'Extreme Job' Actor Song Young-kyu Passes Away at Age 55 "It Feels Like Just Yesterday in My 50s.."

[Financial News] Actor Song Young-kyu was found dead in a car in Cheoin-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do on the morning of the 4th, bringing sorrow. He was 55 years old. The sad news comes about a month and a half after it was revealed in June that he had been driving under the influence, leading to his departure from all performances and broadcasts he was appearing in.
He debuted in 1994 with the children's musical 'Meoteol Dosa' and built his acting skills on the stages of significant musicals and plays such as 'Les Miserables' and 'Ahn Jung-geun'. Known for his long-standing relationship with actor Song Chang-ui, he first worked with writer Yoo Hyun-mi in the 2008 SBS drama 'The Scale of God', where he appeared alongside Song Chang-ui. At the time, he began to attract attention from viewers, being imprinted as a "new face" and a "noteworthy supporting actor".
He later solidified his presence as an actor through director Jo Nam-guk's SBS drama 'The Chaser' (2012). During his unknown days, he supported himself with various part-time jobs, but this work allowed him to focus on acting, leading to roles as both lead and scene-stealer in films and dramas.
One of his representative works is the 10 million-viewer film 'Extreme Job' (2019). He also appeared in films such as 'Air Murder', 'Gangneung', 'VIP', and 'The Land of Happiness', as well as dramas like 'Suriname', 'Casino', 'Investigation Couple', 'Reply 1988', 'Golden Time', and 'Mary Daegu Attack and Defense Battle', showcasing his presence. He also appeared in variety shows such as TV Chosun's 'Golf King', staying close to the public.
In an interview with Seoul Wire during his lifetime, he said, "My 20s and 30s went by performing, my 40s went by filming, and my 50s feel like just yesterday, but I don't know what I'm doing," adding, "When I see my daughters growing up, time seems to pass at a frightening speed." He also recalled, "The works that viewers watched specially and showed interest in particularly remain in my memory." At one point, he taught students in the Department of Performing Arts at Semyung University in Jecheon, Chungbuk, saying, "It naturally reminds me of my initial intentions."
However, his activities were severely impacted when his drunk driving incident became known in June. His scenes in the pre-produced ENA drama 'Eye Shopping' were edited as much as possible, and his appearances in the SBS Friday-Saturday drama 'Try: We Become Miracles' were minimized. He also withdrew from the play 'Shakespeare in Love', effectively halting all activities.
According to a media outlet, Song Young-kyu had been living alone since last year, separated from his family. The outlet quoted a close associate, saying, "His wife was running a cafe business, and the couple worked hard, but as the economy worsened and they faced financial difficulties, they suffered losses. It seems the vicious cycle continued as the number of works decreased. It seems he drank to forget the stress. When the drunk driving incident occurred, the uncertainty of the future seemed to have grown," expressing sorrow over the unexpected tragedy.

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jashin@fnnews.com Reporter Shin Jin-a