Descendants of the Sun (Korean: 태양의 후예) is a 2016 South Korean television series starring Song Joong-ki, Song Hye-kyo, Jin Goo, and Kim Ji-won. Written by Kim Eun-sook and Kim Won-seok, the series follows the relationship between Yoo Shi-jin, a captain in the South Korean Army's special forces, and Kang Mo-yeon, a surgeon. Their different views on life and duty originally split them up, but the two eventually cross paths again in a disaster-torn fictional country to lead humanitarian efforts. A subplot explores the forbidden romance between Seo Dae-young, a master sergeant, and Yoon Myung-joo, an army doctor.
Development began in 2011, with Kim Eun-sook's script later adapted from Kim Won-seok's original manuscript, Doctors Without Borders. Pre-production involved location scouting and a crew of over 350 personnel. Directed by Lee Eung-bok and Baek Sang-hoon, filming took place in South Korea and Greece with a budget of ₩13 billion. The series was fully pre-produced prior to broadcast, a departure from the live-shoot production method standard in the Korean industry at the time. The original soundtrack was composed by Song Dong-woon and Gaemi. Comprising 16 episodes and three specials, the series aired on KBS from February 24 to April 22, 2016. It was the first Korean drama to be simulcast in China via iQIYI and was eventually exported to 32 countries.
The series garnered positive reviews for its performances and dialogue; some critics questioned its narrative plausibility and the excessive use of product placement. Commercially, it was a major success, becoming the first miniseries in South Korea to surpass 30% in viewership ratings since 2012. As a depiction of various themes of Korean culture and a major catalyst for the Korean Wave, Descendants of the Sun generated a massive economic impact of ₩3 trillion, through the strengthening of the national brand, the increase in exports, product sales, and the growth of tourism. It received numerous accolades, including the Grand Prize in television at the 52nd Baeksang Arts Awards and Best Drama at the 9th Korea Drama Awards. Local remakes were produced in the Philippines and Vietnam.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)
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