Who Was Song Young-kyu? BTS V's 'Hwarang' Co-Star, 'Extreme Job' Actor Died At 55 Amid DUI Scandal

Song Young-kyu, a well respected South Korean actor known for his nuanced supporting roles in dramas and films, passed away at the age of 55 on August 4, 2025. He was best remembered nationally as well as internationally for his role in the blockbuster comedy Extreme Job and as 'Queen Jiso’s' brother in the historical K-drama, Hwarang, where he shared the screen with BTS member V, aka Kim Taehyung.

Young-kyu had built himself a career spanning over three decades of work and dedication. His sudden death hit the news when he was discovered in a parked car in Yongin. The news had shocked fans and the entertainment industry alike, especially as it follows closely on the heels of his public DUI controversy. Despite the recent scandal, Young-kyu leaves behind a legacy of memorable performances. Here’s all you need to know about the late actor.

Song Young-kyu's early life and career

As reported by IMB, Song Young-kyu was born on April 18, 1970, in South Korea. He began his acting career in 1994 in a children’s musical, Wizard Mureul and eventually moved to the big screen and TV shows. Over the past three decades, he built himself a steady career across stage, television, and film, appearing in over 40 dramas and many movies. His consistency and character roles earned him respect within the Korean entertainment industry and made him a sought-after actor.

Who all were in Song Young-Kyu’s family?

As reported by Chosun Biz, he had a wife and two daughters. While there is not much public information on them, it is being reported that his wife ran a cafe business, which was allegedly not doing well and struggling due to the worsening economy. It is being reported that a source close to him also indicated that Young-kyu had been living separately from his family for a while now, as he was experiencing increasing stress due to his professional decline and all of this had led him to isolation.

Song Young-kyu had his breakout Role in Extreme Job (2019)

Song Young-kyu has had many roles credited to his filmography, but his most memorable role came in the 2019 hit action-comedy, Extreme Job, where he played ‘Chief Choi’, a gruff but comical police squad leader. His performance resonated widely with the fans, and the film became one of South Korea’s highest-grossing comedies, turning him into a household name.

Song Young-kyu had many memorable television roles 

In addition to Extreme Job, Young-kyu appeared in popular dramas such as Hwarang, where he shared screen space with BTS’s V, and played the role of ‘Queen Jiso’s’ brother. He also featured in national and global hits like Hot Stove League, Tale of the Nine Tailed, Destined With You, Love Scout, and The Tale of Lady Ok. His performace was time and again appreciated. Even with limited screen time he was capable of catching audiences' eyes.

Song Young-kyu’s DUI incident and professional fallout

On June 19, 2025, Song Young-kyu found himself trapped in a controversy. He was caught driving under the influence in the area of Yongin. It is being reported that he lived near the area and had driven around 5km with blood alcohol levels over 0.08 percent. He was arrested for the same, and his license was revoked.

News of the incident became public in late July 2025, resulting in massive public backlash and media scrutiny. South Korea holds its celebrities to a high regard and expects morally righteous behaviour from them. Driving while drunk is a serious allegation, and Young-kyu found himself on the negative public side because of this incident.

Following the scandal, Young-kyu voluntarily withdrew from the stage production of Shakespeare in Love. Production teams from his two other ongoing projects edited or minimised his scenes. Two of his still ongoing dramas, namely, ENA’s The Defects in which he plays the role of 'Pastor Yoon Se Hoon' and SBS’s The Winning Try where he plays Daesang High school rugby coach, 'Kim Min Joong', reportedly had plenty of his scenes removed. A close source alleged that he was deeply upset because of the DUI incident and the backlash. The source said:

“He (Young-kyu) was distressed by the malicious articles and comments, and the circumstances were extremely unfavourable at that time.”

Song Young-kyu was discovered dead in his car

On the morning of August 4, 2025, Song Young-kyu was discovered unresponsive around 8 a.m. local time inside a parked vehicle in a residential complex in Cheoin-gu, Yongin. The body was discovered by an acquaintance. Later, police confirmed that there were no signs of foul play and found no suicide note at the scene. Authorities have launched an investigation and are considering an autopsy while interviewing his family to understand the circumstances around his sudden death.

Song Young-kyu has left behind a career legacy that spans over 30 years

Over a career spanning 30 years, Song Young -kyu had become a solid and nuanced supporting actor whose presence grounded the storyline. International audiences recognised him from hits like Extreme Job, Tale of the Nine Tailed, and Destined with You. His unexpected death has once again reignited discussions about mental health, cyberbullying, and the immense pressure faced by artists in South Korea’s entertainment industry.

Young-kyu's passing has been compared to other tragic cases such as of Lee Sun-kyun who was also found dead in a car in 2023 amid a scandal and had reportedly attempted suicide. All these incidents underscore a broader concern over the toll that media scrutiny has on celebrities and their lives. While official reports behind the reason for his demise are awaited, fans and family are mourning the late actor.

May his family find strength, and may his legacy in Korean entertainment be remembered beyond this tragic end.

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