K-Drama Star’s Tragic End After DUI Scandal

Veteran South Korean actor Song Young-Kyu, celebrated for his roles in K-dramas like Big Bet, Hwarang, and Hot Stove League, as well as the 2019 blockbuster Extreme Job, was found dead inside a parked vehicle in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, on Sunday, August 3, 2025. The 55-year-old actor’s death, confirmed by the Yongin Eastern Police Station, comes just weeks after a high-profile drunk driving incident that sparked widespread controversy.

Song was discovered unresponsive around 8:00 AM by an acquaintance at a townhouse complex, prompting an immediate police investigation. Authorities have reported no signs of foul play or a suicide note, and the cause of death remains undetermined, with an autopsy under consideration. A source cited by Koreaboo revealed that Song was deeply distressed by the “malicious articles and comments” following his DUI scandal, which severely impacted his career.

On June 19, Song was arrested for driving under the influence in Yongin, with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08%, exceeding South Korea’s legal limit for license revocation. The incident, which became public in late July, led to his removal from the stage play Shakespeare In Love and significant edits to his roles in ENA’s The Defects and SBS’s The Winning Try. The Defects production team stated they would minimize his screen time to preserve the show’s narrative flow.

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Song, who began his career in 1994 with the children’s musical Wizard Mureul, leaves behind a legacy spanning theater, film, and television. He is survived by his wife and two daughters, with his funeral scheduled for August 6 at Davos Hospital in Yongin. In South Korea, where celebrities face intense public scrutiny, the DUI scandal and its fallout likely compounded the pressures on Song, raising questions about the toll of public backlash in the industry.

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