Popular Actor Song Joong Ki has been making headlines ever since he became a father. The contents of an interview he conducted have been released, and his mentions of “career interruption” and “paycheck” have caught people’s attention.
Song Joong Ki’s interview with Chinese entertainment media outlet Sina Entertainment has been made public. The interview took place while his wife, Katie Louise Saunders, was expecting to give birth.
During the interview, Song Joong Ki, who was on the verge of experiencing a significant turning point in his life with the birth of his child, was asked whether becoming a father would change him. He responded, “It is the most significant event in my life. I have always dreamed of becoming a father. I truly love my father, and all my good qualities are influenced by him. So, since I was young, I have dreamed of becoming a good father like him.”
In particular, Song Joong Ki’s statement about juggling “work and family” has garnered attention. He expressed, “Becoming a father and a husband also means losing job opportunities in the entertainment industry. It seems like having a child and getting married gradually makes it appear as if I’m losing my job.”
Song Joong Ki reassured, “It may vary depending on the situation, but I’m not afraid. I don’t worry about it. Family is always more important to me than work. I love my job, and I always strive for myself and my family. I can be a good actor, a good person, a good father, and a good husband. I can be a good son to my parents.”
Song Joong Ki also revealed his paycheck. In the same interview, he mentioned the film “Bogotá” and stated, “Money wasn’t important in this project. I didn’t care about money. In fact, it’s embarrassing to mention ‘no guarantee.’ It’s not important to me.”
He added, “I read the script and liked it. I felt a positive energy. ‘Bogotá’ deals with family violence and social inequality. That’s why it has value. I wanted to be part of this film. If I had received a paycheck, it would have been too expensive, and it would have taken up a large portion of the budget. This film is not that kind of film.”
Regarding Song Joong Ki’s appearance fees, they have been previously disclosed through a variety show. Referring to the drama “Vincenzo,” it was mentioned that his appearance fee was about 200 million KRW per episode, and for the recent “The Youngest Son of a Chaebol Family,” it was around 300 million KRW per episode. With increasing popularity, it is expected that Song Joong Ki’s appearance fee will continue to rise. It is estimated that he has earned around 9.2 billion KRW over the past two years, including advertising revenue since “Vincenzo.”
Since the release of Song Joong Ki’s interview, controversies have not subsided. From statements like “Becoming a father means career interruption” to acknowledging his expensive appearance fees, there have been mixed reactions. While mentioning the film “Bogotá,” he faced criticism for mentioning his high appearance fee and at the same time emphasized that “Bogotá” is an excellent piece of work.
Song Joong Ki starred in the film “Bogotá,” set to be released later this year.
