Running Man'' from 2010 to 2011. Song later released the book ''Beautiful Skin Project'', a bestselling health and beauty guide for men (which was re-released in Japan in 2013). In late 2010, he went on a bicycling tour around Sydney, which aired two episodes on TV via
ELLE ''Elle'' (stylized ''ELLE'') is a worldwide women's magazine of French origin that offers a mix of fashion and beauty content, together with culture, society and lifestyle. The title means "she" or "her" in French. ''Elle'' is considered the w ...
, an offshoot of the eponymous fashion magazine. Moreover, a TV special of the actor's trip to Japan entitled ''I'm Real: Song Joong-ki'' aired two parts in early 2011. Song later became an MC for
jTBC JTBC (shortened from ''Joongang Tongyang Broadcasting Company'' (; stylized as jtbc) is a South Korean nationwide pay television network. Its primary shareholder is JoongAng Holdings, with a 25% stake. It was launched on 1 December 2011. JTB ...
audition program ''Made in U''. In 2011, Song starred as a jobless deadbeat in the romantic comedy '' Penny Pinchers''. His acting performance was praised by critics, declaring him a "charismatic, swoon-worthy leading man with a viable presence." Song took on the role of the young king
Sejong Sejong of Joseon (15 May 1397 – 8 April 1450), personal name Yi Do (Korean: 이도; Hanja: 李祹), widely known as Sejong the Great (Korean: 세종대왕; Hanja: 世宗大王), was the fourth ruler of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. Initial ...
in ''
Deep Rooted Tree ''Deep Rooted Tree'' () is a 2011 South Korean television series starring Han Suk-kyu, Jang Hyuk and Shin Se-kyung. Based on the novel of the same name by Lee Jung-myung, it aired on SBS from 5 October to 22 December 2011 on Wednesdays and Thu ...
'' (2011). Critics praised Song's performance, calling it a portrayal of a genius who "realizes the futility of power early in life" and hides in his books to cope with growing up under the rule of his tyrannical father
Taejong Taejong of Joseon (13 June 1367 – 8 June 1422), personal name Yi Bang-won (Korean: 이방원; Hanja: 李芳遠), was the third ruler of the Joseon dynasty of Korea and the father of King Sejong the Great. Before ascending to the throne, he wa ...
. Song received the PD Award at the 2011
SBS Drama Awards The SBS Drama Awards (), also known as SBS Awards Festival, is an awards ceremony presented annually by Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS) for outstanding achievements in Korean dramas aired on its network. It is held annually on December 31. The hi ...
for the role. He later narrated the six-part documentary ''Tears of the Antarctic'' for MBC program ''Tears of the Earth'' (2012), which focuses on pressing environmental issues on the planet and donated his entire salary to charity. He reprised his role as the narrator when the series was re-edited and released in theaters as ''Pengi and Sommi'' (2012). ''
The Korea Times ''The Korea Times'' is the oldest of three English-language newspapers published daily in South Korea. It is a sister paper of the '' Hankook Ilbo'', a major Korean language daily; both are owned by Dongwha Enterprise, a wood-based manufacture ...
'' highlighted his talking
baritone A baritone is a type of classical male singing voice whose vocal range lies between the bass and the tenor voice-types. The term originates from the Greek (), meaning "heavy sounding". Composers typically write music for this voice in the r ...
when addressing his narration role. He later went on a fan-meeting tour called ''Song Joong-ki Asia Fan Meeting Tour – THRILL & LOVE'', holding fan meetings in Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan, and South Korea.


