The entertainment world is in shock as news breaks of the tragic death of 48-year-old actor Lee Sun-kyun, renowned for his role in the critically acclaimed 2020 Oscar-winning film "Parasite." Police had been actively searching for Lee after his family reported him missing and claimed he left behind a note suggestive of suicide.
The grim discovery was made on Wednesday (Dec. 27) around 10:30 a.m., as Lee's lifeless body was found inside a car parked in a central Seoul park. The unsettling scene included a charcoal briquette on the passenger seat, indicating an apparent suicide. This tragic turn of events unfolded amidst an ongoing police investigation into Lee's alleged involvement in illegal drug use.
Prior to his untimely death, Lee Sun-kyun was under scrutiny by South Korea's Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency regarding suspected drug use, part of a broader crackdown on illegal substances by the South Korean government. The actor had recently faced legal consequences, having been arrested and was reportedly questioned by police up to three times, with the most recent session occurring just this past Saturday and lasting for 19 hours.
Lee Sun-kyun, who had withdrawn from the drama "No Way Out" amid the ongoing investigation, maintained his innocence, claiming he was deceived into taking drugs and asserting victimhood in an extortion scheme. He alleged that he had lost significant sums of money to the blackmailer being investigated. Accusations against the actor included the use of marijuana and other drugs at the home of a hostess in Seoul's Gangnam district.
Despite these accusations, Lee Sun-kyun consistently asserted his lack of awareness regarding the substances he consumed. Both the police investigations and a lab-based drug test by the National Forensic Service last month yielded negative results for the actor. In an effort to prove his innocence, Lee even sought a polygraph test, submitting a request to South Korea's Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency.
The sudden death of Lee Sun-kyun has sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry, raising questions about the toll of ongoing legal battles and the mental health challenges faced by public figures. As South Korea mourns the loss of a talented actor, the circumstances surrounding Lee's death and the unresolved drug investigation add layers of complexity to a deeply tragic narrative.
