Descendants of the Sun

Main

The four lead actors of Descendants of the Sun at a press conference in February 2016. Clockwise from top left: Song Joong-ki asYoo Shi-jin and Song Hye-kyo as Kang Mo-yeon; Jin Goo as Seo Dae-young and Kim Ji-won as Yoon Myung-joo.

• Song Joong-ki as Captain Yoo Shi-jin:

A captain in the 707th Special Mission Group, the leader of Alpha Team, and a member of the Taebaek Unit.^[1][2] Shi-jin is portrayed as an elite soldier in the Republic of Korea Army,^[3][4] characterized by the bravery, discipline, and accountability of a serviceman.^[5][6] He falls in love with Kang Mo-yeon upon their first meeting; their romance is complicated by his lethal military obligations and her commitment to saving lives. Behind Shi-jin's professional mask lies a playful character.^[7] In the fictional setting of Uruk, where the characters encounter various humanitarian crises, he shows his loyalty and humanism, thus becoming a representative figure of the modern soldier, nicknamed "Captain Korea".^[1][8] In the series finale, he is promoted to Major.^[9] His call sign is Big Boss.^[2]

• Song Hye-kyo as Kang Mo-yeon:

A cardiothoracic surgeon at Haesung Hospital who exemplifies both humanitarianism and medical ethics.^[10] A sharp and impatient woman who confronts the injustices of the medical system,^[11] she demonstrates a strong sense of duty and sharp judgment when faced with life-or-death medical emergencies in Uruk.^[12][13] Although she falls for Shi-jin at first sight, Mo-yeon initially suppresses her feelings due to their divergent professional ethics; she eventually embraces the risks of their relationship.^[7][14]

• Jin Goo as Master Sergeant Seo Dae-young:

The vice-captain of Alpha Team and Shi-jin's best friend. A model soldier, he is recognized for his stoicism, discipline, and loyalty.^[1][15] Though he loves Yoon Myung-joo, they are kept apart by military hierarchy and her father's disapproval. Through the storyline, he fights for his personal happiness, and eventually reconciles his duty with his feelings for her, all without resigning from the army.^[16] His nickname is Wolf.^[2]

• Kim Ji-won as First Lieutenant Yoon Myung-joo:

An army surgeon and the only daughter of Commander Yoon Gil-joon. Portrayed as strong and emotive, she persistently fights for her relationship with Dae-young, defying her father's prejudice to assert her agency in both love and life.^[17][18] Myung-joo serves as a relationship link between various characters.^[19] She and Mo-yeon are former medical school classmates;^[20] their relationship evolves from rivalry^[21] to close friendship.^[22]

Supporting

Special appearances

List of actors and characters who made special appearances and were acknowledged in the closing credits:

• Lee Kwang-soo as a shooting arcade operator (episode 1).^[66]
• Jung Ji-won as a television announcer (episodes 2, 16).^[67][68]
• Lee Jong-hyuk as Captain Kim Jin-seok (episodes 2, 5, 10, and 15): A soldier killed in action during a battle to rescue Agus; he appears solely in Shi-jin's flashbacks.^[69][70]
• Ryu Hwa-young as Seo Dae-young's ex-girlfriend (episode 4).^[71]
• Park Joon-geum as Lee Chi-hoon's mother (episodes 7, 11).^[46][72]
• Yoo Ah-in as a bank teller (episode 13).^[73]
• Lee Jae-yong as Lieutenant General Choi Ji-ho of the Korean People's Army (episodes 13, 14): The mastermind behind the employment of North Korean special forces as contract killers for criminal syndicates. With Shi-jin's assistance, Ahn exposes him as a traitor to his country.^[53][74]
• Red Velvet as themselves (episode 16): The group visits the military base to perform "Dumb Dumb".^[75]

Development

On February 18, 2014, Hwa&Dam Pictures announced that writers Kim Eun-sook and Kim Won-seok were collaborating on a series tentatively titled Descendants of the Sun. The project was described as a "humanistic blockbuster" melodrama set in disaster zones, a rarity in Korean drama history. It was originally slated to air on SBS.^[76]

Planning began in 2011,^[77] though the project initially received a "not very bright" industry assessment due to its high budget and risky disaster-themed setting.^[78] Kim Eun-sook proactively reached out to Kim Won-seok to collaborate on adapting and revising his award-winning 2011 screenplay, Doctors Without Borders (국경없는 의사회). Through an open and collaborative process, the pair reconstructed the script, debating and editing ideas until reaching a consensus.^[79] They drew inspiration from the humanitarian efforts of World Vision, 119 emergency medical services, Médecins Sans Frontières, and the Republic of Korea Army Special Warfare Command.^[80]