2012–2015: Leading roles and military enlistment

Song described 2012 as a "phenomenal year" for his career. He played the titular character in fantasy romance film ''
A Werewolf Boy ''A Werewolf Boy'' (; lit. "Wolf Boy") is a 2012 South Korean fantasy romance film in which a beautiful teenage girl (Park Bo-young) is sent to a country house for her health, where she befriends and attempts to civilize a feral boy (Song Joong-k ...
'', which premiered at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival. In preparation for his role, Song watched nature documentaries and observed stray dogs on the streets to learn how to mime and imitate the body movements of an animal. He also repeatedly watched
Tim Burton Timothy Walter Burton (born August 25, 1958) is an American filmmaker and animator. He is known for his gothic fantasy and horror films such as '' Beetlejuice'' (1988), '' Edward Scissorhands'' (1990), '' The Nightmare Before Christmas'' (1993 ...
's 1990 romantic fantasy ''
Edward Scissorhands ''Edward Scissorhands'' is a 1990 American fantasy romance film directed by Tim Burton. It was produced by Burton and Denise Di Novi, written by Caroline Thompson from a story by her and Burton, and starring Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder, Antho ...
'',
Matt Reeves Matt Reeves (born April 27, 1966) is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. He first gained recognition for the WB drama series '' Felicity'' (1998–2002), which he co-created with J. J. Abrams. Reeves came to widespread attenti ...
' 2010 vampire flick '' Let Me In'', and
Gollum Gollum is a fictional Tolkien's monsters, character in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. He was introduced in the 1937 Fantasy (genre), fantasy novel ''The Hobbit'', and became important in its sequel, ''The Lord of the Rings''. Gol ...
in ''
The Lord of the Rings ''The Lord of the Rings'' is an epic high-fantasy novel by English author and scholar J. R. R. Tolkien. Set in Middle-earth, intended to be Earth at some time in the distant past, the story began as a sequel to Tolkien's 1937 children's boo ...
''. The film was screened at the
Busan International Film Festival The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF, previously Pusan International Film Festival, PIFF), held annually in Haeundae-gu, Busan (''also'' Pusan), South Korea, is one of the most significant film festivals in Asia. The first festiv ...
, and became the most successful Korean melodrama of all time, with more than 7 million tickets sold. The same year, he took on his first leading drama role in television, '' The Innocent Man.'' His assured and nuanced portrayal of an
antihero An antihero (sometimes spelled as anti-hero) or antiheroine is a main character in a story who may lack conventional heroic qualities and attributes, such as idealism, courage, and morality. Although antiheroes may sometimes perform actions ...
received praise from critics and audience. The drama attracted high ratings, which along with the impressive box office run of ''
A Werewolf Boy ''A Werewolf Boy'' (; lit. "Wolf Boy") is a 2012 South Korean fantasy romance film in which a beautiful teenage girl (Park Bo-young) is sent to a country house for her health, where she befriends and attempts to civilize a feral boy (Song Joong-k ...
'', cemented Song's image in the press as the "savior" of the melodrama genre both on the big and small screen. Song won Top Excellence Award (Actor) at the 20th Korean Culture and Entertainment Awards,
1st K-Drama Star Awards The 1st K-Drama Star Awards () was an awards ceremony for excellence in television in South Korea. It was held at the Daejeon Convention Center in Daejeon on December 8, 2012. The nominees were chosen from Korean dramas that aired from October 1 ...
and the 2012 KBS Drama Awards. In February 2013, after his contract with entertainment agency
Sidus HQ iHQ Inc., doing business as SidusHQ () is one of the leading talent management agencies in South Korea. It was founded in January 2001 by Teddy Hoon-tak Jung. The company is involved in talent management (artist content), and TV drama/music prod ...
expired, Song announced that he would be joining
Blossom Entertainment Blossom Entertainment () is a talent management agency based in Seoul, South Korea. Founded in 2012, its roster includes actors Cha Tae-hyun, Yang Se-jong, and Lim Ju-hwan. Foundation Blossom Entertainment was co-founded by actor Cha Tae-hyun and ...
. Prior to his enlistment for his
mandatory military service Conscription (also called the draft in the United States) is the state-mandated enlistment of people in a national service, mainly a military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and it continues in some countries to the present day un ...
, Song held a fan meeting on August 17, 2013. He then enlisted on August 27 at the 102nd draft camp in Chuncheon. He served in an infantry unit assigned to patrol and conduct reconnaissance missions along the
DMZ A demilitarized zone (DMZ or DZ) is an area in which treaties or agreements between nations, military powers or contending groups forbid military installations, activities, or personnel. A DZ often lies along an established frontier or bounda ...
and was discharged on May 26, 2015.


