Showbiz can be seen as a reflection of society, often portrayed through various forms of media. As public figures, celebrities often have to come to terms with the fact that their personal lives are constantly in the public eye and open for scrutiny and discussion. Every aspect of their lives, from their careers and relationships to major life events such as marriage, childbirth, and divorce, are subject to countless questions and analysis from the public, such as “Why are they so happy?”or “Why did they end their relationship?”
Despite divorcing from Song Hye Kyo five years ago, Song Joong Ki’s recent announcement of his second child with wife Katy reignited discussions about his previous marriage and the assumption that it ended due to conflicts over starting a family. Meanwhile, Bi Rain and Kim Tae Hee have managed to maintain a strong and loving marriage for seven years, with Bi Rain even openly expressing his continued adoration for her. Similarly, Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin are happily married and have welcomed a child together, leading many to believe that the key to their successful relationships lies in the sacrifices made by their partners and the presence of their children. The media has also highlighted Lee Byung Hun and Lee Min Jung’s reconciliation after a cheating scandal,
Children have never been the direct cause, but they are closely related.
In January of last year, Song Joong Ki surprised the public by announcing his marriage to former British actress Katy Louise Saunders. However, the audience was even more shocked when it was revealed that Katy was already expecting their first child before their marriage. Adding to the controversy, Song Joong Ki shared that he had been in love with his current wife for three years at the time, despite only divorcing Song Hye Kyo in 2019. Speculation began to arise that the actor rushed into marriage due to the pregnancy and remarried once he had a child.
When the Song-Song couple announced their separation, there were speculations that their differing views on having children may have been a contributing factor. Additionally, rumors of a “shotgun wedding”with Katy led fans to believe that Song Joong Ki’s marriage was solely for the purpose of having an heir, rather than true love. However, this is a common issue that many married couples face, as the true essence of having children is about harmony, love, responsibility, and shared beliefs.
Family values are influenced and shaped by various factors, including love, economics, culture, society, psychology, and perspectives. These factors can also play a significant role in the breakdown of relationships. According to Forbes’ 2023 statistics, there were 689,308 divorces globally in 2021, providing insight into potential trends in the upcoming years. The primary reasons for these divorces included a lack of support from both families (43%) and cases of infidelity (34%). Other factors such as “harmony,””existing conflicts,””sense of responsibility,”and “child-rearing viewpoints”were also prevalent, with each accounting for 20-31% of divorces.
The whirlwind marriage between Song Joong Ki and Song Hye Kyo can be attributed to their rushed love, which blossomed after the success of their TV hit, Descendants of the Sun. They publicly displayed their intense love, resembling a romantic movie, but ultimately went through a dramatic and public breakup like a marriage drama on screen. This impulsive decision may have been influenced by method acting, causing them to confuse their feelings on set with their real-life emotions, leading to potential conflicts in their relationship. Many experts in the industry believe that such a hasty and unconsidered decision could easily create problems for couples in the future.
During their two years of marriage, Song Joong Ki and Song Hye Kyo took a step back from their careers to focus on their new relationship. However, in the entertainment industry in Korea, getting married or starting a family often comes with challenges for artists. This was something that Song Joong Ki experienced firsthand after welcoming his first child with his second wife Katy, and it was also something that actor Song Il Gook spoke about on television when discussing his triplets Daehan, Minguk, and Manse. Despite their continued success and fame, both Song Joong Ki and Song Hye Kyo struggled with finding a balance between their personal lives and their careers, causing them to become disillusioned with their once-perfect marriage. They
Despite dedicating almost 30 years to her career, it is evident that Song Hye Kyo is a driven individual who has a passion for acting and strives to maintain her A-list star status. Even during the two years of her marriage where she did not have any film projects, she remained committed to attending fashion events and continuing with her advertisement work at the same frequency as before. It is widely believed that her main focus in life has never been on starting a family or having children. However, her husband, Song Joong Ki, holds a different perspective and considers becoming a father as his ultimate goal in life. This difference in priorities and goals ultimately led to a stalemate in their relationship. Moreover, the interference of Song Joong Ki’s
Despite her three former lovers Hyun Bin, Lee Byung Hun, and Song Joong Ki all being content with their families, Song Hye Kyo, at the age of 43, continues to embrace a fulfilling single life. This is the reason why she is often in the spotlight whenever her ex-partners share positive news. It is perfectly normal for Song Hye Kyo to remain unmarried; she simply has a different outlook and lifestyle compared to her exes.