To strengthen the romantic and melodramatic elements, Kim Eun-sook changed the protagonist, Yoo Shi-jin, from a doctor to a special forces officer in the Republic of Korea Army.^[79][81] She stated that the fictional mission was inspired by the ROK Army's 2004 deployment to Iraq.^[82] The series' title and its setting in "Uruk" have been noted by researcher Patrick Flamm as allusions to the ancient Sumerian city and the Epic of Gilgamesh.^[83] Kim Won-seok described Kim Eun-sook's ability to move readers through her script revisions as "magic";^[79] he joked that "if [she] wrote the money-making melodramatic scenes, I wrote the money-spending action scenes."^[84] To ensure authenticity, Kim Won-seok and the film crew consulted with the ROK Army Headquarters and medical experts.^[80][85]

In July 2014, Hwa&Dam Pictures transferred the project to Barunson Inc., with Next Entertainment World (NEW) serving as investor and distributor. Concurrently, Kim Eun-sook ended her twelve-year association with SBS. The network ultimately declined the series,^[78] citing concerns that a disaster-themed melodrama set abroad lacked commercial appeal and that the prevalence of military uniforms would restrict product placement opportunities.^[82] Several other networks also rejected the project due to its "blockbuster" scale and an initial budget estimate of ₩30 billion.^[86] In October 2014, KBS agreed to broadcast the series and began discussing production plans for the first half of 2015.^[87]

Pre-production

On November 13, 2014, Lee Eung-bok was announced as the director of Descendants of the Sun.^[88] While overseas production was initially planned for late 2014,^[76] the team postponed the schedule to mid-2015 and selected locations in Greece for principal filming.^[89] To meet Chinese market requirements, the series was entirely pre-produced, a departure from the traditional Korean live-shoot model. While intended to improve production quality and actor immersion, this format risked mistimed brand sponsorships and precluded adjustments based on real-time viewer feedback.^[90] The production team called the move a financial necessity to ensure simultaneous broadcast in China, rather than a creative choice; they had originally seen partial pre-production as a more viable approach, since a full pre-shoot's extended schedule significantly increases costs beyond industry norms.^[77]

By mid-January 2015, casting for the lead roles was underway.^[91] Song Joong-ki accepted the male lead as his first role after military service,^[92][93] while Song Hye-kyo was reported to be a strong candidate as the female lead.^[94] Their casting garnered attention following their recent successes: Song Joong-ki in The Innocent Man (2012) and Song Hye-kyo in That Winter, the Wind Blows (2013) and My Brilliant Life (2014).^[95] On April 2, 2015, Song Hye-kyo, Jin Goo and Kim Ji-won were confirmed for their main roles. The cast featured Song Joong-ki as special forces team leader Yoo Shi-jin and Song Hye-kyo as doctor Kang Mo-yeon. Jin Goo played non-commissioned officer Seo Dae-young, and Kim Ji-won portrayed army surgeon Yoon Myung-joo.^[96]

Later in April, SM Entertainment confirmed Shinee's Onew as a junior doctor under Mo-yeon.^[97] The following month, KBS announced the addition of Kang Shin-il and Seo Jeong-yeon; the former was initially cast as Yoo Shi-jin's father.^[98] Further additions included Jo Woo-ri as Onew's partner, Hyun Jyu-ni as Mo-yeon's friend, Lee Seung-joon as a senior doctor, and Lee Yi-kyung.^[99] Jo Jae-yoon was later confirmed to play an antagonistic construction manager.^[100] The production employed over 350 staff members.^[101] In October 2014, Hangzhou-based Huace Media bought a 13.03% stake in NEW for CN¥323 million (₩53.5 billion), providing major funding ahead of the show's pre-production.^[102][103] By early June 2015, distribution rights were sold to China at a premium prior to filming, driven by the popularity of Kim Eun-sook and Song Hye-kyo, which helped offset production costs.^[104][105] Additional financial support was provided by Dal.komm Coffee and the Export–Import Bank of Korea.^[106]

Filming

The series was filmed in Taebaek, South Korea (top), and on the island of Zakynthos, Greece (bottom).