2016–present: International popularity

Song made his small screen comeback in '' Descendants of the Sun'' alongside actress
Song Hye-kyo Song Hye-kyo (; born November 22, 1981) is a South Korean actress. She gained international popularity through her leading roles in the television dramas ''Autumn in My Heart'' (2000), '' All In'' (2003), ''Full House'' (2004), ''That Winter, th ...
, playing a military officer. The drama was incredibly popular in Korea with a peak viewership rating of 41.6% and in Asia, where it was viewed 2.5 billion times on iQiyi. The drama reestablished Song as a leader of the Hallyu, and he topped popularity polls in Asia. Song was made the Korean Tourism Honorary Ambassador by the
Korea Tourism Organization The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) is an organization of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. It is commissioned to promote the country's tourism industry. The KTO was established in 1962 as a gover ...
to actively promote Korean tourism worldwide. He was the first actor to be invited to the nationwide live prime-time news show ''
KBS News 9 ''KBS Nine O'Clock News'' (Also known as ''KBS News 9'' (''KBS 뉴스9'' in Korean)) is the flagship newscast aired on KBS1 every night at 9:00pm KST. The program is seen across South Korea, as well as on KBS World service which provides hea ...
''. He was also listed as one of the Top 100 Future Generation of Leaders, at #34. He became the face of over 30 brands in 2016 alone and was one of the recipients of Korea's "Brand of the Year" award. Song won the ''Daesang'' (or "Grand Prize"), the highest award for television, at the 30th KBS Drama Awards and the 5th APAN Star Awards as well as the Best Actor (TV) award at the 11th
Seoul International Drama Awards Seoul International Drama Awards (), simply known as SDA, is an annual award ceremony based in Seoul, South Korea which honors excellence in television drama productions worldwide. Winners Grand prize (''Daesang'') Program Winners are given ...
and the 29th Korean Producer Awards for his acting performance. He then embarked on a series of sold-out Asian tour spanning 10 different cities, where he met more than 60,000 fans. Song was then cast in the period action film ''
The Battleship Island ''The Battleship Island'' () is a 2017 South Korean period action film starring Hwang Jung-min, So Ji-sub, Song Joong-ki and Lee Jung-hyun. It is a Japanese occupation-era film about an attempted prison break from a forced labor camp on Hashima Is ...
'' (2017). He stars alongside actors So Ji-sub and
Hwang Jung-min Hwang Jung-min (born September 1, 1970) is a South Korean actor. He is one of the highest-grossing actors in South Korea, and has starred in several box office hits such as '' Ode to My Father'' (2014), ''Veteran'' (2015), '' The Himalayas'' (20 ...
and portrays a member of the
Korean independence movement The Korean independence movement was a military and diplomatic campaign to achieve the independence of Korea from Empire of Japan, Japan. After the Japanese Japan–Korea Treaty of 1910, annexation of Korea in 1910, Korea's domestic resistance pe ...
, who sneaks onto
Hashima Island , commonly called , is a tiny abandoned island off Nagasaki, lying about from the centre of the city. It is one of 505 uninhabited islands in Nagasaki Prefecture. The island's most notable features are its abandoned concrete buildings, undistu ...
to rescue a fellow member. Song made his small screen comeback in the historical fantasy drama ''
Arthdal Chronicles ''Arthdal Chronicles'' () is a 2019 South Korean television series written by Kim Young-hyun and Park Sang-yeon and directed by Kim Won-seok, under the production banner of Studio Dragon and KPJ, starring Jang Dong-gun, Song Joong-ki, Kim J ...
'', which premiered on
tvN TVN may refer to: * TVN (Australian TV channel), a former horse racing channel * Televisión Nacional de Chile, a public broadcaster * TVN (Indonesia), a former television station; predecessor of Rajawali Televisi * TVN (Norway), or TVNorge, a comm ...
