🎭 K-Music Meets K-Drama: Yang Dong-geun (YDG)

From child actor to hip-hop artist to global screen — meet Korea’s multi-talented Yang Dong-geun

If you’ve seen the cast list for Squid Game Season 2, you might have noticed a name that stands out: Yang Dong-geun, also credited as YDG.
He plays Player 007 — but that number is only part of his story.

🎬 A familiar face in Korean drama

Yang Dong-geun began his career as a child actor in the early 90s and grew up on screen,
earning widespread respect for his emotional depth and versatility.
He’s starred in everything from family dramas to action-packed films,
and is known for his ability to completely disappear into his roles.

🎤 But wait — he’s also a rapper?

Yes, really.
Around the early 2000s, YDG took a major turn and stepped into the Korean hip-hop scene,
bringing with him a unique voice and storytelling style that earned him genuine respect in the underground and mainstream alike.

He wasn’t just acting cool — he was living hip-hop.

🎵 Notable tracks as YDG

His rap style mixes punchy Korean lyricism with a raw, rhythmic delivery —
a side of Korean music that many global fans still don’t know much about.

🌍 Rediscovery through Squid Game

Now, as part of the Squid Game 2 cast,
Yang Dong-geun is once again entering the global spotlight —
and for those of us who know his full story, it’s a well-deserved return.

He’s not just an actor. Not just a rapper.
He’s a reminder that Korean artists don’t have to fit into one box.