#SHOWBIZ: South Korean actor Song Young-kyu found dead at 55
The authorities have stated there are no signs of foul play and an investigation is underway, the Korea Herald reported.
They plan to interview his family to better understand the circumstances of his death.
A veteran actor with a career spanning three decades, Song was well-known for his supporting role as a tough squad chief in the 2019 box office hit Extreme Job.
His international recognition grew with appearances in popular streaming series like Netflix's Narco-Saints and Disney+'s Big Bet, both released in 2022.
The actor's career had recently come under intense scrutiny following a drunk-driving incident on June 19. Police revealed that Song had been arrested after driving approximately 5km in Yongin with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 per cent, which is above the legal limit for a driver's licence revocation.
The case had been passed on to prosecutors, pending an indictment.
In the wake of this incident, Song was swiftly removed from two high-profile dramas currently in production—ENA's The Defects and SBS' The Winning Try—as well as the stage play Shakespeare in Love.
This swift industry response is common in South Korea, where public figures are held to strict moral standards.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hype Malaysia
2 hours ago
- Hype Malaysia
'Law & The City' Red Carpet, Hael Husaini Concert & More: What To Do In The Klang Valley This Week!
The weekend is upon us, which means more events happening in the Klang Valley (and beyond!) to look forward to! If you're looking for something fun to fill your weekend agenda, here's our list of events – curated just for you! This week, we've got some exciting events lined up for you, including concerts from Hael Husaini, LaLa Hsu and more. We also have a captivating tribute concert celebrating the late Wong Ka Kui, and a special red carpet event with South Korean stars Lee Jong-suk and Mun Ka-Young! 'Law And The City' Red Carpet Event & Finale Fan Screening Obsessed with Law and The City? Now's your chance to catch a glimpse of your favourite attorney Lee Jong-suk and Mun Ka-young live in KL! The two Hallyu stars will be at the show finale Red Carpet event and special screening at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur this weekend. Entry is free but limited to ticket holders, so click here to find out more! Date: 10th August 2025 (Sunday) Venue: Pavilion Kuala Lumpur Hael Husaini & Repertoire Malaysian singer-songwriter Hael Husaini is finally holding his first solo concert – and you're invited to the show! The star will be joined by some of the best voices in the industry, including Nadeera and Dayang Nurfaizah, so if you're looking for an unforgettable musical experience, click here to get your tickets! Date: 8th August 2025 (Friday) Venue: Zepp Kuala Lumpur LaLa Hsu 'Sometimes, Less is More' Concert Tour In Kuala Lumpur LaLa Hsu stands as a distinguished all-rounder in the Mandopop music scene, having released hit after hit since debuting in 2008. This year, the powerhouse vocalist is bringing her heart-wrenching music to Malaysia with her new solo tour. If you want to be blown away by this singer's emotional performances, click here to get tickets! Date: 10th August 2025 (Sunday) Venue: Mega Star Arena infinity: Feng Ze x Wayne Concert Singaporean singer Feng Ze and Taiwanese star Wayne Huang are joining hands to bring their charm to Malaysia! Be prepared to swoon over these two heartthrobs as they perform at their first joint tour across Asia. If you're looking to make some unforgettable memories with these two stars, click here to get your tickets to the show! Date: 10th August 2025 (Sunday) Venue: Zepp Kuala Lumpur Beyond Tribute Concert: Remembering Wong Ka Kui An icon in Cantopop, the late Wong Ka Kui has inspired a generation of fans with his voice. Years after his passing, now's your chance to experience that iconic voice in BEYOND's music through 610 Band and its lead singer, A Quan, whose voice is said to resemble that of the late Wong Ka Kui. Click here for tickets to this tribute concert! Date: 7th August 2025 (Thursday) Venue: Zepp Kuala Lumpur SOUNDWAVE Concert 2025 Three young artists, each with their unique style, will come together for a night of unprecedented musical brilliance! Join singers Xiao Aqi, Wu Dailin and Wang Erlang as they captivate the audience with their powerful vocals and immersive performance. Click here to get your ticket to the show! Date: 9th August 2025 (Saturday) Venue: Arena of Stars, Resorts World Genting
The Star
4 hours ago
- The Star
Schoolkids pressured into ‘one-period relationships'