Two other examples of couples who share similarities with the Song-Song couple, but have children already, are the K-pop couple Minhwan (F.T. Island) and Yulhee (LABOUM) who divorced after five years of marriage and three children, and the celebrity couple Lee Dong Gun and Jo Yoon Hee who divorced after three years of marriage and one child. While it may appear that Minhwan and his wife separated due to differing opinions on expanding their family (Minhwan had a vasectomy out of concern for his wife’s health after multiple cesarean sections, while Yulhee wanted a fourth child), the root causes can also be traced to factors such as shared goals, balancing career and personal life, limited job
Despite dating for only one year, Minhwan and Yulhee got married at the age of 26. Yulhee was already pregnant at the age of 21, but they were committed to starting a family together. Similarly, Lee Dong Gun and Jo Yoon Hee’s marriage was a quick decision, only one month after Dong Gun’s breakup with Jiyeon (T-ara). Three months later, they announced their marriage and Jo Yoon Hee’s pregnancy. While some may speculate about the reasons behind these rushed marriages, it’s important to remember that the length of a relationship does not guarantee understanding. However, it can provide a couple with valuable experiences and insight into their compatibility. Ultimately, this can serve as preparation for the
Marital Bliss: The Secret to a Happy Marriage
From the above-mentioned star couples who divorced, it is evident that they all encountered difficulties in communication and maintaining harmony, ultimately leading to a lack of shared understanding. Whether it was their responsibility towards their children or the regret of not having a complete family, many couples strive to preserve their marriage. However, without resolving conflicts, finding common ground, or making sacrifices to restore balance, they are unable to find happiness in their previous home.
Despite analyzing cases of divorced showbiz couples, it is important to also consider the success stories of happy A-list star couples such as Kim Tae Hee and Bi Rain, Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin, Kwon Sang Woo and his wife Son Tae Young (runner-up in a beauty pageant), and the reconciled couple Lee Min Jung and Lee Byung Hun, who were able to repair their marriage after a cheating scandal. These couples have proven that having at least one child together does not necessarily lead to divorce, but rather it is the state of the marriage that is closely related to the success of the relationship.
Like Song Hye Kyo, Kim Tae Hee and Son Ye Jin are also highly influential figures in the Korean entertainment industry. They are not only admired for their beauty and prestige, but also for their genuine love for the entertainment world. In addition, they have also ventured into other fields such as advertising, fashion, beauty, and business. However, following their marriages, there has been a noticeable change in the focus of their careers.
Immediately following their respective weddings, both Kim Tae Hee and Son Ye Jin received positive news within a short period of time. In order to prioritize their families and raising their children, they made the decision to take a step back from their careers and not rush back into the entertainment industry. Instead, they entrusted their husbands, Bi Rain and Hyun Bin, with the financial responsibilities and household duties. Once their children were settled, these two stars gradually took on advertising roles and selected acting projects, without pushing themselves too hard or setting high ambitions, thanks to their strong financial stability. It is clear that the long-lasting marriages of these two couples are a result of their sacrifices, unity, and seamless cooperation to balance their personal and professional lives.
Similarly to their younger counterparts, actor Ji Sung and his actress wife Lee Bo Young have revealed that throughout their more than decade-long marriage, they have always valued each other’s opinions and took turns caring for their family. Whenever Lee Bo Young had a new film project, Ji Sung would take a break to look after their children, and vice versa. It is common for fans to see top celebrity couples like Lee Byung Hun and his wife attending events together, or Ji Sung’s family and Kwon Sang Woo’s family appearing on magazine covers to celebrate their wedding anniversaries. Another example is the couple Kim Tae Hee and Bi Rain, who have also worked together on commercials. This truly showcases the perfect balance these celebrity couples have achieved in both
When discussing sacrifice, the story of actress Lee Min Jung (known for her role in “Boys Over Flowers”) causes the public to contemplate. Despite the reveal of her husband Lee Byung Hun’s affair many years ago, she remained committed to their marriage for the sake of their first child. Min Jung did not readily forgive her husband, instead taking her time to assess his true intentions. She only granted him a second chance after witnessing his genuine remorse and visible efforts to change. Lee Byung Hun has since shifted his focus from his previous carefree lifestyle to building a successful career on a global scale and prioritizing his family, providing support for his wife whenever needed.
Despite facing challenges with childbirth, Kbiz is home to numerous couples who have been able to maintain a happy and loving marriage for over a decade. A prime example of this is the beloved couple Han Ga In and actor Yeon Jung Hoon, who have been happily married for 19 years. However, it wasn’t until 11 years into their marriage and after experiencing a miscarriage that they were finally blessed with their first child. Similarly, singer Lee Hyori and musician Lee Sang Soon have been happily married for 11 years, but have yet to start a family. Despite this, their simple and contented life together serves as a source of inspiration for many across Asia.
Despite facing challenges with fertility, Han Ga In – Yeon Jung Hoon and Lee Hyori – Lee Sang Soon have maintained their strong, soulmate-like bond through their simple love and shared interests, life views, voices, and goals. Despite multiple attempts to have a child together, Lee Hyori ultimately had to give up due to age-related difficulties.
Therefore, one could argue that while having children may be a factor, the true determinant of a marriage’s outcome is the spiritual harmony and shared understanding between the husband and wife.
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