Despite his past roles in popular dramas such as “Descendants of the Sun”, “Sungkyunkwan Scandal”, and “Arthdal Chronicles”, Song Joong-ki was most beloved for his youthful appearance and his heartwarming relationship with Song Hye-kyo.
Despite this, he has experienced a significant decline in his public image, frequently facing negative feedback from internet users in present times. What could be the reason behind this?
1. Behavior After Divorce
There is a popular saying that states, “The true character of a man can be seen during a breakup.”This sentiment holds true in the case of Song Joong-ki, whose behavior during his highly publicized divorce from Song Hye-kyo has greatly affected his public perception. The stars of the hit drama “Descendants of the Sun”were married for a brief two years, from 2017 to 2019.
In the world of entertainment, it is customary for couples to uphold each other’s respect even after a separation, as they often have to collaborate in their profession. In the Korean entertainment industry, it is typical for couples to settle their divorce or split privately before making a public announcement. They often attribute the separation to “busy schedules”or “differences in lifestyle,”while still expressing good wishes for each other, even if the actual reason may not be as cordial.
Despite Song Joong-ki’s efforts, his handling of the situation was widely criticized. Reports from Korean media in June 2019 revealed that Song Joong-ki had filed for divorce from Song Hye-kyo without informing her beforehand. This news came as a surprise to Song Hye-kyo, who was out of the country at the time, and her management team only found out about the divorce through the media, leaving them unprepared. Unfortunately, this caused many to assume that Song Hye-kyo was to blame, resulting in her facing harsh backlash, despite the fact that the divorce was mutual.
After that, Song Joong-ki was depicted as the “victim”by the media, leading to widespread rumors that Song Hye-kyo had been unfaithful with Park Bo-gum, a close junior of Song Joong-ki, while filming “Encounter”. Despite lacking evidence, these rumors severely damaged the reputations of both actors.
Despite Park Bo-gum’s public denial of the rumors and threat of legal action, Song Joong-ki chose to remain silent. As someone with a decade of experience in the entertainment industry, Song Joong-ki was likely aware that his actions and words would generate much speculation, but he still chose to stay quiet, ultimately causing misunderstandings for his junior.
Consequently, Park Bo-gum supposedly ended his relationship with Song Joong-ki. Online users also speculate that Song Joong-ki’s inner circle, consisting of fellow actors Lee Kwang-soo, Kim Woo-bin, Jo In-sung, D.O. (EXO), Kim Ki-bang, and Lee Ki-hoon, have all distanced themselves from him. The group has stopped inviting him to their gatherings and refrains from mentioning him in the media.
Despite Song Hye-kyo only citing personality differences as the reason for their divorce, Song Joong-ki’s family persisted in making disparaging comments about her. Following the divorce, Song Joong-ki’s brother promptly unfollowed his former sister-in-law and removed any supportive posts about her projects.
After the divorce, Song Joong-ki’s brother caused speculation by posting a cryptic message, “Covering the sky with one hand,”and showing support for posts criticizing Song Hye-kyo. He even shared pictures of their family, but without Song Hye-kyo present.
“Couple Media-Play” with Co-Stars While Dating Katy Louise Saunders
Song Joong-ki made his relationship with Katy Louise Saunders public at the end of 2022, but according to journalist Lee Jin-ho, he had already been dating her for almost three years. This was only 5-6 months after his divorce from Song Hye-kyo. On December 26, 2022, after announcing his relationship with Katy, Song Joong-ki had a dinner with colleagues from his new film “Ro Ki Wan” . During the dinner, he confirmed that he had been dating Katy since the end of 2019 until early 2020.
Between 2020 and 2022, there were numerous rumors circulating about Song Joong-ki’s romantic relationships with his co-stars from “Vincenzo”and “Space Sweepers”, Jeon Yeo-bin and Kim Tae-ri. Behind the scenes, he was frequently spotted displaying affection towards Jeon Yeo-bin and even after the conclusion of the show, he continued to show his support for her, sparking “romantic scenes”at the Blue Dragon Film Awards.
Together with Kim Tae Ri, Song Joong-ki’s actions became even more “ambiguous”as he openly promoted her vlog through his personal account. This sparked a social media frenzy and sparked speculation among netizens about the nature of their relationship, marking the first time he publicly acknowledged a female co-star.
Upon reflection, netizens claim that Song Joong-ki purposefully engaged in “couple media play”with his co-stars in order to enhance the success of his projects and his own public image, even while being in a relationship with someone else.
Controversial Remarks
Despite receiving criticism, Song Joong-ki continues to make promises of “forever”in his marriages.
His initial “forever”only lasted two years, but upon remarrying, he once again made the same commitment, declaring, “I vowed to spend the rest of my days with Katy Louise Saunders, the woman who has stood by me through thick and thin.”Therefore, while some supporters defend Song Joong-ki, arguing that it is natural to desire a lifetime partnership in marriage, numerous netizens ridicule him for making numerous promises without being certain of his ability to fulfill them.
After getting remarried and starting a family, Song Joong-ki made even more controversial statements. During an interview with Sina, the actor expressed that he had missed out on numerous career opportunities because of his marriage and fatherhood.
During an interview, the actor acknowledged that being a father and husband has resulted in less job opportunities in the film industry. He believes that having a child and marrying someone in the same industry has affected his employability.
The statement caused a heated debate on Korean social media. According to Knet, Song Joong-ki’s career remained unaffected despite announcing his marriage and becoming a father. Many found his words to be insensitive, especially considering the pain and fatigue his wife endured during pregnancy and childbirth. Some argued that his comment was unreasonable as it unintentionally portrayed his wife as the cause of his decrease in work opportunities. In addition, the discussion also brought up the unfair treatment faced by actresses in the industry when it comes to marriage and childbirth, making it unacceptable for a man like Song Joong-ki to complain.
According to reports, Song Joong-ki was also accused of displaying a patronizing demeanor towards members of the press. During an interview, when questioned about whether a name had been chosen for his son, he reportedly responded with impoliteness, saying, “Why is it necessary for me to disclose that information to you?”
Furthermore, Song Joong-ki received backlash for his past statement deeming the heart pose uninteresting, despite later enthusiastically performing it on the Baeksang 2024 red carpet.
During Baeksang 2024, Song Joong-ki’s behavior towards his ex-wife, Song Hye-kyo, also sparked discussion. As she took the stage, he was seen with an uncomfortable expression among the audience.
Origin: K14
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