An unforgettable opus of romance, humor, action, intrigue, and an evergreen OST complementing its themes of love, friendship, solidarity, grief, and loss
Featuring Captain Yoo Si-jin (Song Joon-ki) and Doctor Kang Mo-yeon (Song Hye-kyo) in 'Descendants of the Sun.' Photo: KBS, courtesy of IMDb
Descendants of the Sun in a class by itself is a classic K-drama; as of right now, I can still rely on it for leisure. It remains a captivating encounter, never failing to stir the imagination or evoke sentimentality.
In the fray with such blockbusters as Shopping King Louie, Uncontrollably Fond, Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, Love in the Moonlight, The K2, The Legend of the Blue Sea, Hwarang, and Guardian: The Lonely and Great God—Descendants of the Sun, was one of the biggest 2016 releases. It became a cult phenomenon and a mainstay of Korean popular culture, fueling the Korean wave with multiple honors, including the Grand Prize in Television at the 52nd Baeksang Arts Awards.
The narrative plays out in Uruk, where Captain Yoo Si-jin (Song Joon-ki), Seo Dae-young (Jin Goo), and the Alpha squad members are tasked with liberating hostages and preventing terrorist movements in the area. In unison, Doctor Kang Mo-yeon (Song Hye-kyo), First Lieutenant Yoon Myeong-joo (Kim Ji-won), and the personnel of Haesung Hospital Medical Services endeavor to surmount obstacles. A Korean wartime drama, it is also an unforgettable opus of romance, humor, and intrigue and an evergreen OST complementing its themes of love, friendship, solidarity, grief, and loss.
Descendants of the Sun served as a lightbulb moment today while I was casually cruising through its songs. I hereby turn to it again, going over five of my all-time favorites from its superb OST.
“Everytime I See You” – Chen and Punch
“Oh, every time I see you/When I see your eyes/My heart keeps fluttering/You’re my destiny/The only person I want to protect until the end of the world”
An iconic hit of intimate moments that takes off with sparks flying between Captain Si-jin and Doctor Mo-yeon in the virtuosic vocals of Chen (EXO) and Punch, their jam conjuring a vein of passion. Swirling with an opulent, dreamy air, the tune is a poetic delight thanks to a fluid beat, culminating in Punch’s indelible “I Love You” capping off the picture perfectly.
“This Love” – Davichi
“If I turn back time /Will the memories get erased too? /I know I’m saying things that I can’t even do /I’m just saying this out of guilt /For making things hard for you /For making you live in tears”
In this ballad, Davichi’s allure is manifested through an impressive arrangement and a gorgeous piano melody. Although it laments the waning of love, it is also a thanksgiving for the fondness that endures and wanders over moments between the characters, essentially focusing on the fading relationship between Dae-young and Myeong-joo.
“Once Again” – Kim Na-young feat. Mad Clown
“Will I see you again? I’m standing in front of destiny/That has passed me by again/Was it a dream that we couldn’t wake from? You’re getting farther away and I couldn’t tell you/Not even once/I love you.”
Under duress, Dae-young fails to reciprocate Myeong-joo’s love for him—the crushing scenario of “Once Again.” It’s an unrequited love of desperation, desire, and scorching emotions alive in Kim Na-young’s delicately melancholic voice, the hip-hop flow, the frantic rapping of Mad Clown, and the moody piano melody. They all work together, amplifying the song’s gloomy tone. The end crescendo speaks to the ache hitting harder with Kim’s impassioned singing and remains a defining moment of the song.
“Talk Love” – K.Will
“Tell me what you’re doing? Tell me what you’re doing?/Don’t make me look somewhere else like a fool/I wanna tell you/You’re the one in my heart/You are my only one”
“Talk Love” draws on the leads caught up in a romance, which is growing on them beyond knowing. The medium pop genre number has a catchy whistle part, rhythmic guitar, and seductive piano lines. Leveraging both his smooth voice and an enticing falsetto, K. Will makes the most of the composition and the scenario at hand. As the characters set out on an uphill romantic journey that winds up in fulfillment, he effectively voices their innermost thoughts and emotions.
“Always” – Yoon Mi-rae
“When I look at him, everything stops/I don’t even know when it started/One day like a dream he came and shook my heart/I felt that it was fate/I Love You/Are you listening? Only You”
A powerful orchestra and acoustic piano create a striking harmony in this ballad with strong pop influences. Yoon Mi-rae’s dulcet voice sounds radiant yet has a distinct, sluggish texture. Sincere urges in the song evolve into the magnificent symphony that it is, swaying and sliding like ripples. With Si-jin and Mo-young’s burgeoning love, “Always” deepens the drama’s emotional impact.
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