by Lee Sun-kyun, the award-winning South Korean actor who rose to international fame after starring in the Oscar-winning film “Parasite,” was found dead in Seoul on Wednesday. He was 48 years old.
Mr Lee had recently been under police investigation on suspicion of illegal drug use and denied the allegations. Police said they were investigating the death as a suicide.
Police found Mr. Lee’s body in a parked vehicle in central Seoul shortly before 11 a.m., said Jeon Yu-deung, the chief detective at Seongbuk Police Station, who is investigating his death. After Mr. Lee’s manager reported him missing that same day, police found his body using the location signal from his phone. Jeon said Lee had also left what appeared to be a suicide note.
Mr. Lee is survived by his wife, two children and brothers, Jeon added. His talent agency, Hodu & U Entertainment, said in a statement that the funeral would be held privately and attended by his family and colleagues.
Mr. Lee, who was born in Seoul in 1975, studied acting at the Korea National University of Arts and made his first professional appearance in a music video in 1999. He became a familiar face on Korean television when he starred in the dramas “ Coffee Prince” and “Behind the White Tower” in 2007. He also played lead roles in the 2010 romantic comedy series “Pasta,” the 2012 thriller “Helpless,” and the 2018 psychological drama “My Mister.”
Lee received worldwide recognition for his performance in “Parasite,” a 2019 thriller in which he played the head of a wealthy family in whose house much of the film takes place. That film won four awards at the Academy Awards in 2020, including best picture, becoming the first non-English film to win the award. He and his co-stars won a Screen Actors Guild Award for his roles.
In 2022, Lee was nominated for best actor at the International Emmy Awards for his role in the science fiction thriller “Dr. Brain.”
Mr. Lee had been repeatedly questioned by police in Incheon, a city west of Seoul, since October, on suspicion of using illicit drugs. He denied the allegations in several public statements and said he was the target of an attempted blackmail.
“I ask that the police make a good judgment about which side of the statements between me and the blackmailers are credible,” he told reporters this week after a 19-hour interrogation.
South Korea’s entertainment industry has recently been rocked by drug abuse scandals amid a nationwide anti-drug campaign. In March, police raided the home of Yoo Ah-in, famous for his role in the 2021 Netflix series “Hellbound,” after he tested positive for propofol, marijuana, ketamine and cocaine.
South Korea has a strict approach to drugs. Convicted offenders face sentences of between six months and 14 years in prison. Citizens can be prosecuted for illicit drug use even if they do so abroad.
Recently, the authorities have intensified the application of measures, warning that the problem is increasing. Drug arrests have increased since President Yoon Suk Yeol declared a “war on drugs.” More than 17,000 people were arrested on drug charges nationwide this year, an increase from about 10,400 in 2019, according to the National Police Agency.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for a list of additional resources. Go here to obtain resources outside the United States.
