Song Young-kyu

Biography

Song Young-kyu was a South Korean actor with a long and respected career in stage, television, and film. He was widely recognized for his versatile supporting roles and became a familiar face in numerous productions, gaining particular attention in his later years.

Stage and Early Work

Song Young-kyu’s acting journey began in 1994, making his debut in a children’s musical titled Merutal Dosa. Song Young-kyu’s professional career was rooted in musical theater. He was an active presence in the stage world, with notable roles in musicals such as Les Misérables, An Jung-geun, and Jekyll and Hyde. His extensive stage experience gave him a strong command of his craft, which he carried into his on-screen performances.

Film and Television

He was a prolific supporting actor, appearing in more than 40 television dramas and numerous films over three decades.

Breakthrough Role: His most widely recognized performance came in the 2019 box-office sensation Extreme Job. His role as Detective Squad Chief Choi, a gruff but endearing character, brought him widespread public recognition and contributed to the film becoming a major box-office hit.

Diverse Filmography: He showcased his versatility across various genres. In historical K-dramas, he played a key role as Queen Jiso’s brother in Hwarang (2016-2017). His recent work on global streaming platforms brought him international recognition, including his roles in the Netflix series Narco-Saints (2022) and the Disney+ series Big Bet (2022). Other notable works include Hyena (2020), Tale of the Nine Tailed (2020), The Penthouse (2020), and the acclaimed film Baseball Girl (2019).

Recent Projects: At the time of his death, he was actively involved in several projects, with roles in the ENA drama The Defects and the SBS TV show Try: We Become Miracles, both of which were in the process of being broadcast. His final film was Land of Happiness, which is scheduled for a future release.

Controversies/Incidents:

In the final months of his life, Song Young-kyu faced a public controversy that significantly impacted his career and personal well-being.

• DUI Incident: On June 19, 2025, he was apprehended for driving under the influence in Yongin. He reportedly drove for approximately five kilometers with a blood alcohol concentration above the legal limit of 0.08%, which would have resulted in the revocation of his driver’s license. The incident was not made public until a month later, on July 25, leading to a wave of public backlash.
• Professional Fallout: Following the revelation, the consequences were swift and severe. He voluntarily withdrew from the stage production Shakespeare in Love. Production teams for his two active dramas, The Defects and Try, announced that they would be minimizing his screen time in future broadcasts. This professional fallout caused him immense stress.

A close acquaintance reported that Song Young-kyu was under significant personal and professional stress, which was greatly exacerbated by the DUI scandal. The actor was reportedly struggling with the decrease in project offers and the financial difficulties his family faced from a café business run by his wife. On August 4, 2025, he was found deceased inside a parked vehicle in a residential neighborhood in Yongin by an acquaintance who then alerted the police. The police reported no signs of foul play and no note was found at the scene. An investigation into the circumstances of his death is ongoing, and authorities are considering an autopsy to determine the exact cause. His funeral service is scheduled for August 6, 2025.