<P> Descendants of the Sun was fully pre-produced before airing which is a departure from the live - shoot production format that characterizes most Korean dramas . The drama is Song Joong - ki's comeback project after serving his two years of mandatory military service . The production cost 13 billion won (approximately $10.8 million) to produce . </P> <P> Initially, there were doubts about the profitability of the drama, as a story involving a soldier may not be enough to garner a very high successive rate . This is revealed when SBS were reluctant to continue with the project . It was then passed to KBS . According to local reports by Newsis, lead actor Song Joong - ki was not the first choice of writers and directors for the hit South Korean series, as he was deemed too slender for the role of a heroic special forces officer . Song was later cast as the producers decided to change the character of the role . The 6 June episode of tvN's The List 2016 revealed the names of four actors who rejected the role before Joong - ki was chosen . As per the show, the A-listers who passed the role includes Won Bin, Jo In - sung, Gong Yoo, and Kim Woo - bin . Reportedly, the actors were skeptical on sporting the army style short hair . It is also said that the artists expressed slight discomfort on portraying a role of a soldier and could not commit with the pre-production format of the show . </P> <P> On June 12, 2015, lead actors Song Joong - ki and Song Hye - kyo filmed their first scene in Seoul . On September 28, 2015, the entire cast and crew (including the four leads, Song Joong - ki, Song Hye - kyo, Jin Goo, Kim Ji - won, as well as supporting actors Kang Shin - il and Onew) departed for Greece . The team resided in the country for approximately a month to shoot episodes crucial to the drama's plot . According to Greek and South Korean news portals and blogs, filming mainly took place in Zakynthos, Arachova, Lemnos, and Navagio . The series' location was modelled after Iraq, a remote area located at the margin of Balkan Peninsula; but changed its name to Uruk to avoid diplomatic conflict . </P> <P> On November 25, 2015, it was announced that actor Song Joong - ki injured his arm while filming an action scene for the drama on November 23 . On December 7, 2015, Song Joong - ki returned to work only 2 weeks after he was injured and spotted filming at a station in Seoul . The MERS - CoV outbreak in South Korea in 2015 also seriously hampered filming schedules . The outbreak claimed the lives of 33 people, according to WHO . </P>

When did descendants of the sun start filming