About the Drama
“Descendants of the Sun (태양의 후예)” is a 2016 Korean drama starring Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo. A blend of military action, romance, and medical storytelling, the drama became one of the most influential K-dramas of the decade. It follows a soldier and a doctor whose opposing values—protecting life vs. saving life—collide and harmonize through various crises, including overseas missions, natural disasters, and moral dilemmas.
Plot Summary
Special Forces Captain Yoo Si-jin and Dr. Kang Mo-yeon first meet through an unexpected incident in Korea. Their clashing beliefs and careers create distance, but fate brings them together again in the war-torn, fictional country of Uruk. Amid conflicts, disasters, and life-and-death decisions, the two begin to understand each other deeply while discovering what it truly means to protect, heal, and love.
Popularity in Korea
Upon release in 2016, the drama became a cultural phenomenon in South Korea. It achieved peak nationwide ratings of 31%+, dominating weekly charts. As a fully pre-produced drama—rare at the time—it set a new standard for high-quality K-dramas. It sparked massive trends in fashion, tourism, and OST popularity, and restored momentum to the Hallyu wave during a quiet period in Korean drama exports.
Global Impact
“Descendants of the Sun” was exported to over 32 countries, with enormous popularity across Asia, the Middle East, and North America. In China, each episode reached hundreds of millions of views on major streaming platforms. The drama boosted tourism to Korea, increased product sales through PPL exposure, and further solidified the global influence of K-drama culture. It is still considered one of the most internationally successful Korean dramas ever made.
