"Sometimes, being a father or a husband means losing a job in show business."

Song Joong-ki has been the talk of the town ever since he revealed in an interview that, following his much-celebrated international marriage and subsequent birth of a child, he fears career interruption due to his changed circumstances.

His comments have stirred controversy, given that he is a popular male star who continues to enjoy a successful career amid events such as marriage, divorce, remarriage, pregnancy, and childbirth.

In a recent interview with the Chinese media outlet Sina Entertainment, Song talked about his acting career after marriage. He married British actress Kate Louise Saunders on January 30 and announced the birth of their child on the 14th. The interview took place before the birth of their child.

In the interview, Song emphasized, "I've always dreamt of being a father. It's the biggest event in my life right now. I really love my father, and most of my good traits come from him. I've always wanted to be a great father like him."

Song added, "I'm really happy, but at the same time, I'm afraid of becoming a father. I wonder, 'Can I be a good father?' I always discuss this issue with my wife. We will try our best, and I'm sure we can do it."

The controversial point was his following remark. When asked about how he sees the concept in China of balancing work and family, he responded, "Sometimes, being a father, being a husband, means losing a job in this show business."

Song continued, "Getting married and becoming a father can, at times, appear as if I'm gradually losing my job. But I'm not scared at all. To me, family is more important than work. However, I always strive for my work, for myself, and for my family."

This sparked a debate, with some criticizing his remarks as being insensitive, considering many women experience career interruptions due to marriage, childbirth, and parenting. However, others defended his comments as an honest expression of a universal challenge.

In the past, many female stars have expressed their struggles with career interruptions due to marriage and childbirth. Some top stars took a long time to return, while others voiced feelings of loss due to changed perceptions.

Actress Oh Yeon-soo, who married Son Ji-chang in 1998, shared her experience last year on Channel A's 'Go Doo-shim Likes'. She talked about spending seven years in the United States to support her son's study abroad and how this led to a break in her career. Despite the break, she made a successful comeback with her powerful charisma in tvN's 'Military Prosecutor Doberman'.

Actress So Yu-jin, who married restaurateur Baek Jong-won in 2013 and is now a mother of three, opened up about her struggles of balancing her roles as an actress and a mother during her appearance on MBN's 'Naturally' in 2020.

In a heartfelt confession, she expressed her gratitude for the opportunities she's been given post-childbirth, "After giving birth to my third child and doing a drama, I received an award. I thought I wouldn't cry this time, but I cried again. I was so sad when I received an award after giving birth to my second child, I couldn't even say the director's name."

Other actresses like Han Ji-hye and Jeon In-hwa deeply resonated with these sentiments, having gone through similar experiences. Both actresses encouraged their juniors, reassuring them that opportunities will come.

Hallyu star Lee Young-ae is another noteworthy figure who had her career interrupted due to marriage and childbirth. Lee married a businessman in 2009 and had twins the following year. She took a 12-year hiatus from the entertainment industry to focus on her family. Despite her long absence, Lee made a successful comeback in 2016 with the drama "Saimdang, Light's Diary".

Actress Jeon Do-yeon, who won the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival in 2007, took a break after giving birth to a child in 2009. However, she made a strong return to the screen in 2014 and again received high acclaim for her performance.

While Song Joong-ki's comments have been controversial, they have also brought to light the challenges many actors and actresses face when trying to balance work and family life. These comments have led to renewed conversations around the importance of gender equality in the workplace, work-life balance, and societal expectations around parenthood.

Given this context, some industry insiders have argued that the outrage against Song Joong-ki might be misplaced. Instead, they suggest that the industry should focus on providing better support for actresses who have to navigate both their professional commitments and personal lives.

"I think Song Joong-ki's comments were not intended to marginalize working mothers," said an industry insider who requested anonymity. "Instead, he was expressing his personal anxiety about balancing his career and family life. In a way, he has drawn attention to a serious issue that affects many working women in the entertainment industry."

This controversy highlights the need for systemic changes in the entertainment industry, as well as in society at large, to ensure that both women and men can balance their professional and personal commitments without fear of losing their careers.

While Song Joong-ki's comments may have sparked controversy, they have undeniably brought attention to the significant challenges faced by many working parents in the entertainment industry. The ongoing discussions surrounding his remarks may serve as a catalyst for much-needed change, shedding light on the critical issue of work-life balance in the world of show business.

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