The cast attended the first script reading for the series on May 28, 2015. Principal photography began on June 12 in South Korea, where filming took place for three months at various locations, including military bases and hospitals.^[107] The production received support from the ROK Army and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.^[82] Scenes set in the fictional country of Uruk, inspired by Iraq,^[108] were filmed on a 19,500-square-metre (210,000 sq ft) set in Taebaek^[109] and an indoor set in Anseong.^[85]

Production moved to Greece from September 28 to November 2, 2015.^[107][110] Filming focused on the coastal scenery of Zakynthos, specifically Navagio Beach, the backdrop for a date scene between the leads.^[85][111] To meet the Chinese National Radio and Television Administration's deadline for simultaneous broadcast review, filming was scheduled to be completed in South Korea by December.^[112] Although most of his scenes wrapped late in the year, Ji Seung-hyun filmed his first-episode scenes in August.^[54] On November 23, Song Joong-ki's injury during an action sequence suspended his filming for two weeks.^[113][114] Principal photography wrapped on December 30, 2015.^[115]

Post-production

The production allocated ₩2 billion to art design, with computer-generated imagery (CGI) for the Uruk landscape and earthquake sequences accounting for a significant, though undisclosed, portion of post-production costs.^[116] Visual effects (VFX) were used to create realistic scenes, depict dangerous sequences safely, and insert localized product placement for the Chinese broadcast.^[117] At a February 2016 press conference, the production team described the series as a story of "wonderful young people", noting that pre-production allowed for improving the script's quality; Kim Eun-sook called it her best "fantasy" script.^[101] She reflected that while pre-production allowed actors to better understand their characters, the inability to adjust the script based on their performances during filming caused her anxiety regarding the emotional impact of certain scenes.^[118] The series had a production cost of ₩13 billion, which was fully recouped before the first broadcast.^[119]

Promotion

During the production phase, behind-the-scenes footage and stills featuring the cast were released online.^{[174][175][176]} On December 24, 2015, NEW released a 20-second clip on Facebook highlighting the romantic chemistry between leads Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo.^[177] The company followed this with a similar 23-second clip on December 29.^[178] The first official trailer for Descendants of the Sun premiered at the 2015 KBS Drama Awards.^[179] On January 8, 2016, NEW released a teaser focusing on the emotional dynamic between Jin Goo and Kim Ji-won.^[180] Subsequent teasers introducing the styling, backgrounds, and personalities of Song Hye-kyo and Song Joong-ki were released on January 15 and January 21, respectively.^[181][182] The promotional poster was unveiled on February 1, 2016, depicting Song Joong-ki kneeling to tie Song Hye-kyo's shoelaces in a disaster-stricken setting.^[183]

On February 5, 2016, the main trailer was posted on Naver TV Cast.^[184] A short behind-the-scenes countdown clip was released on February 12.^[185] The team continued to release a series of promotional images, including Onew in his role as a doctor,^[186] the chemistry between Jin Goo and Kim Ji-won,^[187] the camaraderie between Jin Goo and Song Joong-ki,^[188] and the "womance" between Song Hye-kyo and Kim Ji-won.^[189] On February 17, 2016, KBS released posters featuring the four main characters and aired a preview immediately following the finale of the historical drama The Merchant: Gaekju 2015.^[190][191] A second promotional poster, featuring Song Joong-ki kissing Song Hye-kyo, was released the day before the broadcast premiere.^[192]

Broadcast

The scheduled release of Descendants of the Sun was postponed multiple times during production.^[h] The series eventually aired on Wednesdays and Thursdays on KBS2, taking over the time slot of The Merchant: Gaekju 2015.^[196] It ran from February 24 to April 14, 2016.^[9] Following the conclusion of the main series, KBS broadcast three special episodes from April 20 to April 22, 2016, featuring production highlights and behind-the-scenes content.^[197] KBS and NEW agreed to a profit-sharing ratio of 40:60 for distribution and copyright revenues, a departure from the industry norm where broadcasters typically retain the majority of rights.^[198] Internationally, the rights were sold to Japan for approximately ₩2 billion,^[199] where it aired on the CS Channel from June 21 to August 9, 2016, with a re-broadcast beginning on September 27.^[200] In Vietnam, DID TV partnered with Ho Chi Minh City Television to acquire rights, airing a voice-over version on HTV2 starting April 21, 2016.^[201] By late March 2016, broadcast rights had been sold to 32 countries.^[202]

Other distribution

iQIYI, a video-streaming affiliate of Baidu, purchased the exclusive rights to stream the show in China for approximately US$250,000 per episode, totaling about 40% of the production costs. By broadcasting on iQIYI at the same time as the South Korean premiere, Descendants of the Sun became the first Korean drama to air simultaneously in both South Korea and China.^[103] Due to strict content regulations in China, certain scenes were excised,^[203] such as a three-minute fight sequence involving North Korean soldiers in the first episode, which was removed for political reasons.^[204] By September 2016, the series was made available for international streaming on Netflix.^[205]

