Song Joong Ki Discharged After Serving His Mandatory Military Duty

Some things need no preamble, and K-actor Song Joong Ki being released today after serving nearly two years of mandatory military service is one of those things that require no explanation for the excitement. Fans and throngs of K-media have been camped outside his military base since before dawn so Song Joong Ki’s exit walk was met with camera clicking fanfare. Even more than Yoo Seung Ho‘s discharge nearly six months ago, Song Joong Ki finishing his military duty feels like a car with the engine left running but the parking brakes pulled finally gets to release the clutch and take off at max speed.

Song Joong Ki’s return from military life feels rather temporary since he’s headed right into the filming of medical and military disaster zone K-drama Descendants of the Sun, where he’s also playing a military officer. I’m sure he didn’t pick that drama for the ease of playing that role but it’s so pretty funny that he won’t even need to grow his hair out much for it. I’m personally unholy amounts of exited about DotS for Song Joong Ki alone but the drama won’t hit the airwaves until October so for now I’ll just bask in the contented happiness of knowing he’s back for good. Check out all the welcome back pics below!


Comments

Song Joong Ki Discharged After Serving His Mandatory Military Duty — 31 Comments

  1. He still maintains his baby faced beauty ~~ Although he looks more mature ~~
    Awww, waiting for the script reading of Descendants of the sun on this week ~~
    Song-Song couple fighting!

  2. How does he maintain that face and skin after two years under the sun with intense military training?

    Sorry for such a superficial question, but SJK, WELCOME BACK!!!!!

  3. Super excited to see him back from military service. Waiting patiently for his comeback debut in Descendants of the Sun. Expectations are through the roof on this one 🙂 Thanks for sharing!

  4. So happy that he’s back…now I wait for news on the Descendants of the Sun with the Song-Song couple 🙂

    • How can the main lead join the filming a month later? They are all beginning filming a week from now, since he only has 1 week to rest. And I read that it will air in Korea and China simultaneously, but the chinese network announced it will start airing in September, so we might be getting an earlier premiere than we thought.

      • That’s what’s been reported in the press today, quoting a network/KBS rep: http://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=108&aid=0002420376

        26일 오전 KBS 드라마국 관계자에 따르면 송중기, 송혜교가 주연을 맡은 KBS 2TV 새 드라마 ‘태양의 후예'(극본 김은숙·김원석, 연출 이응복, 제작 바른손·NEW)가 오는 6월 첫 촬영을 시작한다. – filming will begin in June

        관계자는 “송중기의 복귀작인 ‘태양의 후예’가 다음 달 첫 촬영을 앞두고 있다”며 “오는 28일, 29일 중 ‘태양의 후예’ 첫 대본 리딩이 진행될 예정이다. 이번 대본 리딩에는 송중기 뿐만 아니라 송혜교, 진구, 김지원, 강신일, 온유, 서정연 등 극을 이끌어 갈 주요 배우들이 참석한다”고 밝혔다. – script will take place later this week (28-29th of May)

        관계자는 “대본 리딩 후 6월부터 본격 촬영이 진행된다”며 “송중기는 오는 7월 촬영장에 합류, 송혜교와 호흡한다”고 말했다. – filming will follow cast reading and SJK will join SHK in July

        이어 “송중기가 다른 주요 배우들보다 촬영장에 늦게 합류하는 이유는 군 전역 후 작품을 준비하는 기간을 주기 위해서다. 보다 완벽하게 작품에 몰입할 수 있도록 제작진과 송중기가 이미 얘기를 나눴다”고 덧붙였다. – the reason SJK will join them later is because we want to give him time to prepare for the role (ed note. possibly grow his hair back for instance?) and it’s already been discussed/decided with SJK.

        Both (writer) Kim Eun-Sook and PD Lee Eung-Bok were there to welcome him back in person and reportedly met him after his fan meeting, so my guess is that by discussion, they mean all parties.

        And I’ve never seen any rep either from the network or the production company state that he’d begin filming within a week from his discharge. That’s always been speculation.

        As for the airing date, maybe the Chinese network has a credible, independent source, but so far the only official statement on that matter is “later this year.”

      • @CL: But I still can’t understand how they can begin filming without the lead. What are they gonna film for a whole month? The surroundings? They can all just wait to begin filming in July if he really needs to grow his hair back or whatever. Or maybe the second leads will film their parts? IDK it seems very odd that one of the most important parts of a drama is not there from the beginning.
        @j2hr: They never said it will be completely pre-filmed. Only that it will air in the fall and since SJK only starts filming in July they won’t be able to finish all the filming and all the post production in 3 months. They’ll probably still be filming even in October. A drama usually takes about 5 months to shoot.

      • @jane: I don’t know why that’s an issue? It’s not like it’s unheard of, plenty of productions (not necessarily on k-dramas but that’s only because they work on a much tighter schedule than is, frankly, humanly possible) work around lead actors’ scheduling conflits and such, and if they have the scripts (which DotS does, through ep. 8 or so at this point), they can start with scenes that do not require the male lead, in this case filming SHK’s scenes first (eg. with her family, workplace).

  5. Joong-ki-ah!! OMG, he looks so good! I love his confidant, manly stride, and at the same time, I’m happy to see that he still has his boyish face. His face was thinner before he enlisted– I’m glad to see his cheeks have filled out again. I can’t wait until he lights up my screen again!

  6. Time does stand still for SJK. Where’s the justice? lol. Even baby faced Yoo Seung Ho looked more manly and matured after 2 years of service. He doesn’t even look tired, he looks like he’s filming for a military movie right now. I hope he graduated with abs underneath all that military uniform. I’m shallow.

  7. heh?! he didn’t change at all. He looks even younger than before and more prettier if that is even possible.
    I was waiting to see what military has done to him thinking that he will look drained out or something like that! I guess he is something else. Did he serve as a normal solider?
    anyway I’m waiting eagerly for his new drama. I don’t know why maybe because I don’t follow him as a person. I’ve never seen any interviews with him, but he always manages to captivate me with his roles wither the drama is good or not he is delivering.

    I hope this drama will have a happy ending.

  8. oppa!!!!!!!!!!!!! hahha….I’m so excited to see him so happy even after 2 years vigorous military training. Welcome back! Been waiting for 2 long years for your next bombastic work after Nice Guy and Werewolf Boy.

  9. .. is it just me, or is he really literally brimming although he just came out of the military? xD
    Welcome back, Joong-ki-ssi! 😀

  10. OH MAH GAWD my ultimate bias is BAAACK!!! How come he looks so dashing after two years of physical hard work? I read that he was in Investigation Division which is considered one of the most tiring and hardest divisions. But i can’t even find any traces of tiredness in his face. I’m soo proud of him <3 Soo glad he looks healthy and happy. Can't wait for the next drama!

  11. hell he didn’t change at all and even looks younger. i guess army does good to some people..now all left is to wait for his comeback drama..hope it’ll be good and worth the wait.

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