Actor Song Joong Ki is adjusting nicely to basic training.
The star of the dramas "Sungkyunkwan Scandal" and "Nice Guy" and the film "A Werewolf Boy" reported for his two years of compulsory military duty on Aug. 27.
According to an official at the 22nd Recruit Training Battalion, his first few weeks of basic training went well. The official said that the actor is not only performing up to expectations. He is receiving praise from his recruit division.
"He is adjusting well and getting along with his fellow recruits," said the official. "He is sincere and has an easygoing personality. I heard that he has not complained once even though the training is difficult."
After Song completes his basic training in Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, he will be assigned to a unit as an active soldier. Previously, celebrity recruits were assigned to the Defense Media Agency, where they could serve in a promotional capacity but that agency was recently eliminated following a scandal in which celebrity recruits were seen taking advantage of their special status. Song Joong Ki will serve as an ordinary soldier.
Not only will he be on active duty but Song will also receive an extra week of basic training. Normally basic training lasts five weeks but his will last a week longer because of scheduling difficulties around the holidays, which include Chuseok, the Korean fall harvest holiday, and Hangeul Day, a day that honors the development of the Korean alphabet.
"Because of scheduling difficulties, his training will be finished on Oct. 10," said the official.
The actor's fans will be happy to know he is doing so well. Before he left for his military service, he held a fan meeting in Seoul that was attended by his Korean, Japanese and Chinese fans. The press was not invited. During the meeting he read a letter to his fans telling them that the meeting would become one of his most cherished memories.
"Every one of you is precious to me," he said. He told fans that he hoped to fulfill his dreams on his return from serving his military duty.
Song shook the hands of over a thousand fans at the end of the event and thanked them personally. He presented his fans with the sunglasses he often wears.
The actor promised fans another fan meeting when he returned.
"I will go off to the army and come back well," he said.
So far, he has made a worthy start toward achieving that goal.