in 2019. The drama was a reunion project with his '' Descendants of the Sun'' co-star Kim Ji won. In January 2020, Song left
Blossom Entertainment Blossom Entertainment () is a talent management agency based in Seoul, South Korea. Founded in 2012, its roster includes actors Cha Tae-hyun, Yang Se-jong, and Lim Ju-hwan. Foundation Blossom Entertainment was co-founded by actor Cha Tae-hyun and ...
and signed with History D&C, a newly launched talent management and content production company founded by former
SidusHQ iHQ Inc., doing business as SidusHQ () is one of the leading talent management agencies in South Korea. It was founded in January 2001 by Teddy Hoon-tak Jung. The company is involved in talent management (artist content), and TV drama/music prod ...
executive Hwang Ki-yong. In 2021, Song starred in the science fiction film ''
Space Sweepers ''Space Sweepers'' () is a 2021 South Korean space Western film directed by Jo Sung-hee, starring Song Joong-ki, Kim Tae-ri, Jin Seon-kyu and Yoo Hae-jin. Regarded as the first Korean space blockbuster, it was released on Netflix on February 5 ...
'' alongside
Kim Tae-ri Kim Tae-ri (born April 24, 1990) is a South Korean actress. She is known for starring in the films '' The Handmaiden'' (2016), ''Little Forest'' (2018), ''Space Sweepers'' (2020) and in the historical drama '' Mr. Sunshine'' (2018). Kim's lea ...
, directed by
Jo Sung-hee Jo Sung-hee (born February 3, 1979) is a South Korean film director. He directed the box office hit ''A Werewolf Boy'' (2012). Career After majoring in industrial design at Seoul National University, Jo Sung-hee joined the Seo Taiji Company ...
, which was released exclusively on
Netflix Netflix, Inc. is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service and production company based in Los Gatos, California. Founded in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph in Scotts Valley, California, it offers a fil ...
on February 5, 2021. The movie debuted at No. 1 on Netflix, dominated daily top 10 rankings in 80 countries and gathered more than 26 millions household viewers during the first 28 days of its release. He also starred as the titular character in the series ''
Vincenzo Vincenzo is an Italian male given name, derived from the Latin name Vincentius (the verb ''vincere'' means to win or to conquer). Notable people with the name include: Art * Vincenzo Amato (born 1966), Italian actor and sculptor *Vincenzo Bell ...
'' alongside
Jeon Yeo-been Jeon Yeo-been (; born Jeon Bo-young on July 26, 1989) is a South Korean actress. Jeon rose to prominence for her performance in the independent film ''After My Death'' (2018) which earned her the Actress of the Year Award at the 22nd Busan Inte ...
, which was released on February 20, 2021, on Netflix and tvN. It became the 6th highest-rated drama in tvN history after its finale, and is currently the 9th highest-rated drama in Korean cable television history. The series was also vastly popular on Netflix, ranking 4th on Forbes most-viewed Korean series on Netflix in 2021. In 2022, he is set to act in the criminal thriller film ''Bogota'' alongside
Lee Hee-joon Lee Hee-joon (born June 29, 1979) is a South Korean actor. Personal life Lee Hee-joon and model Lee Hye-jung confirmed their relationship in August 2015. They registered their marriage prior to the ceremony and had their private wedding ceremon ...
and
Kwon Hae-hyo Kwon Hae-hyo (born November 6, 1965) is a South Korean television, film and stage actor. He is also an activist, involved in the Unite Our People Movement Headquarters, the Abolish the Family Registry and Create Family Equality Organization, the ...
, which will be directed by Kim Seong-je, as well as a series adaption of the popular web novel ''
Reborn Rich ''Reborn Rich'' () is a 2022 South Korean television series adapted from the original web novel of the same name, starring Song Joong-ki, Lee Sung-min, and Shin Hyun-been. It aired on JTBC from November 18 to December 25, 2022, every Friday t ...
'' directed by Jeong Dae-Yoon.


