Daijiworld Media Network – Seoul

Seoul, Aug 4: Veteran South Korean actor Song Young-Kyu has been found dead at the age of 55, just days after facing fallout from a DUI incident that reportedly took a toll on his professional and personal life.

According to Korean media reports, Song was discovered unconscious inside a parked vehicle at a townhouse complex in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, around 8:00 AM on Sunday. He was found by an acquaintance who immediately alerted authorities. The Yongin Eastern Police Station has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

A source quoted by local media outlet Koreaboo said, "He was distressed by the malicious articles and comments, and the circumstances were extremely unfavourable at that time."

The tragedy follows a DUI incident that occurred just over a week ago. Song had reportedly been drinking with acquaintances before attempting to drive home. A local resident reported the situation to police, and subsequent testing revealed a blood alcohol level over 0.08 percent—high enough to warrant the revocation of his driver’s license.

The incident quickly impacted his career. Song was removed from the cast of the stage play Shakespeare in Love, and although he did not make any public statements, the controversy sparked widespread backlash. In South Korea, public figures involved in scandals often face swift and serious professional consequences.

At the time of his death, Song was portraying Pastor Yoon Se Hoon in ENA’s ongoing drama Eye Shopping and had completed filming for the upcoming series The Defects. His sudden passing has shocked the entertainment industry and his fans, prompting an outpouring of condolences online.