Descendants
of the Sun (Hangul: 태양의 후예; RR: Taeyang-ui Huye) is a
2016 South Korean television series starring Song Joong-ki, Song Hye-kyo, Jin Goo,
and Kim Ji-won. It aired on KBS2 from February 24
to April 14, 2016, on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 22:00 for 16 episodes. KBS
then aired three additional special episodes from April 20 to April 22, 2016
containing highlights and the best scenes from the series, the drama's
production process, behind-the-scenes footage, commentaries from cast members
and the final epilogue.
The series was a major hit in South Korea where
it drew a peak audience share of 38.8%, and gained popularity across Asia. It received several
nominations at the 52nd Baeksang Arts Awards where its leads won
Popularity and Global Star Awards, and was awarded the Grand Prize in
Television.
THE PLOT;
Yoo
Si-jin (Song Joong-ki) is the captain of a South Korean Special Forces unit. He and
his friend Master Sergeant Seo Dae-young (Jin Goo)
are off-duty when they witness a young man, Kim Ki-bum (Kim Min-seok), steal a motorcycle and apprehend
him. The thief is injured during his capture and therefore sent to the
hospital. Dae-young realizes his cellphone was stolen by the thief and goes to
the hospital along with Si-jin to retrieve his cellphone.
In the emergency room, Si-jin meets Dr. Kang Mo-yeon (Song Hye-kyo)
for the first time, and is instantly attracted to her. Mo-yeon mistakenly
assumes Si-jin is part of the thief's criminal gang, due to his nickname
"Big Boss", which is actually his call sign. He proves his identity with the help
of army surgeon Yoon Myung-ju (Kim Ji-won).
Si-jin and Mo-yeon begin to date, but due to their jobs, their
dates are often interrupted halfway. Si-jin receives his orders to be deployed
on a peacekeeping mission in the fictional country of Uruk. Meanwhile, Mo-yeon
is upset because she had been passed over for professorship in favor of a
colleague who had familial connections to the hospital management. When Si-jin
returns and meets Mo-yeon again, they talk about their views on life and
realize how different they are. Si-jin, as a soldier, kills to protect lives
while Mo-yeon, as a doctor, honors the Hippocratic Oath and
tries to save lives. Due to this difference in viewpoints on life, they agree
to part ways. Dae-young, on the other hand, faces a dilemma on whether to
continue with his relationship with Myung-ju or risk being forced out of the
army by Myung-ju's father for breaking fraternization rules.
Eight months later, Mo-yeon rebuffs the sexual advances of the
hospital director and as a result is assigned to lead a medical team to Uruk.
There, Si-jin and Mo-yeon reunite. Through their encounters in Uruk—an
earthquake and an epidemic—their love for each other grows stronger. Mo-yeon
gains an insight into Si-jin's job and is forced to confront the stark reality
that she may never have full disclosure of his whereabouts due to the highly
classified nature of his work and the possibility of him being killed in
action. While in Uruk, Mo-yeon accidentally confesses her feelings (much to the
amusement of their respective teams) and the two officially start dating.
Si-jin and Mo-yeon continue their relationship after returning
to Korea, until Si-jin and Dae-young are sent on a classified operation in
which they disappear and are assumed to be dead. Months pass, and Mo-yeon
mourns his death, deciding to commemorate his passing with a volunteer trip to
Albania. This is where Si-jin eventually finds her after he and Dae-young are
rescued from captivity by "a friend from afar", a soldier from North
Korea whom Si-jin had helped save earlier. Si-jin and Mo-yeon along with Myung-ju
and Dae-young are all happily reunited with each other.
