South Korean actor Song Young-Kyu found dead in car two weeks after facing massive backlash over DUI controversy

Popular South Korean actor Song Young-Kyu, known for his roles in K-dramas like "Big Bet", "Hwarang" and "Hot Stove League", has been found dead inside a vehicle days after he was caught into a DUI scandal. He was 55.

Song Young-Kyu was reportedly found dead in a car on Sunday at a townhouse complex in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. An investigation has been launched by the Yongin Eastern Police Station and the cause of his death remains unknown, local news website Koreaboo reported.

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Why was Song Young-Kyu arrested?

Song Young-Kyu's death comes just two weeks after he was found involved in DUI incident in Yongin. The veteran South Korean actor was arrested for drunk driving on June 19 with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent and it is a serious offence in South Korea. The actor was found driving under the influence and his license was revoked under the South Korean law.

The incident caused Song Young-Kyu to be removed from several acting roles like ENA's "The Defects", SBS's "The Winning Try" and stage play "Shakespeare In Love". "The Defects" which he had already shot for, issued a statement which stated that his screen time would be restricted following the controversy.

On June 19, Song Young Kyu was caught driving under the influence. He drove about 5 kilometres while drunk in Yongin, the same area where he lived and was then referred to the prosecution. Though the incident happened in June, it only became public a month later in late July. This brought a wave of backlash and led to major changes in his professional life.

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On Monday, Song Young-Kyu was allegedly found unconscious inside a parked vehicle by an acquaintance. After the police were alerted, an investigation was launched into his death and the circumstances surrounding it. Police confirmed there were no signs of foul play and no suicide note was found.

Song is survived by his wife and two daughters. In South Korea, celebrities are held to a higher moral grounds and controversies often lead to heavy scrutiny and impact on career.

Reports suggest Song-Young-Kyu was said to be extremely concerned by the DUI charges and its aftermath. As per Koreaboo, “He was distressed by the malicious articles and comments, and the circumstances were extremely unfavourable at that time.”

Song Young-Kyu started his career on stage with a children’s musical Wizard Mureul in 1994. His work encompassed theater, film and television. While Extreme Job brought him worldwide acclaim, he also appeared in projects including Hyena, Trick, Baseball Girl and Stove League.

(With PTI inputs)