Song Joong-ki

During high school, Song Joong-ki competed at the higher level for short track speed skating. Representing his hometown, the city of Daejeon, Song participated in the National Games three times and won awards at other large meets. During his first year of high school, however, he was injured and had to quit the sport. He then turned his attention to his studies, which improved his grades dramatically and he received the highest grades for all his subjects. Having scored 380 points out of 400 on his national college entrance, he entered the prestigious Sungkyunkwan University. Song would later play a national speed skater in the TV series Triple. Because of his timid personality, his parents had sent Song to a variety of classes, including acting classes, to improve his social skills. During his sophomore year in college, Song's sterling academic record as a business administration major took a dip when he finally decided to pursue acting seriously. He made his television debut as a contestant on KBS's Quiz Korea, making it all the way to the finals (but not winning). Song also became a cover model for College Tomorrow.

Song Joong Ki recently starred in a secret project, planned by the organization Coupang, to help a young girl with a tough life. The project was revealed via a moving video posted on the 26th. The girl's father passed away at an early age, and her elder brother works away from home. Thus, the young girl must take care of her alcoholic mother and younger siblings, including a younger brother who suffers from a mental illness. As the video follows their lives, it is also revealed that on top of all of that, the family's home was burned to the ground in a fire. The team worked together to build a home for the family and fill it with household items and clothing. The project took 45 days, 135 volunteers, and more than 1,200 sponsors to make possible.

Song published 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, Australia, 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. And despite the low ratings of jTBC audition program Made in U, Song was commended for his smooth hosting skills as MC. As a jobless deadbeat in the 2011 romantic comedy Penny Pinchers (also known as Love and Cash), a film review described Song as going seamlessly from slapstick comedy to a "charismatic", "swoon-worthy leading man with a viable presence." Despite advice to the contrary, Song took on the role of the young king Sejong in Deep Rooted Tree although his stint was only four episodes long. He read many unofficial historical accounts and laid the character foundation for lead actor Han Suk-kyu, saying he felt that "a challenging role was more worthwhile than being in a lead role of a miniseries." 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.