This South Korean Actor Who Starred In “Parasite” Has Been Found Dead At Age 48
At the time of his death, Lee Sun-kyun had been under investigation by police for alleged illegal drug use.
Lee Sun-kyun, the 48-year-old South Korean actor best known for his role in the Oscar-winning film “Parasite”, has been found dead.
Lee was found dead in his car in a park in Seoul on December 27 after being reported missing by his manager, who said that Lee had left a suicide note in his home.
According to Yonhap News Agency, officials found a charcoal briquette in the passenger seat, suggesting that Lee’s death was caused by carbon monoxide poisoning.
At the time of his death, Lee had been under investigation by police for alleged illegal drug use.
He had been questioned three separate times, including over one alleged 19-hour session that ran over the weekend.
However, according to police, all of his drug tests had all come back negative.
Yonhap News Agency reported that Lee had claimed he was unknowingly tricked into taking drugs by a bar hostess who tried to blackmail him.
Lee’s death has received sympathy from the film industry and the public, with some saying it reflects the intense pressure celebrities in South Korea face.
Police have defended their tough questioning and investigation, saying that the process was justified and Lee had consented to it.
In “Parasite”, Lee played Mr. Park, a wealthy businessman whose home is infiltrated by a lower-class family, pretending to be qualified domestic workers.
“Parasite” is the first non-English language movie to win an Oscar for Best Picture.
He also starred as a leading actor in films such as “Helpless”, “All About My Wife”, and the TV series “My Mister”.
Lee is survived by his wife, actress Jeon Hye-jin, and their two children.
