South Korean Actor Lee Sun-Kyun Of Oscar-Winning Film ‘Parasite’ Is Found Dead

South Korea’s SEOUL — Lee Sun-kyun, a prominent South Korean actor best known for his performance in the Oscar-winning film “Parasite,” was discovered dead in a car in Seoul on Wednesday, according to authorities, following weeks of an intensive police probe into his alleged drug use.

Police and rescue personnel initially thought Sun-Kyun was unconscious in the car parked on a street in northern Seoul. According to the Seongbuk police station in Seoul, emergency personnel later verified his death.

Lee, 48, had been reported missing, and police had been searching for him.

They refused to disclose any other information, including if Sun-Kyun committed suicide. However, according to South Korean media reports, including Yonhap, Lee’s family reported to police earlier Wednesday that he left home after leaving a message like a suicide note.

Sun-Kyun starred in “Parasite,” which won best picture and three other Oscars in 2020. The class satire was the first non-English-language film to win best picture in the Academy Awards’ 92-year history and the first South Korean film to win an Oscar. Lee portrayed the head of an affluent family in the film.

In 2020, the film’s cast, which included Lee, earned a Screen Actors Guild award for best motion picture ensemble cast. He was also nominated for best actor in the sci-fi thriller “Dr. Brain” at the International Emmy Awards last year.

Even before “Parasite,” Lee was a well-known actor in South Korea. He rose to fame with his role in the famous TV drama series “Coffee Prince (2007),” and he earned mass popularity with a string of hit TV dramas like “Behind The White Tower (2007),” “Pasta (2010),” and “My Mister (2018).”

Lee was the subject of a police investigation investigating charges that he took illegal narcotics at the home of a bartender. According to Yonhap, Lee claimed he was duped into taking the narcotics and had no idea what he was doing. However, the probe sparked widespread tabloid coverage as well as unverified web allegations concerning not only his suspected drug use but also his personal life. Lee sued two persons, including the hostess, claiming they blackmailed him.

South Korean Actor Lee Sun-Kyun Of Oscar-Winning Film ‘Parasite’ Is Found Dead

When he was first summoned for questioning in late October at a police station in Incheon, a city near Seoul, he bowed multiple times and apologized to his fans and family. “I’m sorry for my family members who are going through too much pain right now.” “I sincerely apologize to everyone once more,” he stated.

Incheon police announced Wednesday that they would close their investigation into Lee’s drug use charges but would continue to look into the two people Lee had sued.

South Korea has tough anti-drug legislation, although drug-related offences have increased in recent years. The National Police Agency announced last week that it had detained approximately 17,150 persons this year for alleged illegal drug manufacturing, smuggling, sales, and usage, a record number for a single year.

South Korean Actor Lee Sun-Kyun Of Oscar-Winning Film ‘Parasite’ Is Found Dead

South Korea has had the highest suicide rate among wealthy countries for a long time. It has also seen several celebrity suicides, including K-pop singers, famous politicians, and corporate executives. According to experts, many of the celebrity suicides were caused by vicious and cruel internet comments and severe cyberbullying.

“Lee faced some allegations, but they have yet to be formally confirmed.” However, the media has been relentless in its coverage of Sun-Kyun’s personal life… “I believe there is something wrong,” Kang Youn-gon, a media communication professor at Seoul’s Chung-Ang University, said.

Lee leaves behind his actress wife, Jeon Hye-jin, and two boys.

SOURCE – (AP)