Who Was Song Young Kyu? Facts About the Late South Korean Actor

The actor passed away at the age of 55.

Published on Aug 4, 2025

The South Korean entertainment industry was met with devastating news today: Song Young Kyu was found unresponsive in a vehicle in Gyeonggi Province. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding his passing, with police reporting no signs of foul play. No note was found at the scene.

Click to Enlarge

PHOTO: Instagram/koreanpopdramaworld.

His sudden passing leaves many in a state of shock and mixed emotions, especially given unresolved issues from the actor’s past. In mourning and in memory, we list down facts about the late actor.

Who Was Song Young Kyu?

1. He was 55 years old.

Young Kyu was born on April 18, 1970, marking the beginning of a life that would later touch many through his work. His international age at the time of his passing was 55.

2. He is survived by his wife and their children.

According to an article by OSEN, a news outlet in South Korea, his wife ran a cafe while he pursued acting. The couple reportedly suffered losses and financial difficulties from the business. They have two daughters.

3. He had an acting career that spans three decades.

Young Kyu made his stage debut through a musical in 1994. He has built a steady career across theater, film, and television since then, appearing in more than 40 dramas and movies.

Click to Enlarge

PHOTO: Instagram/jtbcundercover.

4. He is best known for the film “Extreme Job.”

Throughout his long career, Young Kyu appeared in a number of films, including the 2019 box office hit Extreme Job, an action-comedy about a team of narcotics detectives who go undercover by running a fried chicken restaurant as their front. He starred alongside Lee Hanee, Gong Myung, Ryu Seung Ryong, and Jin Seon Kyu.

Click to Enlarge

PHOTO: Management Koo via The Korea Herald.

Another of his notable projects is Netflix’s Narco-Saints, a crime series based on a true story. Along the same genre, he also starred in Big Bet on Disney+, which is a thrilling story on the rise and fall of a casino tycoon in the Philippines.

5. He had previously faced a drunk driving charge.

Young Kyu has faced public scrutiny since his arrest on June 19, 2025, for driving under the influence. According to police, the actor drove approximately five kilometers with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent—above the country’s legal threshold for license revocation.

6. He was removed from several projects in the aftermath of the incident.

In the wake of the incident, Young Kyu stepped down from two high-profile drama productions—The Defects and The Winning Try—both of which aired their pilot episodes less than a month ago. He was also swiftly removed from the stage play Shakespeare in Love.

Click to Enlarge

PHOTO: Allkpop.

7. He will be laid to rest at Hambaeksan Memorial Park.

Young Kyu’s funeral service will be held on August 6, 2025, at the Hambaeksan Memorial Park in South Korea.

Rest in peace, Song Young Kyu.

Kyla Villena loves a good lip gloss and a trip to the art gallery. She is Preview's beauty girl, who doubles as a self-proclaimed motivational speaker.