27-12-2023 (SEOUL) South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun, renowned for his role in the Oscar-winning film “Parasite,” has been discovered dead, as reported by Yonhap news agency on December 27, citing police sources.
Lee was under investigation for alleged illegal drug use amidst a government crackdown on narcotics. The actor was found unconscious beside briquettes inside a car in a Seoul park on the morning of December 27. His wife had reported to the police, stating that Lee had left home, and she had discovered what seemed to be a suicide note, according to Yonhap.
Seoul’s Jongno police station did not immediately respond to phone calls seeking further information.
South Korea maintains strict drug laws, with drug offenses typically carrying a minimum sentence of six months in prison and up to 14 years for repeat offenders and dealers.
Lee had undergone three rounds of questioning by the police, including a 19-hour session over the weekend. The actor claimed that he was deceived into taking drugs by a bar hostess who subsequently attempted to blackmail him, as per Yonhap reports.
Born in 1975, Lee played a significant role as the patriarch of a wealthy family in “Parasite” and took on leading roles in other notable South Korean films, such as the 2012 thriller “Helpless” and 2014’s “All About My Wife.”
In addition to his success on the big screen, Lee had a prominent role in Apple TV+’s inaugural Korean-language original series, “Dr Brain.” Launched in 2021, the six-episode sci-fi thriller centered around Koh Se-won, a cold-hearted neurologist unraveling the mysteries of a family accident through brain experiments.
