Song Young-kyu, South Korean movie and TV star, found dead at 55: Reports

Song Young-kyu, a South Korean actor best known for his role as Chief Choi in 2019's South Korean box office hit "Extreme Job," has reportedly died. He was 55.

An acquaintance found Young-kyu unresponsive inside a parked car the morning of Aug. 4, Variety and South Korean publication Yonhap News report. South Korean authorities do not suspect foul play and no suicide note was found, according to the outlets.

Young-kyu, who was found south of Seoul in the city of Yongin, had recently been the subject of scandal when he was caught in a drunk driving incident in the same city in June, Deadline and Variety reported. The incident led to his removal from several mid-project stage and television productions.

A staple in South Korean cinema, Young-kyu made his acting debut in 1994, launching a robust career that spanned both film and TV. Appearing in popular series like 2022's "Narco-Saints," a popular Korean Netflix original series, and Disney+'s "Big Bet," he was a reliable supporting actor, bringing both experience and consistency.

Young-kyu was best known, though, for his role as Chief Choi in the action-comedy blockbuster "Extreme Job." In it, he appears as the head of a detective squad investigating narcotics on the low and running a fried chicken restaurant as a front. He appeared in the film alongside actors Ryu Seung-ryong, Lee Hanee and Jin Seon-kyu.

It was a major box office success in the country and introduced a wider set of audiences to Youn-kyu's steady and masterful onscreen presence.