Yang Dong-geun

Yang Dong-geun (; 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 and Hyung (1991). He began releasing music as a rapper in 2001, establishing himself as a star of Korean hip-hop. 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.

Filmography

Television series Year Title Role Network 1986 Three Families Under One Roof MBC 1987 Tappuri KBS1989 Carousel KBS1 MBC Best Theater: "Crescent Moon and Night" MBC 1990 Seoul Earthen Bowl Jang Soo-gon KBS 1991 Hyung (My Older Brother) young Dong-hoon KBS2 1992 Gwanchon Essay SBS 1995 New Generation Report: Adults Don't Know KBS1 1996 Three Guys and Three Girls MBC 1999 School 1 Jo Suk-ho KBS2 Ad Madness Hwang Dae-joo KBS22000 Drama City: "He Got Off at The Train Station" KBS2 New Nonstop Yang Dong-geun MBC 8.15 Drama: "Seongam Island" MBC 2001 The Full Sun Choi Dong-pal KBS2 2002 Ruler of Your Own World Ko Bok-su MBC 2006 Dr. Kkang Kang Dal-go MBC 2007 I Am Sam Jang Yi-san KBS2 2012 Hero Kim Heuk-chul OCN 2014 The Three Musketeers Heo Seung-po tvN 2016 My Fair Lady cameo KBS22017 Missing 9 Yoon Tae-young MBC The Bride of Habaek Joo Dong tvN Borg Mom Choi Go-Bong MBC 2018 The Third Charm Lee Dong-jae JTBCMy Secret Terrius Cha Jung-il MBC 2020 365: Repeat the Year Bae Jung-tae MBC 2021 Lost Woo-nam JTBC2022 Cheer Up Bae Young-woong SBS The Forbidden Marriage Jo Seong-gyun MBC

Web series Year Title Role Notes 2021 Emergency Doctor YangMedical Sitcom Floor independent actorAudio drama 2022 The King of the DesertDong-hyeon Connectmusician Z 2023MovingJung Joon-hwa 2024–2025 Squid Game Park Yong-sik (Player 007) Season 2 Season 3

Film Year Title Role 1991 Super Hong Gil-dong 5 Dol-yi 1992 Backpack of Memories of Hae-ryong and Dal-ja 1998 Zzang (The Best) Yang Jong-gu 1999 White Valentine Han-seok Dance Dance Soon-do 2000 Bloody Beach Jae-seung 2001 Address Unknown Chang-guk 2002 Bet on My Disco Wang Seok-gi 2003 Wild Card Bang Je-su 2004 The Last Wolf Choi Cheol-kwon Fighter in the Wind Choi Bae-dal 2006 Monopoly Na Kyung-ho 2010 Grand Prix Lee Woo-seok 2011 The Perfect Game Sun Dong-yeol 2012 Love 911 Detective Bang Je-su (cameo) 2013 Days of Wrath Chang-shik Rough Play Kang Bin (cameo) Black Gospel (documentary) himself 2020 Night of the Undead Dr. Jang 2022 Yaksha: Ruthless Operations Chief Hong 2025 Mantis Gwang-cheon / Bi-cheon Starlight Falls Craft beer brewery owner

Variety shows

Theatre Year Title Role 2005 Offending the Audience 2008 Mine Kang Bong-tae 2015–2017 In the Heights Usnavi

Discography

Studio albums TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positionsSalesKOR Yangdonggeun a.k.a Madman Released: July 27, 2001 Label: Star J Format: CD, cassette16 KOR: 68,209 Released: May 13, 2002 Label: Star J Format: CD30 KOR: 17,294 Travel Released: November 25, 2003 Label: Square One Format: CD, cassette12 KOR: 20,373 Mirror Released: July 13, 2006 Label: Danal Format: CD—But I Give (But I 드려) Released: October 22, 2007 Label: Kemical Record Format: CD22 KOR: 9,857

Compilation albums TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positionsKOR Best of Best Released: November 9, 2010 Label: Kemical Record Format: CD, digital download19

Singles

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

Awards and nominations