Public image

Song has primarily been known for his "flower boy" or " pretty boy" image, with his theme song being "Pretty Boy" by M2M. He majored in business administration at Korea's
Sungkyunkwan University Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU or simply ''Seongdae'', Hangul: 성균관대학교; Hanja: 成均館大學校) is a private comprehensive research university in South Korea. The institution traces its origins to the historic Sungkyunkwan, found ...
and worked as an active anchor of the campus broadcaster. He was called the school's ''
ulzzang ''Ulzzang'' ( ko, 얼짱, ), also spelled as ''eoljjang'' (), is a popular South Korean term literally meaning "best face" or "good-looking". A person desiring ''ulzzang'' status would gain popularity on the internet through entering contests wher ...
'' (best face) and ''umchina'' or "mom's friend's son" (perfect son). Dr. Jun Sung, author of ''Korean Masculinities and Transcultural Consumption'', cited Song as the embodiment of "soft masculinity." His In 2011, after effectively playing the younger version of
King Sejong Sejong of Joseon (15 May 1397 – 8 April 1450), personal name Yi Do (Korean: 이도; Hanja: 李祹), widely known as Sejong the Great (Korean: 세종대왕; Hanja: 世宗大王), was the fourth ruler of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. Initial ...
in ''Deep Rooted Tree'' that made him trend in web portals, he earned the title "good actor Song Joong-ki." Song has been hailed as "the savior of melodrama" in his home country and called "Korea's DiCaprio" after the hit drama ''The Innocent Man'' and most watched melodrama movie ''A Werewolf Boy'' in 2012. In 2016, two years after his mandatory military service, the 'Song Joong-ki syndrome' was coined upon his portrayal of the dashing Army Captain Yoo Shi-jin in ''Descendants of the Sun''. He was made the Korea Tourism Organization's Honorary Ambassador, topped popularity polls in Asia, and became the CF King. In China, the public safety Weibo page and the
Chinese government The Government of the People's Republic of China () is an authoritarian political system in the People's Republic of China under the exclusive political leadership of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). It consists of legislative, executive, m ...
has had to issue statements cautioning against overindulgence of the actor and the drama, citing cases of
plastic surgery Plastic surgery is a surgical specialty involving the restoration, reconstruction or alteration of the human body. It can be divided into two main categories: reconstructive surgery and cosmetic surgery. Reconstructive surgery includes cranio ...
,
domestic violence Domestic violence (also known as domestic abuse or family violence) is violence or other abuse that occurs in a domestic setting, such as in a marriage or cohabitation. ''Domestic violence'' is often used as a synonym for ''intimate partner ...
and
divorce Divorce (also known as dissolution of marriage) is the process of terminating a marriage or marital union. Divorce usually entails the canceling or reorganizing of the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage, thus dissolving the ...
as a direct result. However, Song insisted that he never wanted a meteoric rise in popularity. He said: "It's inevitable that popularity fades. That's why I must always be prepared." Former journalist
Kim Young-ho Kim Young-ho (born April 9, 1971 in Nonsan, Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea) is a South Korean foil fencer. At the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, he won the gold medal in individual foil, defeating Ralf Bissdorf of Germany Germany,, ...
said that he is more than just a Hallyu star and called him "a man of character." He stated: "He is humble, well-mannered and very polite. Even after he rose to stardom, there was no change in his demeanor and he's still humble." Actor So Ji-sub described him as "a manly man without any pretense." Other personalities in South Korea that have been vocal of his good manners include
Gummy Gummies, gummi candies, gummy candies, or jelly sweets are a broad category of gelatin-based chewable sweets. Gummi bears, Sour Patch Kids, and Jelly Babies are widely popular and are a well-known part of the sweets industry. Gummies are availab ...
,
DinDin Lim Cheol (born November 20, 1991), better known by his stage name DinDin, is a South Korean rapper Rapping (also rhyming, spitting, emceeing or MCing) is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and str ...
,
Park Hoon Park Won-hee (born April 27, 1981), better known by his stage name Park Hoon, is a South Korean actor. He starred in TV series such as '' Descendants of the Sun'' (2016), ''Naked Fireman'' (2017), ''Two Cops'' (2017) and ''Memories of the Alham ...
,
Kim Jong-kook Kim Jong-kook (; born April 25, 1976) is a South Korean singer, entertainer, and actor. Kim debuted as a member of South Korean duo Turbo in 1995. The duo was considered to be one of the most popular idols in that time and sold out millions of ...
,
Onew Lee Jin-ki (; born December 14, 1989), better known by his stage name Onew, is a South Korean singer, songwriter, actor and host. Born in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi-do, Onew was discovered at the 2006 SM Academy Casting and signed a contract with ...
,
Moon Chae-won Moon Chae-won (; born November 13, 1986) is a South Korean actress. Moon first attracted attention in 2008 in her supporting role as a gisaeng in '' Painter of the Wind''. She was next cast in ''Brilliant Legacy'', one of the top-rated Korean d ...
,
Park Bo-young Park Bo-young (, born February 12, 1990) is a South Korean actress. She is best known for her leading roles in the hit films ''Scandal Makers'' (2008), '' A Werewolf Boy'' (2012) and ''On Your Wedding Day'' (2018), and the television series '' ...
,
Jo In-sung Zo In-sung (, born July 28, 1981) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his leading roles in the Korean television dramas ''Something Happened in Bali'' (2004), '' Spring Day'' (2005), '' That Winter, the Wind Blows'' (2013), and ''I ...
, and
Lee Kwang-soo Lee Kwang-soo (, born July 14, 1985) is a South Korean actor, entertainer, and model. He made his acting debut in the sitcom ''Here He Comes'' (2008) and received further recognition for his roles in medical melodrama ''It's Okay, That's Love'' ...
. He is also known for his regular donations to several causes and participation in
philanthropic Philanthropy is a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives, for the public good, focusing on quality of life". Philanthropy contrasts with business initiatives, which are private initiatives for private good, focusing on material ...
acts. Song considers it his "responsibility" to be aware of his influence on fans that expanded overseas. He said: "I could have never made it to such a position without the help of many others. I think the effort and hard work of my predecessors, staff members, and fans have contributed to such a result. Thus, I do have a sense of responsibility. I want to live up to my reputation as a Korean citizen, actor, and person. I will try my best to be modest but confident at all times." In 2017, when asked about starring in ''The Battleship Island'' that shows the sensitive subject of Korean-Japanese history, he expressed that it was a small expression of his beliefs. After years of aversion to social media, Song opened his official
Instagram Instagram is a photo and video sharing social networking service owned by American company Meta Platforms. The app allows users to upload media that can be edited with filters and organized by hashtags and geographical tagging. Posts can ...
account under the username “hi_songjoongki” on February 14, 2021, directly managed by his agency History D&C. When interviewed for ''
KBS News 9 ''KBS Nine O'Clock News'' (Also known as ''KBS News 9'' (''KBS 뉴스9'' in Korean)) is the flagship newscast aired on KBS1 every night at 9:00pm KST. The program is seen across South Korea, as well as on KBS World service which provides hea ...
'' in 2016, Song revealed that it was challenging for him to keep up with the latest technology, including social media. His fancafe, established in early 2006, became his way to communicate with his official fandom named "Ki Aile," which means "Ki's wings." Song said the fans were like his wings for they lift him up, emotionally and financially, by voting for him and buying the products he endorses as well as watch all his movies and TV shows.


