Yang Dong-geun

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).

• Name — Yang Dong-geun • Other Names — * YDG • Dong-kun Yang • Born — 1 June 1979 • Birthplace — Seoul, South Korea • Education — Yong in University (Theatrical Performance) • Occupation — * Actor • rapper • singer • songwriter • record producer • breakdancer • Agent — Polaris Entertainment • Years Active — 1986–present 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 (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).

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.

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.

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.

• Year — Title — Role — Network • 1986 — Three Families Under One Roof — MBC • 1987 — Tappuri — KBS • 1989 — 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 — KBS2 • 2000 — 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 — KBS2 • 2017 — 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 — JTBC • My Secret Terrius — Cha Jung-il — MBC • 2020 — 365: Repeat the Year — Bae Jung-tae — MBC • 2021 — Lost — Woo-nam — JTBC • 2022 — Cheer Up — Bae Young-woong — SBS • The Forbidden Marriage — Jo Seong-gyun — MBC

• Year — Title — Role — Notes — Ref. Reference(s) • 2021 — Emergency — Doctor Yang — Medical Sitcom • Floor — independent actor — Audio drama • 2022 — The King of the Desert — Dong-hyeon • Connect — musician Z • 2023 — Moving — Jung Joon-hwa • 2024–2025 — Squid Game — Park Yong-sik (Player 007) — Season 2 Season 3

• Year — Title — Role • 2014 — Show Me the Money 3 — Producer of "Team YDG" • 2016 — The Return of Superman — Himself, with his children • 2016 — Unpretty Rapstar 3 — Host • 2017 — Law of the Jungle in Komodo — Cast member (Episodes 274–278) • King of Mask Singer — Contestant as "Columbus" (Episode 125) • 2020 — Contestant as "Sergeant" (Episodes 261–262) • 2021–present — Master of Life — Narrator

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

• Title — Album details — Peak chart positions — Sales • KOR • Yangdonggeun a.k.a Madman — * Released: July 27, 2001 * Label: Star J * Format: CD, cassette — 16 — * KOR: 68,209 • Da Man on the Block — — * Released: May 13, 2002 * Label: Star J * Format: CD — 30 — * KOR: 17,294 • Travel — * Released: November 25, 2003 * Label: Square One * Format: CD, cassette — 12 — * 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: CD — 22 — * KOR: 9,857

• Title — Album details — Peak chart positions • KOR • Best of Best — * Released: November 9, 2010 * Label: Kemical Record * Format: CD, digital download — 19

• Title — Year — Peak chart positions — Album • KOR • "Dog" (2010 New Version) — 2010 — 48 • "Bandolier" — 76 — Best of Best • "Perfect Game" (with Skull) — 2011 — 91 — rowspan="15" • "Just The Two Of Us" (feat. Bizzy and Lee Jung) — 2012 — 18 • "Give It to Me" (feat. Dok2 and The Quiett) — — • "Father" — 2013 — 42 • "Jajaja" (feat. Dynamic Duo and Crush) — 2014 — 47 • "Jump Down" (feat. Ivy) — 2015 — — • "Beside Me" (with Code Kunst, Bewhy and Suran) — 2016 — — • "Work Spirit" (feat. Beenzino) — — • "Don't Go" (feat. Hash Swan) — — • "Casanova" (feat. Babylon and Carlos) — 2017 — — • "Then, Single?" (그럼..누님?) (with Esther Kim) — 2018 — — • "Going Home" — 2019 — — • "Package of Love" — — • "That G" — 2021 — — • "Count Your Blessings" (with Dbo) — 2025 — —

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

Yang Dong-geun is recorded as actor, rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer.

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