South Korean Actor Song Young-Kyu Found Dead In Car, Investigation Underway

The 55-year-old actor was reportedly found in a parked vehicle in Gyeonggi Province, days after a DUI scandal led to public backlash and professional setbacks. The police investigation is ongoing, with no signs of foul play reported

August 4, 2025: Veteran South Korean actor Song Young-Kyu, 55, has been found dead just over a week after he was involved in a driving under the influence (DUI) case that had started to unravel his career. His body was discovered on Sunday morning inside a parked vehicle in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. The Yongin Eastern Police Station has launched an investigation into the circumstances of his death.

According to reports, an acquaintance found the actor and immediately alerted the authorities. A source close to the actor cited his distress over the “malicious articles and comments” and “unfavorable circumstances” following the DUI incident as a contributing factor.

The tragedy comes after Song was booked without detention for the DUI case, where his blood alcohol level was found to be over 0.08 per cent. The incident, which was reported by a local resident, led to the immediate revocation of his driver’s license. The subsequent public backlash resulted in him being removed from the stage play Shakespeare in Love and prompted production teams for his dramas to consider minimizing his screen time.

Song Young-Kyu, who began his acting career in 1994, was known for his work in both theater and television, including the dramas Eye Shopping and The Defects. The police have not yet confirmed the cause of his death.