“I have two fathers,” said the late Song Young-kyu, his voice trembling with emotion during a 2022 broadcast of SBS’s “A Story about the Day.” That moment — raw and vulnerable — is now echoing louder than ever following his sudden death at the age of 55.
The actor, known for his sincerity on and off-screen, had opened up about his stepfather’s harrowing experience as a forced laborer during Japan’s occupation of Korea. Song Young-kyu recalled how his stepfather, as a young man, was taken to the notorious “Battleship Island,” surviving on soybean cake to endure extreme hardship.
“Caught up in the busyness of life, I failed to recognize his pain. I am truly ashamed,” he admitted on air, pausing as tears overcame him. This deeply emotional episode struck a chord with viewers, spiking the show’s viewership to a peak of 5%.
Song Young-kyu’s personal life was just as poignant. His love story with his wife spanned 17 years — nine years of dating followed by eight years of family opposition. At a time when he was struggling financially and on the verge of studying abroad in Japan, he gave everything up upon hearing his girlfriend’s resolute words: “I’m going to marry you now.”
His dedication never wavered. “My wife is the greatest gift of my life,” he once said on MBC’s “That Man Who I Remember” — a sentiment that resonated with many. To support his family, he took a public service role in the Seoul City Song and Dance Troupe, choosing stability over stardom.
However, in recent months, Song Young-kyu faced personal turmoil. Following a drunk driving incident, he withdrew from several ongoing projects. According to an acquaintance, “He was highly sensitive to stress and recently expressed feelings of deep loneliness after being separated from his family.”
On August 4, he was found dead in a vehicle in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. His funeral is being held at the Dabose Hospital Funeral Hall, with his wife and two daughters serving as chief mourners. He will be laid to rest at Hambaeksan Memorial Park on August 6.
As fans mourn the passing of a talented and deeply compassionate actor, his stories of love, regret, and resilience continue to move hearts across the nation.
Sources: nate