Song Joong Ki’s Constant Failures vs Song Hye Kyo’s Successes: Contrary Careers after Divorce
Despite their marriage once captivating public attention, actors Song Hye Kyo and Song Joong Ki, who divorced six years ago, are now appearing on variety shows. As their names continue to spark public interest, how do their post-divorce paths differ?
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Song Hye Kyo: Consecutive Successes + Good Images
Recently, Song Hye Kyo appeared on a talk show for the first time in 23 years, sharing updates about her life. Addressing long-standing rumors and opening up honestly, she said, “I wasn’t aware of it myself, but there seem to be so many rumors about me. Since I started working at a young age, there have always been small and big rumors surrounding me. Given my profession, I’ve often just let them go in one ear and out the other.”
When asked about the rumors, she wittily remarked, “Go ask the person who made them.”
Her open and candid demeanor resonated with viewers, leading the show “You Quiz on the Block” to achieve a peak rating of 8.1%. With an average national household rating of 5.6%, the episode topped its time slot among cable and comprehensive programming channels. In the coveted 20–49 demographic, the show recorded an average of 3.0% and peaked at 3.8%, marking it as the highest-rated “You Quiz on the Block” episode of 2024.
Aside from putting all the “You Quiz on the Block” clips with her appearance on YouTube trending list, the actress also helped Kang Min-kyung’s YouTube channel make it to the rising chart with her Vlog video.
Song Hye Kyo’s rare variety show appearance garnered significant attention due to her long-standing mystique. Unlike many actors who use such appearances for promotional purposes, her decision seemed more personal, setting her apart. Additionally, she reunited with Song Eun Yi after 20 years, announcing more variety show appearances. Recently, she even appeared in Jung Jae-hyung’s YouTube content video with short hair, which was her preparation for a new project, and created many hot topics.
On top of that, Song Hye Kyo’s latest project, “Dark Nuns”, is being regarded as a box office success as it takes 1st place in advance ticket sales.
The actress was also recently announced as the first Asian ambassador of French luxury brand Guerlain, proving her never-diminishing star status.
Song Joong Ki: Constant Failures Despite Romantic Image
Meanwhile, Song Joong Ki, her former husband, has been actively promoting his latest film “Bogota.” The two stars, who met during the 2016 drama “Descendants of the Sun” and married in 2017, finalized their divorce in 2019 after two years of marriage.
Song Joong Ki, now remarried to a British woman in 2023, has been showcasing his affectionate side during his variety show appearances. On JTBC’s “Please Take Care of My Refrigerator,” he shared anecdotes about his wife, revealing their nicknames for each other and other heartwarming stories. On “Salon Drip,” he described his children’s features, “My first child has my lips and my wife’s eyes, while my second has my eyes and my wife’s nose and lips.”
Regarding the biggest change in his life after becoming a father, Song Joong-ki said, “My first child speaks Italian so I realized that I was in big trouble because I didn’t understand it. That’s why I’m working hard on learning the language.” Revealing that he communicating with his wife in English, the actor added, “Katy is also learning Korean. We don’t fully understand each other’s mother tongue, but we find it interesting to get to know about each other more through learning our languages”.
Despite being his first return to variety shows in 10 years since “Running Man,” the response to his appearances has been lukewarm. For instance, “Please Take Care of My Refrigerator” recorded a nationwide rating of 4.2%, an improvement of 0.4 percentage points from its previous episode but still 1.0 percentage points below its peak rating.
Additionally, Song Joong Ki is not doing so hot in terms of career. The actor’s 3 movies – including “Hopeless”, “My Name Is Loh Kiwan”, and “Bogota: City of the Lost”, are all considered box office failures, to the point that he cried thinking about the lackluster response.
His public image, despite being painted as a romantic husband and caring father, is also drawing criticisms as netizens demean the for shedding “crocodile tears”.
Diverging Paths
Six years after their divorce, the two stars find themselves on parallel yet distinct journeys. While both have re-entered the variety show arena, the public’s reaction to their appearances highlights the contrast in their post-divorce narratives. Song Hye Kyo’s candid revelations have sparked widespread intrigue, whereas Song Joong Ki’s romantic stories have drawn a more subdued response.