Singer Jang Yoon-jeong was taken aback when her children shared an unusual aspect of their peers' dating culture: dating for just one period of the school day to avoid being labelled as 'mosol.' These 'one-period couples' start dating during recess and break up before the next class begins, Jang said in a recent TV appearance. Given that a single period in South Korean elementary schools is 40 minutes, these fleeting relationships last less than an hour. Adults may wonder what these kids do during this time, whether such brief relationships can even be called real, and why they engage in them at all. One of the drivers behind this dating trend is an eagerness to avoid the dreaded 'mosol' label, a Korean slang term for someone who has never been in a relationship, which directly translates to 'single since birth'. 'You just give a note to a friend you like, saying, 'Do you want to go out with me?' and if he says yes, then we are girlfriend and boyfriend. Then we break up after the class ends,' said an 11-year-old student. 'This way, I am no longer a person with no experience, and can say I have had a boyfriend to my friends,' she explained. In South Korea, where relationships are often seen as a marker of social competence and normalcy, the fear of being a 'relationship virgin' has started to impact young children. Experts point to the pervasive influence of social media as a key factor driving these trends. Sociology professor at Hallym University Shin Kyung-ah said: 'Platforms are flooded with content that glamourises relationships, from romantic confessions to curated couple aesthetics.' 'This constant exposure influences children to emulate the behaviours they see, often without fully understanding the implications.' While some parents find the innocence of such interactions endearing, others express discomfort at the accelerated pace of their children's emotional development. Experts emphasise that parents should avoid harsh criticism and instead provide guidance, explaining the responsibilities and limits associated with relationships. — The Korea Herald/ANN
Free Malaysia Today
15 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Disney tops earnings forecasts with streaming gains, raises guidance
Shares of Walt Disney were down about 2% in premarket trading. (AP pic) LOS ANGELES : Walt Disney posted better-than-expected results for April through June and raised its full-year earnings guidance today as the company's streaming television profit grew and US theme park visitors increased their spending. Adjusted earnings per share rose 16% from a year ago to US$1.61 for Disney's fiscal third quarter. Analysts had expected US$1.47, according to the consensus estimate from LSEG. For the full year ending in September, the company projected adjusted EPS of US$5.85, a 10-cent increase from a prior forecast. The rosy earnings report was released a day after Disney announced a major deal with the National Football League, which will take a 10% equity stake in Disney's ESPN sports network. The value of the deal was not disclosed. Disney is working to build its streaming business in both sports and entertainment as traditional TV viewing declines. It is also expanding its popular theme parks and cruise lines. ESPN's new direct-to-consumer platform, priced at US$29.99 per month, is set to launch on August 21. Earlier in the day, Disney struck a deal to become the exclusive US domestic home of all WWE Premium Live Events, including WrestleMania, starting 2026. Disney is paying US$1.6 billion for the rights, the Wall Street Journal reported today. CEO Bob Iger said the launch of the ESPN app and the NFL deal, along with a coming integration of Hulu into Disney+, would create 'a truly differentiated streaming proposition'. 'With ambitious plans ahead for all our businesses, we're not done building, and we are excited for Disney's future,' Iger said. The company projected it would add 10 million Disney+ and Hulu subscribers in the current quarter, most of them from an expanded partnership with cable operator Charter. Shares of Disney were down about 2% in premarket trading. In the just-ended quarter, operating income in the entertainment division fell 15% to US$1 billion. Disney attributed the drop to lower results from traditional television networks and the strong performance of the film 'Inside Out 2' a year earlier. Disney's parks division reported a 13% increase in operating income to US$2.5 billion. Profit at domestic parks rose 22% even with new competition in Orlando, Florida, from Universal's Epic Universe, which opened in late May, as visitors increased their spending. 'Walt Disney World in Orlando posted record revenue for the quarter,' Disney CFO Hugh Johnston said. At the sports unit, operating income rose 29% to US$1 billion. Domestic ESPN profit fell 3%, partly from higher programming and production costs, including rate increases for NBA games and college sports.
