Actor Song Young‑kyu Found Dead Amid DUI Investigation

Veteran character actor Song Young‑kyu was found dead inside his car in Yongin at around 8 a.m. on August 4, 2025, police confirmed; no signs of foul play or a farewell note were reported, and an autopsy is still under discussion amid ongoing questioning of his family to determine the exact circumstances of his death. Just weeks earlier, on June 19, Song had been referenced to the Suwon District Prosecutors’ Office without detention after a drunk-driving incident in Gyeonggi Province—Ie, he drove approximately 5 kilometers from Giheung-gu to Cheoin-gu with a blood-alcohol level above 0.08%, high enough to trigger a license revocation under Korean law; the case came to light only on July 25, triggering industry backlash and mental distress amid malicious online commentary. In response to the controversy, Song stepped down from the stage production Shakespeare In Love, and production teams for the ENA drama The Defects and SBS’s The Winning Try confirmed intentions to minimize and edit out his remaining scenes in post-production. Rising to prominence in 2019 through his scene-stealing role as Chief Choi in the box-office hit Extreme Job, and later supporting acclaimed series such as Suriname and Casino, Song built a respected three-decade career known for depth and versatility; at the time of his death, he was portraying Pastor Yoon Se‑hoon in The Defects and Coach Kim Min‑joong in The Winning Try, both series now facing creative and production uncertainty following his sudden passing.