Song Joong-ki

Song Joong-ki is a South Korean television and film actor who gained widespread recognition as a leading Korean Wave star. He achieved early fame through the historical television drama Sungkyunkwan Scandal and his appearance as a regular cast member on the variety show Running Man. Over his career, he has earned accolades including two Baeksang Arts Awards, two Blue Dragon Film Awards, and a Buil Film Award, along with multiple inclusions on the Forbes Korea Power Celebrity 40 list and selection as Gallup Korea's Television Actor of the Year.

Song was born in Dong District, Daejeon, South Korea, as the middle of three children. During his youth, he competed in short-track speed skating at the national level representing his hometown until a high school injury ended his athletic career. Demonstrating strong academic performance, he earned high marks on the national college entrance exam and enrolled at Sungkyunkwan University, graduating in 2012 with a degree in Business Administration and a minor in broadcasting. His initial public television appearance occurred as a contestant on the game show Quiz Korea, where he placed second.

Song made his professional acting debut in the 2008 period feature film A Frozen Flower. He subsequently took on supporting roles in film and television projects such as Five Senses of Eros, Triple, Will It Snow for Christmas?, OB & GY, and Hearty Paws 2, while also co-hosting the music program Music Bank. His breakout role came in 2010 with the fusion historical drama Sungkyunkwan Scandal. Following this success, he appeared in the romantic comedy Penny Pinchers and earned critical acclaim for his portrayal of young King Sejong in the historical series Deep Rooted Tree.

The year 2012 marked a major turning point in Song's career, highlighted by his roles in the fantasy romance film A Werewolf Boy and his first leading television drama role in The Innocent Man. Both projects achieved significant commercial and critical success. In 2013, he transferred to Blossom Entertainment before enlisting for his mandatory military service, serving in an infantry unit performing reconnaissance missions along the Demilitarized Zone until his discharge in 2015.

Upon his return to acting, Song starred in the hit 2016 military romance series Descendants of the Sun, which attained massive ratings across Asia and cemented his position as a global star. His performance led to numerous top awards, appointment as a Korean Tourism Honorary Ambassador, and major commercial endorsements. He followed this success with prominent roles in the historical action film The Battleship Island (2017) and the historical fantasy drama Arthdal Chronicles (2019). In early 2020, he joined the talent management company History D&C.

In recent years, Song has continued to lead high-profile film and television productions. He starred in the 2021 space sci-fi feature Space Sweepers and the highly rated crime drama series Vincenzo, followed by the record-breaking 2022 revenge series Reborn Rich. His subsequent film work includes the neo-noir thriller Hopeless (2023), which screened at the Cannes Film Festival and won him a Buil Film Award, as well as the 2024 drama My Name Is Loh Kiwan and the crime thriller Bogota: City of the Lost.