On April 30, 2016, Wisdom House published a companion book titled Descendants of the Sun Photo Essay.^[206] Upon its release, several customers reported issues regarding poor print quality and unsatisfactory editorial layout, with some seeking refunds.^[207][208] A two-volume novelization of the series, edited by Son Hyun-kyung, was published by Wisdom House on July 7, 2016.^[209][210] The series was released on DVD and Blu-ray in a Director's cut edition in South Korea on February 14, 2017. Home video versions were also released in international markets including Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, and Malaysia.^[211][212] While plans for a two-hour film adaptation and a sequel were announced, neither project has materialized.^[213][214]

Commercial performance

In 2016, Descendants of the Sun was recorded as the highest-earning K-drama among Hallyu content.^[215] By March 23, 2016, the production had recouped its ₩13 billion production cost and earned over ₩10 billion in additional profit through export rights to 27 countries and various promotional activities.^[119] By the end of its run, the series was estimated to have generated ₩3.5 billion from product placement and approximately ₩9.6 billion from advertising sales, consisting of ₩6.6 billion during the initial broadcast and a projected ₩3 billion from reruns.^[86][216] The series' OST earned ₩12 billion in 2016, accounting for approximately 58% of the total soundtrack market sales for that year.^[217] The OST also achieved significant success in China; on the music platform KuGou alone, the soundtrack package sold over 260,000 units, generating approximately ₩916 million in revenue by mid-April 2016.^[218]

Critical response

Viewership

By the time of its finale in April 2016, Descendants of the Sun had surpassed 2.67 billion cumulative views on iQIYI.^[231] Domestically, it became the first miniseries to surpass 30% in viewership ratings since MBC's Moon Embracing the Sun (2012), though its final ratings remained below the latter's peak of 42.2%. The drama set a precedent in an industry where ratings had been declining; while a show achieving in the mid-10% range was considered a success, Descendants of the Sun recorded a final nationwide rating of 38.8% and a capital area rating of 41.6%. Its audience share reached 58% nationwide and 61% in the capital area.^[232]

Awards and nominations

At the 52nd Baeksang Arts Awards, Descendants of the Sun won the Grand Prize for Television, and received nominations including Best Drama, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Scriptwriter.^[235][236] It received Best Drama at the 9th Korea Drama Awards.^[237] The drama also swept the 2016 KBS Drama Awards, where lead actors Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo shared the Grand Prize.^[238][239] The series won Best Drama at the 43rd Korean Broadcasting Grand Prize^[240] and the Grand Prize for Excellence in Production from the Korea Communications Commission Broadcasting Awards.^[241] Both lead actors were awarded Presidential Commendations at the Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards.^[242] Internationally, the drama gained the Best Drama Series title at the 21st Asian Television Awards,^[243] and Excellent Korean Drama at the 11th Seoul International Drama Awards.^[244]

Controversies

The series was criticized for blatant product placement (PPL).^[139] Following the plot's return to South Korea in episode 13, critics and viewers argued that the frequent appearance of products, including red ginseng, almonds, and automobiles, felt forced and disrupted audience immersion, particularly during high-stakes scenes.^[i] The Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC) subsequently reviewed the matter.^[248] Kim Won-seok denied political intentions regarding the show's perceived militarism, stating he aimed to depict a country's response to disasters. Kim acknowledged that PPL was not integrated into the storyline as seamlessly as intended.^[249]

Following the premiere, viewers complained that loud background music obscured dialogue; producer Ham Young-hoon pledged to investigate and adjust the audio balance.^[250] In episode 8, a scene featuring the character Seo Dae-young swearing drew debate. Although some found the language contextually appropriate, the KCSC issued an administrative "recommendation" for violating broadcast language regulations.^[251] In Vietnam, the show's popularity sparked debate over South Korea's historical role in the Vietnam War. While one journalist argued the show ignored past war crimes committed by Korean troops, many viewers countered that the drama focused on a fictional UN peacekeeping mission unrelated to historical conflicts.^{[139][252][253]}

Viewers identified several unrealistic plot points, such as a helicopter landing on a hospital roof to retrieve a captain, physically impossible car stunts, incorrect CPR technique, and the protagonist's disobedience of military orders.^[254][255] South Korean men who completed their military service described the drama as "far removed from reality", comparing its inaccuracies to "talking about science while watching a cartoon".^[256] Sports Q criticized Lee Chi-hoon's story arc as "forced", noting that viewers struggled to empathize with the character being labeled a coward for failing a rescue under impossible circumstances.^[31]

