Song Joong Ki has dominated Korean entertainment for years, but fans have slowly started to boycott him. Some critics believe that a string of duds may signal the end of his celebrity. Do you think so? Let's dive in.

Joong Ki made his debut as an actor in 2008, but he found his first breakthrough two years later when he starred in one of the lead roles in the popular series Sungkyunkwan Scandal.

His performance as a male lead in the movie A Werewolf Boy in 2012 and then later in the drama Descendants of the Sun in 2016 established him as a star.

He gripped fans all around the world with his increased popularity. But even he was not spared from scandals and criticism.

He is known for having shocked the entertainment world in 2017 when he married his Descendants of the Sun co-star Song Hye Kyo.

The couple shockingly divorced just two years later.

There were plenty of rumors and speculation surrounding the cause of their divorce, including the fact that Hye Kyo's company said they had a personality difference.

Eventually, Joong Ki filed the divorce papers without his wife's knowledge. He was rumored to have cheated on her with his makeup artist but they were never able to find evidence that was sufficient to prove the rumor.

Either way, it created a negative impression on the public, ruining his reputation, as many fans abandoned him.

There was this controversy, but Joong Ki was able to continue his career. His 2021 drama Vincenzo catapulted him to international stardom.

His popularity was further cemented with the hit series Reborn Rich in 2022.

But once again, his personal life was in the news after he revealed that he was in a relationship with British actress Katie Louise Saunders.

The two got married and had their first son in 2023. However, Joong Ki received criticism for his remarks. He said his wife helped him to balance his emotions, and this drew criticism for being similar to what he allegedly said about Song Hye Kyo.

His comments on fatherhood—implying that actors might not get cast if they become husbands and fathers—were also controversial. Several highlighted that while male actors usually transition effortlessly from parenthood, mothers in the entertainment world are often replaced.

His reputation took another hit when 2023's Hopeless, despite screening at the Cannes Film Festival, struggled to find an audience in his home country's theaters.

The film, eventually, was rejected on account of its weak story and characterization, and it went on to record losses. This was a big blow to his career.

Joong Ki also had difficulty breaking into international markets. The language barrier had allowed him to fail every international audition, he confessed.

Though his English skills have improved over the years, he said he still struggles and prefers to speak Korean around his boy.

On the bright side, he starred as the "Next Trending Star" in the Netflix film My Name is Loh Kiwan, which broke records but received criticism for the plot and some controversial scenes.

It was an adaptation of a novel but had an added love story and sex scenes that some found gratuitous.

Notably, Joong Ki initially turned down the role due to uncertainties about the screenplay but ultimately accepted the role.

His next project, Bogotá: City of the Lost, was met with lackluster reception. Following Korean immigrants as they migrant to Colombia, the film suffered years of delays before it died at the box copy on release.

The film drew scant audiences, marking Joong Ki's third consecutive box office bomb.

Many started questioning his relevance, with many noting that his recent roles have been unremarkable.

In the wake of this backlash, Joong Ki faced even more criticism after making public statements and engaging in public, but seemingly boorish, behavior.

He got emotional at a promotional event for Bogotá, saying he was grateful to fans for their support despite the film's lackluster performance.

Though some expressed sympathy for his struggle, others accused him of faking emotion.

Then, as if all that was not enough to make matters worse for the actor, comments he had made about his wife in an interview also went viral, making allegations of being demeaning.

Joong Ki is expected to return to dramas as a star in My Youth later this year.