South Korean actor Song Young‑kyu, aged 55, was found dead inside his car on August 4, 2025, in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, near Seoul. That simple fact reads like news—and it feels heavier than that, doesn’t it?
Cause of Death: The Day It Happened
On the morning of August 4, around 8 a.m. local time, an acquaintance noticed Song in his parked vehicle in a quiet residential area and alerted the police.
Officers from the Yongin Dongbu Police Station responded and confirmed his passing. So far, authorities haven’t found any signs of foul play or a suicide note. They’re investigating, talking to his family and friends, and considering an autopsy—but nothing conclusive has been shared publicly.
And so the question hangs in the air: what happened in those final moments?
It’s hard to say what caused Song Young‑kyu’s death. The police haven’t ruled on an official cause, and no autopsy result has been publicized yet. Some reports mention the possibility of an autopsy, some say it’s being considered. Either way, we’re left waiting.
The DUI Backstory
Just a few weeks earlier, in June 2025, Song was involved in a drunk driving (DUI) incident. He reportedly drove from Giheung‑gu to Cheoin‑gu in Yongin while visibly intoxicated.
His blood alcohol concentration was over 0.08%, the legal threshold for revoking a driver’s license in South Korea.
He was referred to the prosecution—but not detained. The news broke only about a month later, sparking waves of criticism in the media and online. A lot of people say the relentless cyber‑commentary in this country can be brutally harsh. For someone like Song, who had built a long, respected career, this must have hit hard.
Personal Life: Wife and Daughters
Song is survived by his wife and two daughters. You don’t hear much about them in the headlines—and maybe that’s for the best. He seemed like a deeply private guy off‑screen, keeping his family life away from the glare.
Even so, this tragedy slices right through that veil. I can’t imagine what his loved ones are going through as the world watches and speculates.
A Look Back — His Movies and TV Shows
Here’s where we let Song Young‑kyu live on: his body of work. He built up a solid acting career over more than three decades—starting out on stage and then branching into films and television with graceful steadiness. You might’ve seen him and not even known his name—but you’d certainly catch his face.
In film, he’s perhaps best remembered for playing Chief Choi in the 2019 blockbuster Extreme Job, one of the top‑grossing comedies in South Korean cinema history. That role put him on the map internationally and gave him that memorable tough‑guy charm.
On TV, he turned up in a ton of popular dramas over the years:
Big Bet and Narco‑Saints, both heisted attention in the early 2020s on Disney+ and Netflix.
Historical gigs like Hwarang, where he crossed paths with big stars like BTS’s Kim Taehyung.
And others—Hot Stove League, Destined With You, Tale of the Nine‑Tailed, Partners for Justice, and more. He was reliable. He was versatile. He slipped into roles like a glove.
Up until very recently, he was still active. He had roles in dramas like The Winning Try (SBS sports drama) and The Defects (ENA), with stories about high school rugby and societal issues. But in the wake of the DUI, producers decided to reduce or re‑edit his scenes entirely. A lot of effort went into keeping the shows intact even while trying to protect all involved—including the audience.
Earnings and Income: The Unsung Numbers
So, how much did Song earn? That’s a question without a clear answer—because those figures are rarely public.
He wasn’t a top billing superstar, but because he worked steadily across films, dramas, stage, and teaching, it’s fair to say he enjoyed a comfortable, middle‑class stable career.
Supporting actors in Korea don’t bank millions like A‑listers do—but they carve out a solid living, especially when they’re consistent.
He taught acting, took on character roles in major productions, and probably drew modest performance fees. All this added up. No flash‑in‑the‑pan fame strikes here—just a three‑decade grind, piece by piece building respect and a body of work.
That’s often more sustainable, but you also don’t always get the glam—or the paychecks—that come with global superstardom.
The Shadow of the Scandal
Can we say the DUI incident led to his death? Not in black‑and‑white terms—but the timing is tragic.
Within weeks of the news going public, he was stripped from a stage play, edited out of recent dramas, and thrust under a spotlight that’s harsh rather than kind. Some insiders say he was visibly stressed—deeply shaken by the headlines and malicious commentary.
Again, though: nothing’s been confirmed as cause of death. It’s a web of speculation, sorrow, and what‑if.
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen such a tragic pattern in Hallyu‑wood. The industry has lost several stars in recent years under similar circumstances.
And you better believe people are asking: is the system broken? What can we do to protect artists amid the glare?
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