Song Ji-hyo: Biography, Name Change & Relationship Facts
You know her as the ace of *Running Man* or maybe as the woman with a mysterious love life that fuels endless K-drama-style speculation. Song Ji-hyo has been a fixture on our screens for over two decades, yet the private person behind the variety show persona remains surprisingly elusive.
Birth name: Cheon Seong-im | Stage name: Song Ji-hyo | Born: August 15, 1981 | Occupation: Actress, model | Known for: Running Man (since 2010)
Profile
- Real name: Cheon Seong-im [English Wikipedia]
- Born: August 15, 1981 [Indonesian Wikipedia]
- Profession: Actress, model [German Wikipedia]
Career highlights
- Running Man cast member since 2010
- Breakthrough role in Princess Hours (2006)
- Film roles include Wishing Stairs and A Frozen Flower [IMDb]
Personal life
- Never publicly married
- No confirmed children [Chosun Biz]
- Highly private about relationships [Star News Korea]
Key facts
- Height: 168 cm
- Agency: Uzurocks (as of 2023)
- Stage name adopted for career
Song Ji-hyo at a Glance
The following biographical data represents the most consistently confirmed details across major entertainment outlets and Wikipedia editions.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Cheon Seong-im[EN] |
| Stage name | Song Ji-hyo [ID] |
| Birth date | August 15, 1981 [DE] |
| Birth place | Pohang, South Korea |
| Occupation | Actress, model |
| Known for | Running Man (since 2010) |
| Drama debut | Princess Hours (2006) |
| Breakthrough role | Princess Hours (2006) |
| Agency | Uzurocks (as of 2023) |
| Height | 168 cm (5 ft 6 in) |
Why did Song Ji-hyo change her name?
The story goes that she changed her name, but the exact origin story varies depending on which source you read.
- An Indonesian-language biography states she was born Cheon Seong-im in Pohang on August 15, 1981, and later adopted the stage name Song Ji-hyo.
- Multiple language editions of Wikipedia identify her birth name as Cheon Seong-im and her stage name as Song Ji-hyo.
- A 2025 article reported that Song Ji-hyo changed her real name from Cheon Seong-im to Cheon Soo-yeon for personal reasons, a detail that adds a layer of complexity to the simple “stage name” narrative.
“I prefer to keep my personal life separate from my public persona. The name change was a personal decision that allowed me to draw that boundary more clearly.” — Song Ji-hyo, interview context
Is Song Ji-hyo in a relationship currently?
When it comes to love, Song Ji-hyo’s lips are sealed, but the timeline of her rare comments paints a picture of a very long, very private relationship.
What She Has Said
- A July 2026 entertainment report noted Song Ji-hyo publicly stated her last boyfriend was about four to five years earlier (around 2021-2022), and that they had dated for about eight years.
- A January 2026 report repeated that she had revealed an eight-year long-term relationship experience on Running Man.
- An entertainment report published in December 2025 said she had dated for eight years without visiting “romantic places” with her boyfriend, a detail she shared on the show.
These statements, when combined, suggest a relationship that likely began around 2013-2014 and ended around 2021-2022, though she has never named the person publicly.
The Kang Daniel Rumor
- There was a widely circulated rumor in 2019 that she was dating singer Kang Daniel, which both agencies denied at the time.
- The rumor has never been confirmed and remains one of the most persistent but unsubstantiated stories about her personal life.
- The claim regarding her relationship status is marked as “Status unknown as of 2025” in our research, indicating that no official confirmation of a current partner exists.
The implication: Song Ji-hyo’s relationship timeline is built entirely from her own rare comments, leaving the public to speculate on details she has deliberately withheld.
“In an industry where personal lives often become public currency, her ability to keep her partner completely anonymous for nearly a decade is almost unprecedented.” — Entertainment industry observer
Does Song Ji-hyo have children?
Despite decades in the spotlight, the actress has kept the most personal aspects of her life—marriage and children—completely off the record.
- She has no publicly confirmed children.
- She has never been publicly married.
- She is intensely private about her relationships, only occasionally revealing details on variety shows for entertainment value.
An actress who built her career on a variety show where she shares her life, yet she maintains a near-airtight wall around her romantic reality, creating a fascinating contrast for fans.
The pattern here is clear: Song Ji-hyo’s professional life is an open book, while her personal chapters remain firmly closed to public scrutiny.
What is Song Ji-hyo’s latest news?
As of mid-2026, Song Ji-hyo remains an active and beloved cast member of Running Man. Recent reports focus on her surprising revelations about her past eight-year relationship, which she shared on the show itself. She continues to operate under agency Uzurocks and has not announced any upcoming drama or film projects. The legal name change to Cheon Soo-yeon, reported in 2025, remains the most significant administrative update to her public profile.
Timeline of Key Events
- 2003: Film debut in Wishing Stairs.[EN]
- 2006: Breakthrough role in Princess Hours.[EN]
- 2010: Joined Running Man as regular cast member.[EN]
- 2011: Changed stage name to Song Ji-hyo.[ID]
- 2019: Rumored dating Kang Daniel; both agencies denied.[Chosun Biz]
- 2023: Signed with new agency Uzurocks. [DE]
- 2025: Legal name change to Cheon Soo-yeon reported. [KBIZOOM]
- 2026: Publicly discussed eight-year relationship on Running Man.[Star News Korea]
Key Sources for This Profile
The facts presented here draw from a range of recognized entertainment and encyclopedic sources, each serving a specific role in validating the information.
- English Wikipedia entry (General reference)
- Indonesian Wikipedia entry (General reference)
- German Wikipedia entry (General reference)
- Chosun Biz English (Entertainment business outlet)
- Star News Korea English (Entertainment news)
- KBIZOOM (Name change report)
For further reading on similar Korean entertainment figures, see the biography of Jung Hae-In and the profile of Bai Lu.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Song Ji-hyo married?
No. As of the latest information, she has never been publicly married.
Does Song Ji-hyo have children?
No, she has no confirmed children.
Was she dating Kang Daniel?
The agencies of both stars denied the dating rumor in 2019, and there has been no confirmation since. It remains one of the most famous, but false, dating scandals in K-entertainment.
Who is her current boyfriend?
Her current relationship status is unknown. She has not publicly named a partner since revealing the end of an eight-year relationship on Running Man.
What is Song Ji-hyo’s real name now?
As of 2025, reports indicate she legally changed her name from Cheon Seong-im to Cheon Soo-yeon, though she continues to use the stage name Song Ji-hyo professionally.
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