I recently finished watching the new k-drama (or Korean drama, for the uninitiated: a k-drama usually has 16 to 24 episodes, hour-long installments featuring all the drama, romance and cross dressing you could ever need) entitled 태양의 후예, or "Descendants of the Sun" (a.k.a DOTS) and I was amazed. This k-drama was able to combine the intense aspect of a military operation with a complex romance into an enticing 16 episode show. I was hooked. It established a relationship between the two main characters in the first episode. Don’t misunderstand, there were ups and downs in their relationship, just like any other k-drama, but there wasn't a love triangle destroying the plot. The focus surrounded the main characters, Doctor Kang Moyeon and Captain Yoo Shijin, and it involved kidnappings, earthquakes, and various Ebola-like diseases.
Briefly, the plot consisted of a Special Forces captain in the South Korean army who falls for a doctor. He, and the rest of his soldiers, accompany the doctor and few of her fellow doctors and nurses to Uruk, a fictional city somewhere in the Middle East, where there was always some tragedy occurring causing my heart to pound out of my chest. Captain Yoo Shijin, played by Song Joongki, was the perfect man. Even my dad watched this show and he admitted that Captain Yoo was very handsome and charismatic! One of Captain Yoo's favorite phrases was “남자답게” which translates into “like a man.” He provided some much needed comic relief to break up the tension of the military operations. Even though this show was about a military base experiencing various crises, I laughed many times while watching it. One of the funniest characters was Doctor Lee, played by k-pop band SHINee's leader, Onew!
Among the 30+ k-dramas I have watched, "DOTS" is one definitely in my top 5, up there with "Secret Garden" and "Kill Me Heal Me." Before "DOTS" I had only seen Song Joongki in one other production, "Werewolf Boy." He showed his incredible acting skills in that movie but I was still surprised at how charming he was in DOTS.
And I’m not the only one. Song Joongki’s popularity skyrocketed after the show. "Descendants of the Sun" was shown in Korea and China simultaneously, and it became wildly popular in China, too. Song Joongki is now the face of many products, from beauty cream to airplanes. The Korean government has even acknowledged his popularity and made him the Korean Tourism Ambassador. If you travel to Korea, you will be greeted by a cardboard cutout of Song Joongki, welcoming you to the country!
Watch out for season two coming out next year! I know I will.
