South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyunknown for his role in the film “Parasites“, winner of numerous Oscar awards, was found dead this Wednesday in Seoul. He was found inside a vehicle in a park in the Seongbuk neighborhood, in the capital of the Asian country.
“We believe his body has been transferred to Seoul National University Hospital,” an officer from the area police station said. The agency Yonhap indicated that Lee left a “note that looks like a will”.
The 48-year-old actor was under police investigation for his alleged use of marijuana and other psychoactive drugs.
Local media reported that the actor began to be dropped from television projects and commercials due to his drug scandal.
The actor had been subjected to three interrogations, the last last weekend, during which he was interrogated for 19 hours, and had told investigators that a ‘hostess’ who works in a luxury bar in the Gangnam district told him had tricked him into consuming the substances, without him knowing what he was taking.
Lee had tested negative for drugs in the reagent test he was subjected to during the investigation, as well as in a laboratory test conducted by the National Forensic Service in November.
The interpreter had recently introduced himself an application to the police department conducting the investigation to take the polygraph test, maintaining his innocence.
Lee filed a lawsuit in October against two people, including the aforementioned stewardess, for blackmailing him after news of his alleged drug use emerged.
The woman was arrested last month and police are believed to have applied for an arrest warrant for the other person.
In October, he spoke briefly to reporters before entering the Incheon police station to meet with investigators.
“I sincerely apologize for having caused great disappointment to many people by being involved in such an unfortunate incident,” he said at the time of the drugs investigation.
He added: “I feel sorry for my family who are dealing with such difficult grief right now.”
Lee’s career
A graduate of the prestigious Korea National University of the Arts, he made his acting debut in the television comedy “Lovers” in 2001.
He has been acclaimed for his performances in numerous roles, including that of a charismatic chef and a diligent architect who discovers his wife is cheating on him.
But internationally he was best known for his role as rich and superficial patriarch of the acclaimed “Parasites”by Bong Joon-ho, winner of the 2019 Oscar for best film.
This year Lee had participated in two films, the successful ‘Sleep’ (2023) and ‘Project Silence’ (2023), both screened at Cannes, although out of the official competition.
Before his participation in ‘Parasites’, Lee was already a renowned actor in South Korea for his performances in films, television and plays of different genres since the 2000s, including the television series ‘White Tower’ and ‘ Coffee Prince’, while many of his followers highlight his performance in the series ‘My Mister’ (My Lord, 2018).
In 2009 he won the Best Actor Award at the Las Palmas International Film Festival of Gran Canaria for his role in the film ‘Paju’, a drama about the complicated relationship between a young woman and her brother-in-law.
The fans’ farewell
Devastated fans expressed their sadness on social media. One of them wrote on X: “I laughed and cried a lot watching your performances. Thank you.”
Popular Korean-American writer Min Jin Lee noted on Instagram that “Lee was commendable in ‘Parasite’ and outstanding in ‘My Lord’ (…) May he be remembered for his excellent work and creative gifts.”
South Korea has strict laws against illicit drugs that even allow citizens who use drugs such as marijuana abroad to face prosecution when they return to the country.
Lee was married to actress Jeon Hye-jin, with whom he had two children.
Source: Clarin
