Actor Song Il-kook Reveals He's Living Apart from Judge Wife, Opens Up About Raising Three Sons

Actor Song Il-kook has shared his current life situation, revealing that he and his wife, a judge, have been living separately for the past two and a half years. He also spoke candidly about the challenges of raising his three sons.

Appearing on the tvN STORY variety show 'Each House Couple', Song Il-kook joined fellow musical 'Mamma Mia!' cast members Kim Jung-min, Min Yoon-gi, and Kim Jin-soo. During discussions about their musical preparations, Kim Jung-min expressed the difficulties of adapting to a new singing style different from his 30 years of vocal training. While modestly receiving compliments likening him to a 'youthful boy', Kim Jung-min also shared relatable sentiments about the harsh critiques during run-through rehearsals.

Song Il-kook disclosed that he and his wife, who works as a judge, are currently in a 'weekend couple' arrangement, living apart for extended periods. He surprised the other cast members by revealing that his triplet sons, now in their first year of middle school, are under his sole care. He described practical struggles, such as constantly driving them to and from their various academy classes.

In response, Kim Jung-min, drawing from his own experience as a parent, offered advice on how to distribute love equally among children to prevent jealousy. Song Il-kook explained that while he had requested separate classes for his sons at school, he refrains from giving excessive individual praise at home to avoid discouraging the others. He mentioned that he resorts to sending private messages of encouragement instead. However, he noted that his sons, now in adolescence, show increasing distance, even pushing away his arm when he tries to put it around them.

Kim Jung-min comforted Song Il-kook, saying, "Just wait a little longer. They will come back to you soon."

Song Il-kook married his wife, Jeong Seung-yeon, a judge, in 2008, and they welcomed their triplet sons, Daehan, Minguk, and Manse, in 2012.

He gained immense popularity and became known as a devoted ' 육아 대디' (childcare dad) through the KBS reality show 'The Return of Superman' with his triplets.

Currently, he is busy balancing his acting career with his parental responsibilities.