Is Descendants of the Sun on Netflix| How to watch Descendants of the Sun (2016) in the United States on Netflix in 2023?

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Descendants of the Sun Netflix

Descendants of the Sun is a 2016 South Korean military romantic drama series with 16 episodes. 

The series focuses on the story of Captain Yoo Shi-jin (Song Joong-ki), an exclusive military officer of the South Korean Special Warfare Command, and Doctor Kang Mo-Yeon (Song Hye-Kyo), a cardiothoracic surgeon who get attracted to each other while on a humanitarian support trip in Urk, an imaginary war-torn country.

Are you a fan of Song Hye Kyo and Song Joong Ki and looking for a way to stream Descendants of the Sun from the US? You’re in luck because this blog is specially crafted for eager streamers like you. Read this easy guide to the end and watch Descendants of the Sun on Netflix in the US or anywhere else.

Is Descendants of the Sun on Netflix?

Descendants of the Sun is available on Netflix but in limited countries like Australia. If you reside in the United States or Canada, then you won’t find it in your Netflix library, and that is due to copyright issues.

However, you can watch Descendants of the Sun on Netflix from anywhere with a reliable VPN like ExpressVPN by changing your IP address and Netflix region.

How to watch Descendants of the Sun on Netflix in 2023?

Descendants of the Sun is available on Netflix but not internationally. If the show is not available in your country, get ExpressVPN to change your IP address and watch Descendants of the Sun from anywhere. The show is not available in the US or Canada, but the following steps can solve that issue:

1- Get ExpressVPN to unblock Netflix (12+3 month special deal with a 30-day money-back guarantee)

2- Download the VPN app on your preferred device (ExpressVPN works on Android, iOS, Linux, and Windows)

3- Select an Australian server from the country list

4- Now open Netflix.com on your browser or in the app

5- Search for Descendants of the Sun on Netflix

6- Enjoy the show

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Descendants of the Sun – Netflix Countries

Descendants of the Sun is a well-made and entertaining K drama that gained much fame, making people curious about where to watch the movie online.

Our team of experts has checked several Netflix libraries and found the movie in the Netflix library of the following countries:

  • Australia
  • Belgium
  • Czech Republic
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Hongkong 
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • India
  • Israel
  • Italy
  • Lithuania
  • Malaysia
  • Netherlands
  • Philippines
  • Portugal
  • Romania
  • Russia
  • Singapore
  • Slovakia
  • South Africa
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Thailand
  • Turkey
  • Ukraine
  • United Kingdom

Descendants of the Sun – Release Date

Descendants of the Sun first debuted on KBS2 on February 24, 2016, and successfully aired for 16 episodes till April 14, 2016. The series became one of the most-watched TV shows of all time in South Korea and managed to receive an impressive 8.2/10 rating on IMDb.

Descendants of the Sun was nominated for several awards, including the Baeksang Arts Awards, the Korean Broadcasting Grand Prize, the Seoul International Drama Awards, the Korea Drama Awards, the Melon Music Awards, and the KBS Drama Awards.

If you like watching movies, then watch Christmas Under Wraps, Bombshell,  Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princess, Arthur Christmas, and The Amityville Horror on Netflix.

Descendants of the Sun – Official Trailer

Descendants of the Sun – What to Expect from the Show?

Captain Yoo Shi-jin (Song Joong-ki) is a special forces team leader in the South Korean Special Warfare Command. He is brave and skilled, but he is also reckless and hot-headed.

The Opposites Attract

Doctor Kang Mo-yeon (Song Hye-kyo) is a cardiothoracic surgeon at a hospital in Seoul. She is intelligent, compassionate, independent, and strong-willed, affirmatively opposed to the captain.

Love in the Crossfire

Shi-jin and Mo-yeon meet when Shi-jin’s team is called in to rescue Mo-yeon and her colleagues from a hostage situation. Shi-jin is immediately drawn to Mo-yeon, but she hesitates to get involved with him because of his dangerous job.

Blooming Love Against All Odds

Despite their differences, Shi-jin and Mo-yeon fall in love. They are soon deployed to Urk, a fictional war-torn country, where they work together to save lives and protect the innocent.

Obstacles Within War Zone

In Urk, Shi-jin and Mo-yeon face many personal and professional challenges. They must overcome language barriers, cultural differences, and the dangers of war. But through it all, their love for each other grows stronger.

Courage, Sacrifice, and Love

In the end, Shi-jin and Mo-yeon return to Seoul, but they are changed by their experiences in Urk. They have learned the true meaning of courage, sacrifice, and love.

The Cast of Descendants of the Sun

The Descendents of the Sun includes a stunning and incredibly talented cast. Let’s have a look at the prominent cast members of the series:

  • Song Joong-ki plays Captain Yoo Shi-jin. He is best known for his roles in A Werewolf Boy (2012), Sungkyunkwan Scandal (2010), Vincenzo (2021), and Reborn Rich (2022).
  • Song Hye-kyo plays Doctor Kang Mo-yeon. She is best known for her roles in Encounter (2018-2019), That Winter, the Wing Blows (2013), Now, We Are Breaking Up (2021), and The Glory (2023).
  • Jin Goo plays Seo Dae-young. He is best known for his roles in Legal High (2019), My Lovely Angel (2021), and A Superior Day (2022).
  • Kim Ji-won plays Yoon Myung-ju. She is best known for her roles in Lovestruck in the City (2020) and Fight for My Way (2017).
  • Onew plays Lee Chi-hoon. He is a K-pop boy group SHINee member and has appeared in reality shows like Sea of Hope (2021) and Eat Sleep Eat (2016).

