After Squid Game 2 Release, Actor Song Young-Chang’s Criminal Past With Child Exploitation Resurfaces

After Squid Game 2 Release, Actor Song Young-Chang’s Criminal Past With Child Exploitation Resurfaces (Images credit: IMDb/YouTube)

All eyes are on the Korean drama Squid Game after its worldwide premiere on December 26. The dark thriller has gone on to become Netflix’s top series in 93 countries. Soon after its premieres, old charges against one of the supporting actors, Song Young-Chang resurfaced. The actor had been arrested and faced legal character for inappropriate conduct with a minor in 2000. Fans expressed their outrage and disappointment with the makers for hiring the actor online. Here’s all you need to know about the latest controversy surrounding the Korean series.

Song Young-Chang’s criminal past resurfaces

A day or two after the premiere, netizens began discussing the casting of Song Young-Chang as Player 100. The veteran has been working in the South Korean industry for 35 years, beginning with the film My Love, My Bride (1990). According to the website Where is the Buzz, Young-Chang first faced legal trouble in 2000 when he was arrested by police in September 2000 for inappropriate conduct with a minor. As per several reports, the actor was accused of having sexual relations in his car with a 16-year-old on two different occasions near a park in Goyang and paying the minor for services.

The incident with the then 42-year-old actor further blew up because the teenager recognised him from his previous projects. It led to the actor facing legal proceedings for his actions and he became the first celebrity to be arrested for a sexual matter involving a minor. Young-Chang faced 10 months in prison and two years of probation for violating the Juvenile Protection Act. However, since the actor had no prior record and showed remorse for his crimes during his 36-day custody period. His sentence was later suspended.

After the incident, Young-Chang was banned permanently from coming on the major TV networks in South Korea, including KBS, EBS, and MBC. For several years, the actor worked in musical theatre until his eventual comeback in films and series.

Fan reaction online has been strong

Squid Game and K-drama fans expressed their disappointment with the makers of the show of their casting. They called the series, “a production for criminals to revive their career.” One fan stated, “Atp someone should just make a list of squid game male actors who ISNT a criminal.” Another added, “the fact that squid game is a series full of criminal actors but y’all still hype it like nothing happened is just nasty.” There were several threads and links shared on X, informing other newer fans of Squid Game of the actor’s criminal past.