©Photo by YonhapYonhap /AFP
South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun, globally renowned for his significant role in the 2020 multiple Oscar-winning film Parasite, was tragically found dead in Seoul this Wednesday. This incident comes two months after the initiation of an investigation into alleged drug use, a serious charge in a country with particularly stringent drug laws.
The 48-year-old Lee was discovered lifeless inside a parked vehicle in Seongbuk District, located in the northern part of the South Korean capital. This information was confirmed by a local police official to Agence France-Presse (AFP). Another police source, as reported by the South Korean news agency Yonhap, indicated that Lee might have left a note resembling a will, suggesting the possibility of suicide.
Since October, Lee had been under investigation for suspected use of cannabis and other psychotropic substances. In a country with strict drug laws, this scandal significantly marred his public image, resulting in the cancelation of his television appearances and loss of advertising contracts, as reported by several local media outlets.
Lee underwent a third intensive interrogation session lasting 19 hours on December 23 and 24, according to Yonhap. Before a prior interrogation at a police station in Incheon, near Seoul, at the end of October, the actor publicly apologized to journalists. “I sincerely apologize for having disappointed so many people by being involved in such an unpleasant incident,” he stated, expressing regret for the pain caused to his family during these challenging times.
He was suspected of consuming illegal drugs at a high-end bar in Seoul’s trendy Gangnam District. Lee claimed to have been deceived by the bar’s hostess and was unaware of the illegal nature of the substances consumed, as per Yonhap.
A graduate of the prestigious Korea National University of Arts, Lee distinguished himself with a diverse range of roles in films and television series, gaining international recognition through streaming. He received particular acclaim for his role in the series My Mister, portraying an engineer grappling with personal challenges, alongside K-pop star Lee Ji-eun, known by her stage name IU.
[gallery link="none" size="full" ids="211380,211381,211382"]
Lee also appeared in several films by director Hong Sang-soo, including Nobody's Daughter Haewon in 2013. However, it was his role in Parasite, directed by Bong Joon-ho, where he played the father of a wealthy family unwittingly intertwined with a poorer family, that he achieved international fame. Parasite garnered numerous international awards, including the Oscar for Best Picture, a rare feat for a non-English-language film.
His latest film, Jason Yu’s Sleep, in which he portrayed a sleepwalking husband terrorizing his wife, was presented out of competition at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival in the Critics’ Week category. Lee was married to actress Jeon Hye-jin, with whom he had two sons.
Lee’s sudden passing has elicited a wave of emotion among his fans and the global film community. A fan shared on social media, “I laughed a lot and cried a lot watching you perform. Thank you.” Korean-American author Min Jin Lee also paid tribute to the actor on Instagram, praising his performances in Parasite and My Mister.
This tragedy occurs amid a backdrop where several South Korean celebrities, including rapper G-Dragon, have been interrogated by the police on drug use suspicions. President Yoon Suk Yeol has been calling for stronger measures against drug trafficking, in a country where cannabis consumption can lead to life imprisonment. South Korea even considers prosecuting citizens who legally consume cannabis abroad and return to the country.
With AFP
Comments