Yang Dong-geun

Biography

Yang Dong-geun (Korean: 양동근; born June 1, 1979), also known as YDG, is a South Korean actor and rapper. He started his career as a child actor, drawing attention for his roles in the television shows Seoul Ttukbaegi (1990) and Hyung (1991). He began releasing music as a rapper in 2001, establishing himself as a star of Korean hip-hop. Yang continued acting, gaining popularity for his roles in the television shows New Nonstop (2002) and Ruler of Your Own World (2002). He is best known outside of South Korea for playing Park Yong-sik in the second season of Squid Game (2024).

Career

His comeback project after being discharged from the military was the film Grand Prix with Kim Tae-hee. He was cast as male lead Lee Woo-suk after Lee Joon-gi had to pull out when the Military Manpower Administration declined his application to postpone enlistment for military service.
On October 18 to November 23, 2008, he acted in the musical Mine with singer Kangta. The musical follows the true life story of Lieutenant Lee Jong-myung, who lost his legs in a land mine explosion near the demilitarized zone in June 2000, when he saved fellow soldier, Sul Dong-seob, from a minefield.
In 2016, he and his daughter Yang Joy joined as a member of KBS variety show The Return of Superman.

Philanthropy

On February 8, 2023, Yang donated 10 million won to help people affected by the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes, by donating money through the Embassy of Turkey in South Korea.

Personal life

Yang and his wife Park Ga-ram have two sons and a daughter.
Yang majored in Theatrical Performance at Yong in University.
Yang enlisted for mandatory military service in May 2008 for 21 months of active duty.

Ambassadorship

Public relations ambassador of the global medical volunteer group Green Doctors (2022)