South Korean actor Song Young-kyu found dead at 55
Song Young-kyu built a steady acting career over three decades, appearing in more than 40 television dramas and numerous films.
SEOUL – South Korean actor Song Young-kyu was found dead on Aug 4 in a parked vehicle in Yongin city, Gyeonggi Province, the police said. He was 55.
The authorities said there were no signs of foul play. An investigation is ongoing, with plans to question family members to determine the circumstances surrounding his death.
The veteran actor, best known for his supporting role as the gruff squad chief in the box-office hit Extreme Job (2019), had been under scrutiny since late July, when it was revealed he had been arrested for drink driving on June 19.
Police said Song drove about 5km in Yongin with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 per cent – above the legal threshold for licence revocation. The case had been forwarded to prosecutors and was awaiting indictment.
In the wake of the incident, Song was dropped from two high-profile dramas currently in production – The Defects and The Winning Try – as well as the stage play Shakespeare In Love. Such swift removals are common in South Korea's entertainment industry, where public figures are held to strict moral standards.
Following his 1994 debut, Song built a steady acting career over three decades, appearing in more than 40 television dramas and numerous films.
He was known to international audiences for his roles in Netflix series Narco-Saints (2022) and Disney+ series Big Bet (2022 to 2023).
He is survived by his wife and two daughters, according to Yonhap News Agency. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
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