Other ventures


Ambassadorship

In 2010, Song and
Park Shin-hye Park Shin-hye (, born February 18, 1990) is a South Korean actress and singer. She gained recognition as a child on TV shows such as ''Stairway to Heaven'' (2003), and ''Tree of Heaven'' (2006). Later on, she would achieve further success when ...
were chosen as PR ambassadors for the 17th
Jeonju International Film Festival Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF, Korean: 전주국제영화제, Hanja: 全州國際映畵祭) is an Asian film festival. It was launched in 2000 as a non-competitive film festival with partial competition. It introduces independent a ...
(JIFF). In 2011, Song was chosen as the ambassador for the Good-hearted Library Project, a talent donation campaign by the Standard Chartered that allows the public to participate in the production of audiobooks for the visually impaired. In 2013, Song and
Ha Ji-won Jeon Hae-rim (; born 28 June 1978), better known by her stage name Ha Ji-won () is a South Korean actress. She is best known for the historical dramas '' Damo'' (2003), '' Hwang Jini'' (2006), and '' Empress Ki'' (2013), as well as the melodra ...
were appointed as honorary ambassadors of medical tourism by South Korea's Ministry of Health and Welfare. They appeared in regional cities on behalf of Medical Korea as they promote greater international co-operation for medical technology and positive medical tourism. In 2016, Song was chosen as the honorary ambassador and promotional model for Korean tourism under South Korea's
Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) is a central government agency responsible for the areas of tourism, culture, art, religion, and sports. It has two vice ministers, three assistant ministers, one commission, and ...
. From 2017 to 2021, Song is titled the honorary ambassador for
Incheon International Airport Incheon International Airport (IIA; ) (sometimes referred to as Seoul–Incheon International Airport) is the largest airport in South Korea. It is the primary airport serving the Seoul Capital Area and one of the largest and busiest airports ...
.


Philanthropy

Song has been a celebrity advocate for cancer-stricken children since 2011. This was later known in early March 2016 through the announcement made by the Korea Childhood Leukemia Foundation (KCLF) on their official blog. For the past 5 years, more than 10 children have received treatment secretly donated by him. According to KCLF, he has participated in the "Yellow Ribbon Campaign" to raise awareness about childhood cancers. Furthermore, he has given rice wreaths from press conferences and his pay generated from narrating the documentary ''Tears of the Antarctic''. This has inspired his official fan club Ki Aile to celebrate his birthdays by donating transplant fees to help patients with leukemia and cancer. Song has since made donations to KCLF every year. Song also took part in lending his voice for the visually impaired. In 2015, during his military service, he donated 100 million won to the
UNICEF UNICEF (), originally called the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund in full, now officially United Nations Children's Fund, is an agency of the United Nations responsible for providing Humanitarianism, humanitarian and Devel ...
Korea Committee to help the children and victims of the
April 2015 Nepal earthquake The April 2015 Nepal earthquake (also known as the Gorkha earthquake) killed 8,964 people and injured 21,952 more. It occurred at on Saturday, 25 April 2015, with a magnitude of 7.8 Mw or 8.1 Ms and a maximum Mercalli Intensity of X (''Extreme ...
. In 2016, Song donated all of his proceeds from being featured on the May 13 episode of '' Hurry Up, Brother'', a Chinese version of '' Running Man'', to a Chinese charity organization. Song has also donated a portion of his profits from the ''2016 Asian Fan Meeting Tour'' to a foundation that helps those affected by 2008 Sichuan earthquake. In addition, his revenues from Seoul and Thailand fan meetings were all donated to an unnamed charity. Subsequently, Song donated 20 million won to the
House of Sharing The House of Sharing ( ko, 나눔의 집, ''Nanum-ui jib'') is a nursing home for living comfort women in Seoul, South Korea. The House of Sharing was founded in June 1992 through funds raised by Buddhist organizations and various socio-civic gr ...
in
Gwangju, Gyeonggi Gwangju () is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, a suburb southeast of Seoul. The city is not to be confused with the much larger Gwangju Metropolitan City, former capital of South Jeolla Province, South Korea. History ''Bunwon-ri'' in G ...
, a shelter for elderly women who were forced into being comfort women by the
Imperial Japanese Army The was the official ground-based armed force of the Empire of Japan from 1868 to 1945. It was controlled by the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff Office and the Ministry of the Army, both of which were nominally subordinate to the Emperor o ...
during
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
. The actor was likely influenced while filming his movie ''
The Battleship Island ''The Battleship Island'' () is a 2017 South Korean period action film starring Hwang Jung-min, So Ji-sub, Song Joong-ki and Lee Jung-hyun. It is a Japanese occupation-era film about an attempted prison break from a forced labor camp on Hashima Is ...
'', a period action film about Korean workers under Japanese rule. Later in July 2017, his fans donated to the same center. In 2019, Song has donated 30 million won for the victims of wildfire in
Gangwon Gangwon or Kangwŏn may refer to: * Gangwon Province (historical), the Goryeo, Joseon Dynasty and the Japanese Korean province * Gangwon Province (South Korea), a province of South Korea, with its capital at Chuncheon. Before the division of Kore ...
Province. From 2020 to 2021, Song made donations for coronavirus prevention. On 2 August 2021, Song participated in the promotion of the annual dance festival Korea International Accessible Dance Festival (KIADA) for persons with disabilities while being quarantined. On 26 October 2021, Song received the Presidential Commendation Award for his generous contributions over the years.