Economic and cultural impact

Descendants of the Sun generated substantial economic impact in South Korea in 2016. The Export–Import Bank of Korea estimated the series produced ₩1 trillion in economic effects,^[257] while other analyses, accounting for intangible benefits like national branding, placed its value at ₩3 trillion.^[258] The series shifted Chinese consumer behavior; viewers' demand for featured health supplements and fashion items drove an increase in online direct sales and tourism spending in early 2016.^[259] Following the 2015 lifting of a decade-long export ban, the series' depiction of samgyetang was credited with boosting the dish's popularity and exports in China.^[260]

The series also benefited the Chinese streaming platform iQIYI, where paid subscriptions rose from 10 million to 15 million during the show's run. Chinese media estimated iQIYI earned at least ₩35 billion in revenue from the series.^[261] Product placements saw surging sales in South Korea and China,^[j] leading major duty-free, cosmetic, and airline conglomerates to compete for the lead cast as models. Some affiliated beauty brands reported 50% sales increases, with featured products selling out globally.^[265] The series became a tool for national branding; lead actor Song Joong-ki was appointed the face of international tourism campaigns,^[139] and former filming sites in Taebaek and Paju DMZ were developed into tourist destinations.^[109][266]

Song Joong-ki's popularity in China led fans to refer to him as the "Nation's Husband".^[265] The Chinese Ministry of Public Safety even issued a warning on Weibo regarding "Song Joong-ki lovesickness", noting that extreme obsession had caused domestic disputes.^[267] Conversely, the People's Liberation Army newspaper praised the series as a "great national service advertisement" and an effective recruitment tool.^[268] Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha commended the drama for inspiring patriotism and suggested state support for similar "socially beneficial" productions.^[269] President Park Geun-hye remarked that the series stimulated foreign interest in Korean culture,^[270] later referring to South Korean UN peacekeepers in South Sudan as the "real descendants of the sun".^[271]

Industry impact

Descendants of the Sun was the first major Korean drama to center on peacekeeping operations, portraying South Korea as an active agent in global foreign policy.^[271] This marked a shift from earlier military series like Iris (2009) and Athena: Goddess of War (2010–2011), which focused on the inter-Korean conflict.^[82] The drama is regarded as a symbol of South Korea's emergence as a middle power, intertwining a fictional mission with national identity.^[271] Its commercial success made it a frequent subject of academic analysis, particularly in China, where researchers examine it as an example of using television to project soft power.^[122]

The series production demonstrated a move away from domestic market constraints and toward international co-production.^[272] By guiding viewers to legitimate platforms and facilitating piracy crackdowns, its success showed that simultaneous broadcasting in China and South Korea might optimize revenues. As the first major success of the 100% pre-production model, the series validated a strategy necessitated by Chinese censorship. This led to a surge of pre-produced titles aimed at the Chinese market, including Uncontrollably Fond, Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, Saimdang, Memoir of Colors, and Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth.^[77] However, subsequent pre-produced series often underperformed, leading to the industry term "pre-production jinx". A setback for these dramas was their inability to keep up with current trends and their suffering from seasonal discrepancies, such as winter scenes airing in the summer. Therefore, Descendants of the Sun remained a rare exception in the pre-produced format.^[273]

Amidst the drama's success, Netflix announced plans to develop original Korean content while securing international distribution rights for the series.^{[274][275][276]} Lead actors Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo, who initially denied dating rumors, announced their engagement on July 5, 2017.^[277] In response, the KBS Drama cable channel aired a two-day marathon of the series.^[278] The couple divorced on July 22, 2019.^[279]

Adaptation

In July 2016, a Chinese film adaptation produced by Huace Film & TV and directed by Zhang Yibai was announced, though it has yet to be produced.^[280] In the Philippines, the series was adapted as Descendants of the Sun: The Philippine Adaptation, which aired from February 10 to December 25, 2020.^[281] The cast featured Jennylyn Mercado, Dingdong Dantes, Rocco Nacino, and Jasmine Curtis-Smith.^[282] The Philippine adaptation won the Most Popular Foreign Drama of the Year award at the 15th Seoul International Drama Awards.^[283]

A Vietnamese adaptation consisting of 48 episodes was broadcast from September 29 to November 19, 2018.^[284][285] Directed by Trần Bửu Lộc, the remake starred Song Luân, Khả Ngân, Hữu Vi, and Cao Thái Hà.^[286] The Vietnamese series received mixed reviews during its run.^[287][288] The Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence requested broadcaster VTC to correct inaccuracies in the series regarding the etiquette, regulations, and imagery of the People's Army of Vietnam.^[289] The broadcasting rights for the Vietnamese adaptation were acquired by iQIYI and Netflix, where it was re-edited into 24 one-hour episodes.^[290]