The fact that actor Song Yeong-kyu drove under the influence became known late, a month after the incident occurred, causing the works he is involved in to face sensitive situations one after another. He is currently credited in a total of three works, including theater and drama, but the production teams are in a difficult position regarding his availability or adjustments to his role.
According to a report by a media outlet on the 25th, Song Yeong-kyu was caught driving under the influence while intoxicated for about 5 kilometers in the Giheung District of Yongin City, Gyeonggi Province, on the 19th of last month, after a witness reported him. The blood alcohol concentration measured at the time was 0.08%, which is at the level for license cancellation. He later explained in a media interview, "While I was using a designated driver, I met an acquaintance, and since it was a short distance to my house, I took the wheel myself." However, the problem is that he did not share this information with the production teams he is involved with for over a month. As a result, confusion has become inevitable in both theater and broadcasting.
Currently, the works in which Song Yeong-kyu is active include the play "Shakespeare in Love," the ENA drama "The Defects," and the new SBS Friday-Saturday drama "Try," totaling three works. Among these, the most urgent was the play. This is because his scheduled performance was set for the evening show on the 25th. Due to the nature of the performance, it was difficult to urgently replace actors, so the production team decided to proceed with the show as planned. However, the availability for future performances is currently under internal discussion, and it is reported that they are keeping the possibility of adjustments open.
In the case of the dramas, both "The Defects" and "Try" are pre-produced dramas that have already finished filming. Song Yeong-kyu's role is not a leading one, but he is an indispensable character in the flow of the story, making it practically impossible for a full edit. Among these, it is known that "The Defects" is leaning towards editing out only minimal footage.
On the other hand, it is difficult to even edit "Try." Having just aired its first episode this week, it is already delivered to the OTT platform under a simultaneous release agreement between SBS and Netflix. Given the nature of global platforms, pre-subtitle work is essential, so modifying Song Yeong-kyu's appearance in this first broadcast is impossible. Consequently, he appeared in the first broadcast on the 25th as is.
While driving under the influence is a problem, the main criticism centers around the fact that he maintained silence for a month after the incident, exacerbating the impact on the production teams and fellow actors. As an actor who has consistently appeared in numerous works as a supporting character, it is said that the disappointment in the industry is significant.
Currently, only "The Defects" has implemented editing measures, and attention is focused on what decisions will be made by the theater and "Try" after today. There is growing interest in how the fractures in trust exposed by his silence will impact his acting activities in the future.
[Photo source] OSEN DB, work poster
[OSEN]