Endorsements

Song had endorsed deals in nearly every industry such as healthcare, cosmetic, clothing, food, travel and tourism, telecom, electronics and retail. He first appeared in a television commercial of Dunkin' Donuts in May 2008. After starring in drama ''Sungkyunkwan Scandal'' in 2010, Song became the face of fashion brands EZIO and TBJ, casual clothing brand AD HOC with
Min Hyo-rin Min Hyo-rin (; born Jung Eun-ran on 5 February 1986) is a South Korean actress, model and singer. Career Born in Daegu as Jung Eun-ran, she adopted the stage name Min Hyo-rin when she began modeling for the clothing brand Flapper in 2006. Sh ...
, sports brand
Le Coq Sportif Le Coq Sportif (, "the athletic rooster") is a French manufacturing company of sports equipment. Founded in 1882 by Émile Camuset and located in Entzheim, the company first issued items branded with its now-famous rooster trademark in 1948. The ...
with IU, as well as foods Pizza Etang, a popular pizza in South Korea and
Ottogi Ottogi Co, Ltd. ( Korean: 주식회사 오뚜기) is a food manufacturing company headquartered in Anyang, South Korea. Ottogi Center is located in Seoul and is listed on the KOSPI 200. History Ottogi was founded in May 1969. Ottogi’s fir ...
Snack Ramen. In the digital and technology sector, Song was chosen for the brand Xbox 360 Kinect because of his "childlike, innocent, and healthy" image that matches the new hands-free game controller and LG XNote with
Shin Min-a Shin Min-a (; born 5 April 1984) is a South Korean model and actress best known for starring in television dramas ''A Love to Kill'' (2005), ''My Girlfriend Is a Nine-Tailed Fox'' (2010), '' Arang and the Magistrate'' (2012), ''Oh My Venus'' ...
in 2011. Song was also appointed as the official ambassador of the skincare
Tony Moly Tony Moly (Hangul: 토니모리) is a South Korean cosmetics brand. Tony Moly was established in 2006 with the support of Tae Sung Industry. The name Tony Moly means "putting style into packaging". History In July 2006, Tony Moly Cosmetics w ...
and
FUJIFILM , trading as Fujifilm, or simply Fuji, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, operating in the realms of photography, optics, office and medical electronics, biotechnology, and chemicals. The offerings from the ...
polaroid for two consecutive years. Subsequently, he appeared in restaurant brand Sonsoo's advertisement as a prodigy cook alongside
Song Seung-heon Song Seung-heon (; born October 5, 1976) is a South Korean model and actor. He has acted in various television dramas, notably ''Autumn in My Heart'' (2000), '' ''East of Eden' (2008), '' ''My Princess' (2011), ''Black'' (2017), ''Player' ...
and
Yoon Sang-hyun Yoon Sang-hyun (born September 21, 1973) is a South Korean actor and singer. He is best known for his roles in ''Queen of Housewives'' (2009), ''My Fair Lady'' (2009), '' Secret Garden'' (2011) and ''I Can Hear Your Voice'' (2013). Career Yoo ...
. Song was also chosen as the new model of the dairy brand Seoul Milk. Soon after starring in drama ''The Innocent Man'' and film ''A Werewolf Boy'' in 2012,
Blossom Entertainment Blossom Entertainment () is a talent management agency based in Seoul, South Korea. Founded in 2012, its roster includes actors Cha Tae-hyun, Yang Se-jong, and Lim Ju-hwan. Foundation Blossom Entertainment was co-founded by actor Cha Tae-hyun and ...
reported that Song was on his way to become the next CF King with 10 endorsement deals under his belt. For two years in a row, he was the main model for the global soda brand Sprite. From 2013 to 2016, he was the endorser of the water purifier brand Ruhens. In February 2019, Ruhens selected Song as their endorser again. Following the release of the pan-Asian hit drama ''Descendants of the Sun'' in 2016, Song became the modelling face of more than 30 international and local products. The Korea Broadcast Advertising Promotion Corporation (KOBACO) "2016 Consumer Behavior Survey" picked Song as the best model to represent South Korean brands. Some of his ad include
Baskin Robbins Baskin-Robbins is an American multinational chain of ice cream and cake speciality shops owned by Inspire Brands. Based in Canton, Massachusetts, Baskin-Robbins was founded in 1945 by Burt Baskin (1913–1967) and Irv Robbins (1917–2008) ...
