South Korean actor Song Young-kyu was found dead on 4 Aug inside a parked car in Yongin, south of Seoul. He was 55 years old.
An acquaintance discovered Song at around 8:00AM local time in a residential complex. Police from the Yongin Dongbu Police Precinct confirmed there was no sign of foul play, and no suicide note was found at the scene.
Song gained widespread recognition for his role in the 2019 action-comedy film Extreme Job. He made his entertainment debut in 1994 through a children’s musical.
Career Highlights and Television Work
Throughout his career, Song Young-kyu appeared in numerous popular dramas including Hot Stove League, Hwarang, Tale Of The Nine-Tailed, and Hyena. He also starred in streaming productions such as Netflix’s Narco-Saints and Disney+’s Big Bet.
The actor appeared in two television series at the time of his death: The Defects and The Winning Try.
Drunk Driving Incident and Professional Consequences
Song Young-kyu faced legal trouble in June when police caught him driving under the influence. He had been drinking with acquaintances before getting behind the wheel himself.
Following the drunk driving arrest, Song Young-kyu issued a public apology when news of the case became public. The incident resulted in immediate professional repercussions across his active projects.
Both The Defects and The Winning Try announced they would edit Song Young-kyu out of their shows as much as possible without affecting story development. He also stepped down from his scheduled role in Shakespeare In Love, which was playing at the CJ Towol Theater of the Seoul Arts Center.
Song Young-kyu is survived by his wife and two daughters. Police investigations into his death are ongoing.
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