Interview with Song Joong-ki: 'Song in real life'

This is the last in a three-part series covering a group interview Friday with actor Song Joong-ki in Seoul. -- Ed.

“Descendants of the Sun” has come to an end, and so has Song Joong-ki’s time as the dashing Army Capt. Yoo Shi-jin. But this may only mark another beginning for the 30-year-old actor, whose celebrity status has rocketed to a whole new level since his appearance in the military-themed TV drama. For the first time since the show’s wrap, Song met with reporters in a group interview Friday at Grand Hyatt Seoul to discuss the frenzy of his newfound fame, his future plans and more.

Q: What are you like on set?

A: When I work with other people, I try to make up for their shortcomings with my strengths, and I let others make up for my flaws with their strengths. I try to cooperate with people around me when working in a group. I like to enhance team spirit on set. I try to get everyone involved in the action.

Q: What is your personality like in real life?

A: I tend to be conservative. I’m not very sophisticated. There are parts of me that are “classic.” I sometimes wonder if this industry is a good fit for me. At times like that, I just try not to lose my color and live according to it.

Q: It’s been nine years since your 2008 debut in the film “A Frozen Flower.” What were your goals back then? Do you think you’ve achieved them?

A: When I was starting as an actor, my goal was to experience as many roles as I could. It wasn’t my goal be cast for a lead role quickly. I didn’t want to land a lead and not give a good performance. I thought it was better to learn from diverse roles in many movies. In that sense, I feel like I’ve achieved my goals, and I’m still in that process. I’m very excited about my upcoming film, “Battleship Island,” which is about independence activists during the Japanese colonial occupation.

Q: Actor Jin Goo, who costarred on “Descendants,” said he drank soju with you often. He said you could outdrink him.

A: He said that? There were a lot of men on set as extras for soldier roles. We drank together a lot. A lot of the time, I had a shoot the next morning, so I tried hard not to get drunk. But nobody can outdrink Jin Goo. I could never beat him.

Q: Where did you watch “Descendants”?

A: I sometimes watched it at Kwang-soo’s house (referring to Lee Kwang-soo, cast member of variety show “Running Man”). I watched it often at the houses of my friends from middle school, who are very frank with me and give me their honest opinions on the show. I wanted to hear what ordinary viewers really thought of the show, so I liked hearing their very candid responses. I’ve watched it alone at home, too. But these days, I normally see it on sets when I’m shooting ads.

By Rumy Doo (doo@heraldcorp.com)