Song Joong Ki‘s versatility and boyish charm are often talked about in the same breath – he’s a scene stealer who doesn’t limit himself to genres, choosing stories and characters that showcase his varied repertoire as a performer. He was the fearless and charismatic captain in “Descendants of the Sun,” the innocent medical student who falls in love in “The Innocent Man,” and the suave, calculating mob consigliere in “Vincenzo.”
Song Joong Ki is once again proving his status as one of the top-grossing stars on the small screen with the fantasy drama “Reborn Rich,” which continues to create buzz and dominate the ratings. As Yoon Hyun Woo, the loyal secretary of an influential conglomerate family is treacherously killed after being wrongly accused of embezzlement. Reborn as the youngest son of the Jin Do Joon family, Hyun Woo calculates his revenge and uncovers secrets along the way. Song Joong Ki’s innate ability as a method actor to make a reel look real is reaffirmed as he perfectly grasps his character and the tone of the drama with deft ease.
So let’s go back and revisit five Song Joong Ki K-dramas that showcase his versatility as a scene-stealing actor!
“Descendants of the Sun”
Thanks to the star-studded relationship between a soldier and a surgeon, “Descendants of the Sun” remains a favorite of many and has a lot in common with Song Joong Ki, who plays Captain Yoo Shi Jin aka “Big Boss.” head of Special Task Force Alpha. Yoo Shi Jin is a great poster boy. He has swag and is a quirky, quick-thinking, gallant soldier with a strong brotherly code. He is a formidable opponent and a true comrade. Plus, Yoo Shi Jin and Seo Dae Young’s (Jin Goo’s) bromance is one of the best. If they are not ready to fall for others, boys can be pranksters who use their wit and magnetism to get out of sticky situations.
Yoo Shi Jin is a romantic at heart as he sweeps Dr. Kang Mo Yeon (Song Hye Kyo) with his irresistible charm, even though she is tired of the dangerous nature of his job. There is a cute moment when Mo Yeon asks him to choose his priority between Korea and her, to which he simply replies that she is his priority while Korea trusts him. He is a man who can take a bullet for love and also make sacrifices in the line of duty!
Song Joong Ki deftly shows many aspects of Yoo Shi Jin. He’s a stoic officer who shows his human side when he breaks down after taking on his former ally-turned-enemy, Daniel Spencer (Jasper Cho). He is also a man who defies protocol to save a life and a sensitive lover who respects his girlfriend and her decisions. If this is not the perfect man, then who is?
“Vincenzo”
“What is an apostle of justice? I’m just garbage that brings out more garbage. I can’t stand trash that smells worse than me.” Meet Vincenzo Cassano, a suave, clever and scheming consigliere whose innocent boyish face masks the harsh reality of his scheming ways.
Song Joong Ki plays Vincenzo, who embodies his villainy brilliantly. He is a smooth operator who manipulates and turns anyone into a pawn in his game plans. But things don’t always go according to plan and he turns into a vigilante group of mercenaries led by lawyer Hong Cha Young (Jeon Yeo Been) who brings down a corrupt conglomerate led by the dangerous and psychotic Jang Joon Woo (Taecyeon).
He plays a man who is loathe to show any emotion or remorse, and the only expression of his anger is a slight scowl and flicking of a lighter, which is his signature style before and after a dangerous mission. You definitely don’t want to mess with him. But Song Joong Ki gives you a glimpse into Vincenzo’s veiled, soft side, whether through reuniting with his biological mother, finding solace in the warmth of bunggeoppang (fish-shaped pastries), befriending a pigeon, or feeling the first thrills. love. Vincenzo isn’t trying to redeem himself – he’s just a man showing his many qualities: the good, the bad and the ugly, depending on which side you find yourself on. And Song Joong Ki brilliantly portrays Vincenzo Cassano. a golden performance that if you find yourself rooting for him, I can’t blame you.
“The Innocent Man”
Kang Ma Ru (Song Joong Ki), a bright and easy-going medical trainee, falls in love with his girlfriend Jae Hee (Park Si Yeon) in an incident that turns his life upside down. Betrayed by the woman he loved and his dreams crushed, Ma Ru is on a path of self-destruction, living as a gigolo bartender and con artist. However, when he meets Eun Gi (Moon Chae Won), who is connected to Jae Hee, Ma Ru finds the perfect bait to exact his revenge on his ex-girlfriend.
Song Joong Ki will arrest you with his emotional performance in “The Innocent Man,” which reveals the many complexities and attributes of Kang Ma Ru. His eyes are a greenhouse, showing Ma Rui’s vulnerability and anxiety on the one hand, and his steely and dispassionate gaze on the other, devoid of any feelings or warmth. Although “The Innocent Man” seems a little stretched in parts, Song Joong Ki as the tortured Kang Ma Ru is so convincing that you find yourself drawn into his anguish and heartbreak and rooting for him.
“Sungkyunkwan Scandal”
A gender-bender school drama set in the Joseon period, “Sungkyunkwan Scandal” is special in many ways because it became a breakthrough drama for many actors, including Song Joong Ki. Kim Yoon Hee (Park Min Young) disguises herself as a young man to earn money by rewriting books. He even helps the young nobles pass the exam at Sungkyunkwan University, where he also enrolls to study. The only downside is that it’s off limits to women. Here begins her trial with a series of misadventures involving three young men played by Park Yoochun, Yoo Ah In and Song Joong Ki.
Song Joong Ki as Goo Yong Ha is a spoiled, flirtatious and outrageous troublemaker, and the 2010 drama was truly a showcase of the actor’s chops waiting to be discovered. His so-called “womanizer” character is sassy and devilishly playful, making you both angry and enthralled at the same time. He is effortless and excels in comedy, a genre that many find difficult. Although he is not the lead in this drama, he proves to be a thorough entertainer in the role.
“Arthdal Chronicles”
What’s better than one Song Joong Ki? Two songs by Joong Kis! It’s one of the main reasons to watch this show, which embraces a genre that hasn’t been explored before in the K-dramaworld. In “Arthdal Chronicles,” “Avatar” meets “Game of Thrones” in a visually arresting and engaging fantasy drama about power struggles, palace intrigue, prophecies and mysticism. Set in the Bronze Age in the mythical land of Arth, weak native tribes are traded by the strong and powerful who conquer their land and torture their people. Song Joong Ki plays a dual role as Eun Seom and Saya, long-lost identical twins – one a commoner and the other a royal. Eun Seom is brave a heart and a free spirit who has suffered through a life of hardship, but upholds the cause of his people and protects the woman he loves. Saya, on the other hand, grew up lonely despite her wealth and is cold and has no aversion to violence and cruelty.
The actor masterfully portrays the dichotomy of his two characters. There’s the breathtakingly beautiful Saya in his royal robes, who exudes a refined and impersonal vibe, while Eun Seom, raw and rugged in his rustic appeal, is the heart. As always, the multi-hyphenated Song Joong Ki manages to cast his spell with this drama, drawing you into his countless colorful drama verses.