page_title: Song Joong-ki
section_title: 2008–2011: Beginnings and breakthrough
hierarchical_section_title: Song Joong-ki / Career / 2008–2011: Beginnings and breakthrough
caption_attribution_description: English: Song Joong Ki at MelOn Music Awards 2010
context_page_description: Song Joong-ki is a South Korean actor. He rose to fame in the historical coming-of-age drama Sungkyunkwan Scandal and the variety show Running Man as one of the original cast members. Since then, he played a diverse spectrum of roles in the television series The Innocent Man, Descendants of the Sun and Arthdal Chronicles, as well as the box office hits A Werewolf Boy and The Battleship Island —both on the list of highest-grossing films in South Korea.
  Song was Gallup Korea's Actor of the Year in 2017. He was first included in the Forbes Korea Power Celebrity list in 2013 placing seventh, and subsequently ranking second in 2017, and eighth in 2018. The success of his works internationally established him as a top Hallyu star.
context_section_description: Song made his acting debut in the 2008 period film A Frozen Flower. The following year, he appeared in the couple-swapping segment "Believe in the Moment" of omnibus Five Senses of Eros and continued to take on small but notable roles in Triple and Will It Snow for Christmas?. 
  Song also became a regular host of KBS Friday music program Music Bank from 2009 to 2010. He then appeared in the 2010 medical drama OB & GY, and animal movie sequel Hearty Paws 2.
  Song's breakout role came in the fusion historical drama Sungkyunkwan Scandal where he played the role of an 18th-century Joseon-era rich, indolent playboy. Despite stable but unspectacular ratings, the drama became a cult hit and his on-screen "bromance" with a then-unknown Yoo Ah-in was popular with viewers. Song also joined the cast of variety program Running Man from 2010 to 2011.
  Song later released the book Beautiful Skin Project, a bestselling health and beauty guide for men (which was re-released in Japan in 2013). In late 2010, he went on a bicycling tour around Sydney, which aired two episodes on TV via ELLE, an offshoot of the eponymous fashion magazine. Moreover, a TV special of the actor's trip to Japan entitled I'm Real: Song Joong-ki aired two parts in early 2011. Song later became an MC for jTBC audition program Made in U.
  In 2011, Song starred as a jobless deadbeat in the romantic comedy Penny Pinchers. His acting performance was praised by critics, declaring him a "charismatic, swoon-worthy leading man with a viable presence."
  Song took on the role of the young king Sejong in Deep Rooted Tree (2011). Critics praised Song's performance, calling it a portrayal of a genius who "realizes the futility of power early in life" and hides in his books to cope with growing up under the rule of his tyrannical father Taejong. Song received the PD Award at the 2011 SBS Drama Awards for the role.
  He later narrated the six-part documentary Tears of the Antarctic for MBC program Tears of the Earth (2012), which focuses on pressing environmental issues on the planet and donated his entire salary to charity. He reprised his role as narrator when the series was re-edited and released in theaters as Pengi and Sommi (2012). He later went on a fan-meeting tour called Song Joong-ki Asia Fan Meeting Tour – THRILL & LOVE, holding fan meetings in Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan, and South Korea.
caption: Song as the host of Melon Music Awards in 2010
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