Edited by Hwang Hong Sun
Translated by Kim Hoyeun
Song Joong Ki was a short track speed skater who was good enough to compete in the national sports event during his school days. However, he had to quit after suffering an injury. After he got into college, he started working in the broadcasting club and prepared for the PD and announcer exam, but gave up when he realized that it wasn’t the path for him and joined an acting academy.
In 2008, Song Joong Ki made his debut by playing the role of No Tak, King’s guard, in A Frozen Flower. At first, he played a small role with no lines, but he didn’t spare himself at the filming set. Since then, he has gained many experiences in dramas, including My Precious You (2008), Triple (2009), and Will it Snow for Christmas? (2009), then in 2010, he started to gain popularity by playing the playful role of Goo Yong Ha in Sungkyunkwan Scandal.
His performances in the small screen continued. He made a surprise appearance and played the younger days of King Se Jong in Tree With Deep Roots (2011), and made a hit with The Innocent Man, the first drama he played the leading role. After making back-to-back success, Song Joong Ki turned his eyes to the big screen and met A Werewolf Boy, which taught him a lot about being an actor.
A Werewolf Boy takes place when a girl who moves to a quiet village meets a boy whose whole life is covered with secrets. Song Joong Ki played the role of Chul Soo, a werewolf boy who is more like a beast than a person, and put a lot of effort into the character who has to act only with gestures and facial expressions. He picked up on their habits after watching documentaries about animals, and learned mime to make a habit of fully using his body. Song Joong Ki later said that he learned the basics of acting through the movie during the press preview for A Werewolf Boy.
With Song Joong Ki’s passionate performances, A Werewolf Boy became a box office hit after attracting 7 million viewers nationwide, becoming the number one box office hit in the Korean melodrama genre. Unfortunately, Song Joong Ki, who started the “Chul Soo Craze,” joined the military after finishing the work.
After his discharge from the military, Song Joong Ki perfectly led Descendants of the Sun (2016) and became the new Hallyu star, dispelling concerns about his hiatus. This year, he will meet fans with his new film Space Sweepers, directed by Cho Sung Hee, who he has already worked with in A Werewolf Boy.
