Actor Song Young-chang, who portrays Player 100 in Netflix’s Squid Game, is again facing public scrutiny as his past resurfaced online amid his increased presence in Season 3 of the popular series.
Song, who first appeared in Season 2 as the character Im Jeong-dae, a cynical and strategic contestant, has seen his role expand significantly in the latest episodes. However, renewed attention has been drawn to legal issues he faced over two decades ago.
In September 2000, Song was arrested and charged with engaging in sexual acts with a 16-year-old girl in exchange for money on two occasions in Goyang. He was 43 at the time. During the legal proceedings, he spent 36 days in custody. The court ultimately handed him a suspended sentence, citing his lack of a prior criminal record and his remorse during the investigation. Following the incident, reports indicated that Song relocated to Canada.
Despite his recent success on a global platform like Netflix, Song remains banned from appearing on major South Korean broadcasters, including KBS, MBC, and EBS. These bans were instituted following his conviction and remain in place permanently.
Netflix has not commented on Song’s casting or the controversy surrounding his past.
His portrayal of Player 100, who is known for encouraging others to stay in the deadly games and exhibiting a ruthless, ambitious attitude, has made him one of the more prominent characters in Squid Game’s evolving story arc. Yet, the controversy has reignited discussions around accountability and casting decisions in high-profile projects.