, LG Household & Health Care, KT, Forencos,
Jeju Air Jeju Air Co., Ltd. (), is the first and largest South Korean low-cost airline. It offers scheduled domestic services, as well as international destinations including China, Japan, Russia, the Mariana Islands, and various Southeast Asian countries ...
, Hite Jinro, Cuchen, as well as lucrative Chinese products like Proya with
Zhang Ziyi Zhang Ziyi (; ; born 9 February 1979) is a Chinese actress and model. She is regarded as one of the Four Dan Actresses of China. Her first major role was in '' The Road Home'' (1999). She later gained international recognition for her role in ...
,
Tencent Tencent Holdings Ltd. () is a Chinese multinational technology and entertainment conglomerate and holding company headquartered in Shenzhen. It is one of the highest grossing multimedia companies in the world based on revenue. It is also the wo ...
, and VIVO. Song also worked with
Park Bo-gum Park Bo-gum (; born June 16, 1993) is a South Korean actor. He gained recognition for his diverse range of roles in film and television, notably, a psychopathic lawyer in '' Hello Monster'' (2015), a genius Go player in ''Reply 1988'' (2015– ...
as brand models for
Domino's Pizza Domino's Pizza, Inc., trading as Domino's, is an American multinational pizza restaurant chain founded in 1960 and led by CEO Russell Weiner. The corporation is Delaware domiciled and headquartered at the Domino's Farms Office Park in Ann Arbor ...
and LINE Pay Card. In February 2017, Song was announced as the brand ambassador of the online market place "11Street" of
SK Planet SK Planet Co., Ltd. (Hangul: SK 플래닛 or 에스케이 플래닛), a subsidiary of SK Telecom, was established in 2011 and is an internet platform development company located in Pangyo, South Korea’s silicon valley with operations in 8 count ...
in Thailand. He was paired with Thai actress Mew Nittha on TV, digital, and outdoor ads on the busiest
Bangkok Mass Transit System Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company Limited (BTSC, th, บริษัทระบบขนส่งมวลชนกรุงเทพ จำกัด (มหาชน)) is a Thai transport company, best known as the operator of Bangkok' ...
stations in Chit Lom, Siam and Phrom Pong. Cheil Tailand reported that it was a successful campaign as its Facebook page exceeded 1 million views upon its launching. In April 2018, Song was revealed as the new endorser of Hyundai LIVART, a Korea-based lifestyle culture company. They chose Song as its advertising model only 14 years after actress Kim Nam-joo in 2004.


Personal life

On July 5, 2017, Song and '' Descendants of the Sun'' co-star
Song Hye-kyo Song Hye-kyo (; born November 22, 1981) is a South Korean actress. She gained international popularity through her leading roles in the television dramas ''Autumn in My Heart'' (2000), '' All In'' (2003), ''Full House'' (2004), ''That Winter, th ...
announced through their respective agencies that they were engaged. They married in a private ceremony on October 31, 2017, at Youngbingwan,
Hotel Shilla Hotel Shilla ( ko, 신라호텔) is a South Korean operator of luxury hotels and duty-free shops. It is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World. The company is an affiliate of Samsung. History Hotel Shilla started operations in March 1979 at ...
in
Seoul Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as stated iArticle 103 ...
, amid intense media interest across
Asia Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an area ...
with his closest family and friends. On June 26, 2019, the couple announced their divorce, which was finalized in July 2019.


Filmography


Discography


Bibliography


Fan meeting


Awards and nominations


State honors


Listicles


Notes


References


External links


Song Joong-ki
at History D&C * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Song, Joong-ki 1985 births Living people 21st-century South Korean male actors South Korean male film actors South Korean male television actors IHQ (company) artists Song clan of Eunjin Sungkyunkwan University alumni People from Daejeon