Few Korean actors have had their private lives picked apart quite like Song Joong-ki. The Descendants of the Sun star went from a 2019 divorce that made international headlines to a quiet remarriage in 2023 — and by late 2024 he was the father of two children born in Rome (Yonhap News Agency, South Korea’s national wire). Between the tabloid noise sits a paper trail of agency statements, court filings, and fan-community letters.

Born: September 19, 1985 ·
Debut: 2008 ·
Ex-wife: Song Hye-kyo (2017–2019) ·
Current wife: Katy Louise Saunders (m. 2023) ·
Children: 2 — son (2023), daughter (2024) ·
Notable work: Descendants of the Sun

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Family updates have consistently come via fan-community letters or agency statements
  • Both children were born in Rome, signaling an Italy-based family life (see timeline below)
  • No upcoming acting projects confirmed by official sources at this time

Seven core facts, one pattern: the official record of Song Joong-ki’s personal life runs through dates, not drama.

The table below distills the actor’s official data sheet as reported by credible sources.

Attribute Value
Full Name Song Joong-ki
Born September 19, 1985 (Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia)
Birthplace Daejeon, South Korea
Occupation Actor
Years Active 2008–present
Spouse(s) Song Hye-kyo (m. 2017–2019); Katy Louise Saunders (m. 2023)
Children Son (b. June 2023), daughter (b. November 2024) (Yonhap News Agency, South Korea’s national wire)

What happened to Joong Ki?

Between 2019 and 2024, Song Joong-ki’s personal life moved through three public chapters: a divorce, a remarriage, and the birth of two children. Each chapter was confirmed by an official statement or a personal letter.

Divorce from Song Hye-kyo in 2019

The split moved fast. The marriage had begun with an October 2017 wedding; the legal ending took roughly a month from filing to finalization. The Korea Times later described the first marriage as lasting less than two years (The Korea Times, an English-language Seoul daily).

The paradox

A divorce that began through his attorney at the Seoul Family Court became international news within hours — and his agency confirmed it the next day. For a star at this level, “private” is a procedural word, not a media reality.

Remarriage to Katy Louise Saunders in January 2023

The contrast with his first marriage was sharp. The Song Hye-kyo relationship had been one of the most visible marriages in Korean entertainment; the Saunders relationship was confirmed in a single announcement with no follow-up press tour.

Bottom line: The implication: Song Joong-ki learned from the media storm of his first marriage and deliberately kept his second relationship out of the spotlight until he was ready to share the news on his own terms.

Who is Joong Ki’s ex-wife?

Song Hye-kyo is a South Korean actress, widely known for her leading role opposite Song Joong-ki in the 2016 drama Descendants of the Sun. They married on October 31, 2017, after their on-screen chemistry sparked real-life romance rumors. The marriage ended in divorce, announced in June 2019 and finalized in July 2019 (The Korea Times, an English-language Seoul daily).

The catch: the same drama that made them a beloved couple also fueled intense public scrutiny, which may have contributed to the marriage’s collapse.

TL;DR: Song Joong-ki’s first marriage to actress Song Hye-kyo ended in 2019 after less than two years, a high-profile split that taught him to guard his private life going forward.

Does Song Joong Ki have a child?

Yes. Song Joong-ki has two children with his current wife, Katy Louise Saunders. His son was born in June 2023 in Rome, and his daughter was born in November 2024, also in Rome. Both births were announced through fan-community letters and confirmed by his agency (Yonhap News Agency, South Korea’s national wire).

Son (born June 2023)

  • Born on June 15, 2023, in Rome (Yonhap News Agency, South Korea’s national wire)
  • Name has not been publicly disclosed (CNA Lifestyle, an Asia-focused entertainment desk)

Daughter (born November 2024)

  • Born on November 20, 2024, in Rome (Yonhap News Agency, South Korea’s national wire)
  • Song Joong-ki announced the birth, stating mother and baby were resting well (The Straits Times, a Singapore daily)

The pattern: the actor has consistently used fan-community letters rather than press conferences to share family milestones, a deliberate shift from the media circus that surrounded his first marriage.

Privacy notice: Song Joong-ki has not disclosed his son’s name, signaling a clear boundary between his public career and family life.

How did Song Joong Ki meet his new wife?

The exact circumstances of their meeting have not been publicly documented. Katy Louise Saunders, a British former actress and Italian language tutor, met Song Joong-ki through mutual acquaintances, according to unconfirmed reports. They registered their marriage in late 2022 and made a public announcement in January 2023 (CNA Lifestyle, an Asia-focused entertainment desk).

The implication: Song Joong-ki clearly valued discretion in his second relationship, choosing to confirm the marriage only after the legal formalities were complete.

Does Song Joong Ki speak English?

Song Joong-ki has demonstrated conversational English in international interviews and fan meetings. He studied at Sungkyunkwan University, majoring in Business Administration, though no formal statement about his fluency level has been issued. Given that his wife is British and they reside partly in Italy, it is reasonable to infer practical proficiency (Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia).

The catch: without an official statement, his exact English fluency level remains speculative — one of several gaps in the public record.

Key questions answered

What is Song Joong-ki’s net worth?

No official figure has been published. Estimates vary widely, but no verified source exists.

Where was Song Joong-ki born?

He was born on September 19, 1985, in Daejeon, South Korea (Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia).

What is Song Joong-ki’s religion?

Song Joong-ki has not publicly discussed his religious beliefs.

Is Song Joong-ki active on Instagram?

He does not maintain an official public Instagram account.

What was Song Joong-ki’s first drama?

His acting debut was in the 2008 film A Frozen Flower (Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia).

Does Song Joong-ki have any siblings?

He has one older brother, but little is publicly known about him.

What movies has Song Joong-ki starred in?

Notable films include A Frozen Flower (2008), Space Sweepers (2021), and the television drama Descendants of the Sun (2016).