The Canadian Encyclopedia — neutral, cited, updated
July 27, 2026Sources cited
Canadianwire.
Canada’s encyclopedia & explainer
HomeEntertainmentTV SeriesDescendants of the Sun
Entertainment • TV Series

Descendants of the Sun

Descendants of the Sun is a 2016 South Korean television drama series about the relationship between a special forces officer and a surgeon who reunite in a conflict zone.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Descendants of the Sun is a 2016 South Korean television drama series about the relationship between a special forces officer and a surgeon who reunite in a conflict zone. It aired on KBS2 and stars Song Joong-ki, Song Hye-kyo, Jin Goo, and Kim Ji-won. The series is known for combining romance, military drama, and action elements.

Premise

The series centres on a romance between a special forces captain and a surgeon whose differing values and professional duties repeatedly separate and reunite them. The story unfolds across hospital and military settings, including a fictional overseas deployment area.

Broadcast and format

Descendants of the Sun premiered on KBS2 on 24 February 2016 and ran for 16 episodes. Several sources also note later special episodes in some releases or listings.

Cast and characters

Song Joong-ki plays Yoo Si-jin and Song Hye-kyo plays Kang Mo-yeon. Jin Goo and Kim Ji-won are also featured in major roles, with additional supporting cast listed on streaming platforms.

Reception and distribution

The series is widely distributed on major streaming platforms and is described there as a popular romantic and military drama. Netflix and other platforms categorize it as Korean-language drama content. Canadian viewers may know the series through international streaming platforms, where it is available with English-language metadata and subtitles in some regions.

Key facts

  • The series follows Yoo Si-jin, a special forces officer, and Kang Mo-yeon, a surgeon, whose relationship develops amid military and medical crises.
  • It originally aired on KBS2 in South Korea in 2016.
  • The main cast includes Song Joong-ki, Song Hye-kyo, Jin Goo, and Kim Ji-won.
  • The story is partly set in the fictional conflict zone of Uruk.
  • Netflix lists the series as a 2016 drama with a TV-14/13+ rating depending on region.
🍁
Canadian context

Canadian viewers may know the series through international streaming platforms, where it is available with English-language metadata and subtitles in some regions.[4][12]

Frequently asked questions

What is Descendants of the Sun?
It is a 2016 South Korean television drama about a special forces officer and a surgeon whose relationship develops amid war and medical emergencies.
Who stars in the series?
The main cast includes Song Joong-ki, Song Hye-kyo, Jin Goo, and Kim Ji-won.
When did it air?
It aired on KBS2 from 24 February 2016 to 14 April 2016.
How many episodes does it have?
The original run is commonly listed as 16 episodes.
What genre is it?
It is commonly described as a romantic drama with military and action elements.
Where is part of the story set?
Part of the drama is set in the fictional country of Uruk.

References

  1. Netflixhttps://www.netflix.com/title/80123798
    Supports: English-language title, 2016 release year, synopsis, cast, and genre labels
  2. Italian Wikipediahttps://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tae-yang-ui_hu-ye
    Supports: Original title, South Korean origin, KBS2 broadcast dates, and 16-episode run
  3. Vikihttps://www.viki.com/tv/23205c-descendants-of-the-sun?locale=it
    Supports: Plot summary, lead characters, 2016 South Korean drama identification, and directors
  4. IMDbhttps://www.imdb.com/it/title/tt4925000/
    Supports: Alternative plot description, series identification, and cast
  5. IMDbhttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt4925000/plotsummary/
    Supports: Detailed plot summary and character names
  6. Apple TVhttps://tv.apple.com/us/show/descendants-of-the-sun/umc.cmc.5jqsxhelfp4vhfk70l493ills
    Supports: 2016 series description, premise, and directors
  7. AsianWikihttps://asianwiki.com/Descendants_of_the_Sun
    Supports: Original title, romanization, network, episode count, release dates, and creative staff