Song Joong-ki: Marriages, Ex-Wife, Children, and Age Gap

When a celebrity’s personal life is as closely watched as his on-screen performances, the line between public figure and private person blurs. For Song Joong-ki, the South Korean actor known for Descendants of the Sun, two marriages and the birth of two children have kept fans and media equally curious. This article separates verified facts from speculation, tracing his relationships from his 2017 wedding to Song Hye-kyo to his current family with Katy Louise Saunders.

Born: September 19, 1985 ·
Age (as of 2025): 39 ·
Number of Marriages: 2 ·
Children: 1 son, 1 daughter ·
Ex-wife: Song Hye-kyo ·
Current Wife: Katy Louise Saunders

Four biographical details, one pattern: Song Joong-ki’s personal timeline is unusually public for a Korean actor, yet key gaps remain.

This table captures his core biographical data.

What happened between Song Hye-kyo and Song Joong-ki?

Their marriage in 2017

• Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo announced their engagement on July 5, 2017, through their agencies (Wikipedia entry for Song Joong-ki).
• They married in a private ceremony on October 31, 2017, at Youngbingwan, Hotel Shilla in Seoul (Wikipedia entry for Song Joong-ki).
• The couple had met while playing lovers in the 2016 drama Descendants of the Sun (The Straits Times report).

Divorce announcement in 2019

• On June 26, 2019, Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo announced their divorce (Wikipedia entry for Song Joong-ki).
• The divorce was finalized in July 2019 (Wikipedia entry for Song Joong-ki).

Reasons for divorce

• Neither party has publicly specified a reason (Wikipedia entry for Song Joong-ki).
• Media speculation has ranged from career conflicts to personality differences, but no confirmed cause exists.

The pattern: the silence around the divorce’s cause leaves room for endless rumor, but the absence of a public statement from either party suggests a deliberate effort to keep personal pain out of the spotlight.

How many wives does Song Joong-ki have?

First wife: Song Hye-kyo

• Married October 2017; divorced July 2019 (Wikipedia entry for Song Joong-ki).
• Song Hye-kyo is a South Korean actress born November 22, 1981 (Wikipedia entry for Song Hye-kyo).

Second wife: Katy Louise Saunders

• Song Joong-ki confirmed he was dating a British-Italian former actress on December 26, 2022 (Wikipedia entry for Song Joong-ki).
• He announced their marriage on January 30, 2023, and that Saunders was already pregnant (Wikipedia entry for Song Joong-ki).
• They registered the marriage in January 2023 in a private ceremony (The Straits Times report).

The implication: two marriages in six years is unusual for a top Korean actor, where public perception of stability often matters for endorsements and casting. Song Joong-ki’s quick remarriage signaled a clear break from his past.

Who is Joong Ki’s ex-wife?

Song Hye-kyo biography

• Song Hye-kyo was born November 22, 1981, and rose to fame through dramas like Autumn in My Heart and Full House (Wikipedia entry for Song Hye-kyo).
• She co-starred with Song Joong-ki in Descendants of the Sun (2016), which became a global hit (The Straits Times report).

Their relationship timeline

• Met on set of Descendants of the Sun in 2015, dated privately, married in 2017, divorced in 2019 (Wikipedia entry for Song Joong-ki).
• No public statements from either side about the divorce.

Did Song Joong-ki have a child?

Birth of his son in 2023

• Katy Louise Saunders gave birth to a son in Rome in June 2023 (The Straits Times report).
• Song Joong-ki announced the pregnancy in his January 2023 marriage announcement (Wikipedia entry for Song Joong-ki).

Announcement of second child

• On November 20, 2024, Song Joong-ki announced via his official fan club that his wife had given birth to a daughter, calling her “our lovely princess” (The Straits Times Singapore report).
• The birth also took place in Rome, Italy.

The catch: some online sources still list Song Joong-ki as having one child, failing to update after the 2024 birth. Always check recency: as of early 2025, he has two children.

What is the age gap between Song Hye Kyo and Song Joong Ki?

Song Hye-kyo’s birthdate

• Born November 22, 1981 (Wikipedia community-edited encyclopedia entry for Song Hye-kyo).

Song Joong-ki’s birthdate

• Born September 19, 1985 (Wikipedia entry for Song Joong-ki).

Age difference calculation

• Song Hye-kyo is approximately 4 years older than Song Joong-ki (Wikipedia entry for Song Hye-kyo).
• The gap was frequently noted by Korean media during their marriage.

What this means: the age gap of four years was a common talking point, but it did not define the public narrative around their union.

Timeline of major life events

• October 2017: Married Song Hye-kyo
• July 2019: Divorced Song Hye-kyo
• January 2023: Married Katy Louise Saunders
• June 2023: Son born in Rome
• November 2024: Daughter born in Rome

Clarity breakdown

Confirmed facts

• Marriage to Song Hye-kyo in October 2017
• Divorce finalized July 2019
• Marriage to Katy Louise Saunders in January 2023
• Birth of son in June 2023
• Birth of daughter in November 2024
• Age gap of 4 years with Song Hye-kyo

What remains unclear

• Exact reason for divorce from Song Hye-kyo
• Details of how he met Katy Louise Saunders
• Whether the divorce had any connection to his subsequent relationship

Quotes from key moments

Our lovely princess.

— Song Joong-ki, describing his newborn daughter in a November 2024 fan club announcement (The Straits Times report)

I have made a vow to spend the rest of my life with her.

— Song Joong-ki, in his January 2023 marriage announcement (Wikipedia entry for Song Joong-ki)

The pattern across these two public statements is clear: Song Joong-ki has chosen to share major life updates directly with fans rather than through official press channels. This direct approach gives his audience a sense of intimacy, but it also means that every word is scrutinized. For an actor whose personal life is inseparable from his public image, the trade-off between openness and privacy is constant.

For a comprehensive overview of his personal milestones, readers can explore Song Joong-kis biography and family for verified details on his marriages and children.

Frequently asked questions

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