28-12-2023 (SEOUL) The showbiz world was rocked by a devastating incident on December 27 when veteran South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun took his own life amidst ongoing investigations into drug abuse allegations.
Authorities were alerted at approximately 10:12 am (9:12 am Singapore time) after the 48-year-old star of renowned productions such as Coffee Prince and Parasite left a message resembling a suicide note before leaving his home.
At around 10:30 am, Lee Sun-kyun was discovered unconscious in a car in Seoul. A charcoal briquette was found in the passenger seat, suggesting carbon monoxide poisoning as the cause of his death.
Later in the day, Korean media disclosed excerpts from the suicide note. In the note, Sun-kyun reportedly expressed sentiments to his actress wife, Jeon Hye-jin, saying, “I can’t help it” and “I think there is no other way”.
Reports also revealed that he apologized to the CEO of his agency, Hodu&U Entertainment, for the significant financial losses incurred due to canceled advertising and movie deals resulting from the ongoing drug abuse investigation. The estimated amount of the penalties is around 10 billion won (S$10.2 million).
Actor Cho Jin-woong, who had worked closely with Sun-kyun in the 2014 film A Hard Day, was overwhelmed with grief and required support from a friend during Sun-kyun’s wake, which took place in the afternoon at the funeral hall in Seoul National University Hospital.
Other celebrity friends, including popular Taiwanese actor Greg Hsu, who co-stars with Sun-kyun in the K-drama No Way Out, were also present to pay their respects.
Actors Jung Woo-sung, Jeon Do-yeon, Kim Nam-gil, Im Si-wan, and Ryu Jun-yeol were reported to be among the attendees at the wake.
The funeral for Lee Sun-kyun will be held tomorrow in a private ceremony attended by family members and colleagues, according to his agency.
Several celebrities took to Instagram to share tributes to Sun-kyun. Actress Claudia Kim, also known as Kim Soo-hyun, wrote on her Instagram Story, “So shocked and heartbroken to hear the news. Everyone deserves to be forgiven for their mistakes. Everyone deserves a second chance. What a loss of great talent it is for the Korean entertainment industry. Sending prayers to his family and close friends. Rest in peace.”
Prior to his death, Sun-kyun had undergone three rounds of police interrogation regarding suspicions of drug use. He claimed to have been deceived by a woman into consuming illegal substances, asserting that he was unaware of what he was ingesting. In November, he tested negative in two tests conducted during police investigations and by the National Forensic Service.
Some reports suggested that the establishment involved was a “room salon,” operating on a membership system and potentially involved in illicit activities.
Yesterday, the police issued an arrest warrant for a woman identified as A, in her 20s, on charges of blackmail and other offenses. A had allegedly extorted 50 million won from Sun-kyun. She is currently in custody at Nonhyeon Police Station in Incheon, and her warrant examination is scheduled for this afternoon.
With Lee Sun-kyun’s untimely death, his drug case is expected to be closed with ‘no right to prosecute’.