Can I Watch Descendants of the Sun with a Free VPN?

Free VPNs are not as secure as premium VPNs.

Free VPNs may lack robust security measures, such as 256-bit encryption and a kill switch. They may also have monthly data caps, which can be restrictive for regular browsing or video streaming. This makes them more susceptible to hacking and not ideal for everyday use.

Premium VPNs, on the other hand, offer high-level security features and unlimited usage.

Premium VPNs typically use 256-bit encryption and have kill switches to protect your data. They also offer unlimited bandwidth, so you can browse and stream as much as you want. This makes them a more secure and reliable online browsing and streaming option.

If you are looking for a VPN to protect your privacy and security, then it is worth investing in a premium service.

The enhanced security and unlimited usage of a premium VPN will justify the nominal fee. You can browse and stream without worrying about your data being exposed to hackers or other third parties. When we watched Lord of the Rings on Netflix with ExpressVPN, we realized the perks of paid VPNs to the fullest.

Why is Express VPN the best to watch Descendants of the Sun on Netflix?

ExpressVPN is a high-speed, secure, and versatile VPN service that protects your privacy and security while you browse the internet.

It can deliver impressive download and upload speeds, even on a standard 100Mbps connection, making it ideal for streaming videos and accessing geo-blocked content.

ExpressVPN has a wide network of servers in 94 countries, so you can connect to a server in any country and access the internet as if you were there. A single subscription allows you to connect up to 5 devices simultaneously so you can share your account with your family and friends. The service offers dedicated apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and even gaming consoles.

ExpressVPN is currently offering a promotional 49% discount on their 15-month plan, which reduces the monthly rate to just $6.67. Plus, a 30-day money-back guarantee gives you the opportunity to try the service without any financial risk.

ExpressVPN is a great value for those looking for a secure, fast, and reliable VPN service. The current discounted rates make it an even better deal.  We have already been enjoying ExpressVPN’s services and have watched Knives Out and Tenet on Netflix.

What else can you watch on Netflix?

Netflix has some of the best K content to offer, like Hwarang and The Dude in Me. However, it is not limited to that. If you are looking for more diverse recommendations to watch on Netflix, check out the list of popular movies and TV shows that you can watch on Netflix below:

Descendants of the Sun – FAQs

Descendants of the Sun does feature moments of sorrow, primarily due to its central focus on the experiences of military personnel who frequently encounter demanding and life-threatening circumstances. The series is replete with emotional and intense scenes depicting separations, sacrifices, and personal battles that can elicit a wide spectrum of emotions, including feelings of sadness.

However, it is to be noted that Descendants of the Sun also interweaves moments of humor, romance, and action into its narrative, creating a harmonious blend that mitigates the weight of the more somber elements within the storyline.

Descendants of the Sun became a hugely popular Korean drama for several reasons. Firstly, it starred two of Korea's biggest celebrities, Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo. Their star power and chemistry as romantic leads drew in many invested viewers right from the start.

The story also appeals to audiences by focusing on a sweet love story between a soldier and a doctor, adding layers of drama and tension due to their dangerous careers. Additionally, Descendants of the Sun stood out with its high production values. For a Korean drama, it had a substantial budget that allowed for exotic overseas filming locations, cinematic action sequences, and overall top-notch production quality.

The release format of two 30-minute episodes back-to-back each week built excitement and encouraged binge-watching. The drama also benefitted from perfect timing, coming out when Korean pop culture was starting to gain global traction thanks to K-pop and entertainment exports.

Descendants of the Sun was rated 15+ in South Korea for its moderate violence, disaster scenes, and some sensuality.

Sadly, Descendants of the Sun is not available for streaming on Hulu. This is because of content distribution rights. However, ExpressVPN will allow you to watch the show from the US.

All that is required of you is to connect with an Australian server to access Netflix Australia, where Descendants of the Sun is streaming, and enjoy watching the show on Netflix in the US without any interruptions.

The unfortunate reality is that Descendants of the Sun is available on Netflix, but due to copyright issues, the show is not accessible in a lot of countries, including the United States. And what's worse is that there has been no word of its release date in the US either.

However, there is still a chance you can watch Descendants of the Sun easily on Netflix. This will be possible by modifying your IP address by using ExpressVPN. You can connect to an Australian server and enjoy watching Descendants of the Sun on Netflix in the US or anywhere in the world.

On June 12, 2015, the lead actors of Descendants of the Sun, Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo, commenced shooting their initial scene in Seoul. Then, the entire cast and crew, which included not only the four main leads—Song Joong-ki, Song Hye-Kyo, Jin Goo, and Kim Ji-won—but also supporting actors Kang Shin-il and Onew, embarked on a journey to Greece. Their stay in Greece extended for approximately a month, during which they filmed crucial episodes essential to the drama's storyline.

It's worth noting that, although Iraq inspired the series' setting, a deliberate decision was made to situate the war-torn remote area on the fringes of the Balkan Peninsula. This choice was made in order to avoid potential diplomatic conflicts with Iraq, and as reported by Greek and South Korean news sources and blogs, the majority of filming took place in various picturesque Greek locations, including Zakynthos, Arachova, Lemnos, and Navagio.

Wrap Up

Descendants of the Sun is a well-made and entertaining drama that will appeal to romance and action fans. It is a must-watch for anyone who enjoys Korean dramas.

We have tested Express VPN to change our Netflix regions, and it worked perfectly. Therefore, we highly recommend it to all our readers.

Written by Jessica Lynch

With over a decade in entertainment writing, Jessica Lynch expertly navigates film, TV, and streaming content. Her insightful writing tips and guides are loved by industry peers and audiences.