Because of his portraying the role of Army Captain Yoo Si Jin in “Descendants of the Sun,” Korean actor Song Joong-ki became the most popular celebrity in South Korea and China. The popularity translated into two awards at the 52nd Baeksang Art Awards and trillion won income from endorsements.
Four Korean actors must now be regretting their decision not to take the role of Yoo Si Jin. Soompi reported that in the Monday edition of tvN’s “The List 2016,” the show discussed actors who experienced good and bad luck in casting. Song Joong-ki appears to be on the good luck side.
Won Bin, Jo In Sung, Gong Yoo and Kim Woo Bin turned down the role. According to the show, they rejected acting as Yoo Si Jin because the role required them to have short haircut and the 16-episode Hallyi would be 100 percent pre-produced.
During the time casting was being done, Song Joong-ki was serving his two-year compulsory military service, so he was used to short haircuts. It was during this time that he got the script for “Descendants of the Sun” and accepted the role as his comeback acting vehicle.
The 38-year-old Won Bin starred in “The Man from Nowhere,” “Autumn in My Heart” and “Taegukgi” and is married to Lee Na Young with whom he has a child.
Jo In Sung, 34, has starred in a lot of TV dramas and movies such as “School 3,” “That Winter, The Wind Blows,” and “It’s Okay, That’s Love.”
In real life, the name of 36-year-old Gong Yu is Gong Ji Chul. Among his acting credits are “School 4,” “Biscuit Teacher and Star Candy” and “Coffee Prince.”
The youngest is 26-year-old Kim Woo Bin who starred in “Heirs,” “School 2013” and “To the Beautiful You.”
Another Korean actor, Kim Hyun Joong, was not offered the role but regrets losing his popularity because of his ex-girlfriend scandal which he blamed for not earning as much as Song Joong-ki now.