Actor Song Yeong-kyu has faced controversy after hiding his drunk driving incident for over a month, which was revealed late. With the impact felt on both the theater stage and drama filming sites, the repercussions on the works he is involved in are significant.
On the 25th, a media outlet reported exclusively that Song Yeong-kyu's drunk driving incident was made public. According to the report, Song Yeong-kyu was caught driving while intoxicated after being reported by a witness while driving in a state of extreme intoxication over approximately 5 kilometers in Giheung District, Yongin, on the 19th of last month. The breath test conducted by the police at the scene indicated that his blood alcohol concentration was at a level sufficient for license suspension, which is 0.08%.
The issue is that this fact was revealed only after a month had passed. Had he immediately informed the involved works of the situation and taken responsible actions upon being caught, it could have mitigated the damage; however, Song Yeong-kyu remained silent, causing confusion even among the theater and drama production teams.
In a belated explanation, he stated, "I met a friend while being driven by a designated driver, and since it was a short distance to my home, I drove myself," adding that he expressed his apologies to those around him. Nevertheless, despite this explanation, there are ongoing criticisms that it is insufficient to reverse the damage that has already been done.
Song Yeong-kyu is a mid-level actor who graduated from Seoul Arts College and has worked as a supporting actor in numerous productions. He is currently involved in three works: the theater 'Shakespeare in Love', and the dramas 'The Defects' and 'Try'. In particular, the theater production, which is primarily staged, faces challenges in finding substitute personnel, and it has been reported that the production team and fellow actors are experiencing considerable confusion.
Industry insiders noted, "It is regrettable that he tried to quietly pass over this issue for more than a month without discussing it with his agency," adding that he not only lost the trust of his colleagues but also showed a lack of responsible attitude towards the audience and viewers.
Ultimately, silence has rather provoked greater backlash. While drunk driving itself is a legal offense, Song Yeong-kyu has not only harmed himself but also his colleagues by revealing the truth late. There is growing attention on how this incident will impact his overall acting career.
[Photo source] OSEN DB
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