Get to Know Song Joong-Ki Through His Most Popular Films and K-Dramas

If you’re a fan of K-Dramas or have perused Netflix shows, chances are the name Song Joong-Ki has come up a few times.
A household name in the South Korean entertainment scene, the award-winning actor made his breakthrough in 2010 in a coming-of-age K-Drama and as one of the original members of the longest-running variety show in South Korean television history. Since then, he has proved himself a versatile and talented actor, playing diverse roles in films and TV series from a charming soldier in the special forces army to a ruthless and clever mafia lawyer.
With numerous fan-favorite projects coupled with endorsements under his belt, including his recent partnership with IAM Worldwide in the Philippines, Song Joong-ki has been captivating viewers worldwide for more than a decade, cementing his name as one of South Korea’s brightest stars.
But if you’re a newbie in the scene, don’t worry! From Science Fiction thrillers to melodramatic romances, here are some of his best works to get you started.
7. Sungkyunkwan Scandal (2010)
K-Drama | Historical, Coming-of-age
After taking on supporting roles in K-dramas, Joong-ki finally made his breakthrough in this coming-of-age drama as the mischievous Goo Yong-ha. The drama is set in an era where females are forbidden to be educated or employed, and so Kim Yoon-hee (played by Park Min Young) disguised herself as her brother in order to make ends meet. She takes a series of odd jobs, including being an illegal test taker for the examinations at Sungkyunkwan, Joseon’s most prestigious education institution. Long story short, she gets caught and is offered a chance to enroll in the university.
Song Joong-ki was every bit charming in this one, and though the ratings weren’t all that spectacular, the show became an instant cult favorite. His chemistry with his co-star Yoo Ah-In also made an impression on viewers, calling it bromance at its finest.
Running Time: 60 minutes per episode
Where to watch: Viu
6. Running Man (2010)
TV Series | Variety show
Not many people remember that Song Joong-ki was one of the original members of the hit variety show, “Running Man,” which debuted in 2010. Yes, you heard that right, a young Joong-ki who was only starting to get recognized for his charm and good looks went and did some hilarious shenanigans with the iconic cast of the show.
He was even nicknamed “Flower Boy Joong-ki” and stayed on till the 41st episode. Despite having left, he made some brief appearances in later episodes and remained close with the cast. Just check out this hilarious episode where they all tried to get Song Ji-hyo’s heart rate up!
Running Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes per episode
5. The Innocent Man (2010)
K-Drama | Romance
Nothing screams 2000s K-Drama than a wronged main character and a finely planned revenge plot woven with drama and passion. Joong-ki transforms himself into Kang Maru in “The Innocent Man” — a brilliant medical student who gives up everything to go to prison to take the blame for his girlfriend. The worst part is that instead of repenting, his girlfriend abandons him and runs after a rich man. This betrayal transforms him from being the “nice guy” to a heartless man keen on getting his revenge.
This drama is more on the heavier side and has a lot of twists and turns, making it feel longer than it actually is. But if you’re up for some heavy drama complete with suspense, unplanned romances, and even tragic memory loss moments, you’ll definitely like this.
Running Time: 60 minutes per episode
Where to watch: Viu, Rakuten Viki
4. Space Sweepers (2021)
Film | Science Fiction
Song Joong-ki orbits into outer space to play the role of a space junk collector who gets involved in a risky business deal when he and his crew discover a weapon of mass destruction — a humanoid robot named Dorothy.
More than the impressive CGI effects and set props, we especially loved how the theme of found family is interwoven through its action-packed plot. We love the crew’s chemistry and how they all softened towards Dorothy and ended up protecting her instead of handing her over for ransom. If you’re looking for an action-packed adventure in space with heartfelt character interactions, make sure to check out “Space Sweepers.”
Running Time: 2 hours, 16 minutes
Where to watch: Netflix
3. A Werewolf Boy (2012)
Film | Fantasy Romance
Ready your tissues, this one sneaks up on you and takes your heart in a vice grip. In “A Werewolf Boy,” Sun-Yi (played by Park Bo-young) moves to the countryside due to her delicate health. There, she comes across a wild wolf boy whom she adopts and names Chul-Soo (Song Joong-ki).
The two eventually become close as she trains him to act more human and opens her heart to him. In turn, Chul-soo falls in love with the only person who has ever shown him affection. Difficulties arise, however, when Chul-Soo is blamed for a murder he didn’t commit, and Sun-yi is forced to push him away so he wouldn’t get caught. Years later, she finds that her wolf boy is still waiting for her.
A story about first love and unbound loyalty, this film is like a tragic love song that will haunt you long after the credits roll, showing us love in its purest form.
Running Time: 2 hours, 5 minutes
Where to watch: iQIYI, Apple TV
2. Descendants of the Sun (2016)
K-Drama | Romance
Probably the project that catapulted him to global fame, “Descendants of the Sun” revolves around a brilliant surgeon Kang Mo-yeon (Song Hye-kyo) and her romance with a captain in the South Korean Army’s special forces, Yoo Si-jin (Song Joong-ki). It’s romance mixed with action, suspense, drama, and comedy. A true, well-rounded K-Drama that hits all the right spots, coupled with a timeless OST (Official Soundtrack) that perfectly encapsulates the emotions and relationships of the characters.
But what truly carried this drama was Joong-ki and Hye-kyo’s chemistry, which spilled over to their real lives when they married a year after the drama ended. The drama was a massive hit internationally and helped boost the Hallyu wave, drawing more visitors to the country and spreading Korean culture. It also had a couple of adaptations in Philippine and Vietnamese television.
Running Time: 59 minutes per episode
Where to watch: Netflix, Rakuten Viki
1. Vincenzo (2021)
K-Drama | Crime, Dark Comedy
Once you play the first episode, you’ll immediately start to wonder: wasn’t this a K-Drama? Why is Song Joong-ki speaking Italian and cruising along vineyards in Italy?
In this action-packed crime drama, the actor portrays a South Korean consigliere (Italian mafia lawyer) who returns to his homeland to recover gold stashed beneath a commercial building in Seoul. He realizes that he has to demolish it in order to acquire his fortune, but a massive conglomerate, Babel Group, has illegally taken ownership of the property. And not only that, this company had also committed a series of crimes, which pushes Vincenzo to use his skills and serve justice where it’s due.
Vincenzo Cassano is the epitome of an anti-hero, and we love how the actor portrayed this iconic role. He’s handsome, smooth, and incredibly ruthless, but you still can’t help but root for him despite all the violence and crimes he commits to serve justice for those wronged by Babel. He spoke Italian impressively well too and shared amazing chemistry with the cast, specifically the tenants of the building who became his found family in the show as he forms friendships and even a budding romance with the feisty lawyer, Hong Cha-young (played by Jeon Yeo-been).
We ranked this first because Vincenzo keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish without any dull moments and wraps up pretty well — a pleasant surprise considering many K-Dramas fail to give a satisfying end. It’s dark and twisted, but also comedic and heartfelt. 11/10, would watch and rewatch for a good time.
Running Time: 1 hour, 24 minutes per episode
Where to watch: Netflix
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