South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun, most known for his role in the Oscar-winning film “Parasite”, was found dead on December 27 in an apparent suicide, according to the news surfacing from Yonhap news agency.
The actor was found dead inside a vehicle at a park in central Seoul, Yonhap reported, citing police. Lee, 48, was under police investigation over his alleged use of marijuana and other psychoactive drugs.
The actor was known for his wholesome image. However, local news outlets reported that he was being dropped from television and commercial projects following the scandal.
Lee was a graduate of South Korea’s prestigious Korea National University of Arts. His acting debut came in 2001 with a television sitcom titled ‘Lovers’. He was bestowed with several awards for his performances in a variety of roles, including that of a charismatic chef and a diligent architectural engineer who learns his wife cheats on him.
His global recognition comes from his portrayal of the wealthy and shallow patriarch in director Bong Joon-ho’s 2019 Oscar-winning film ‘Parasite’.
His last film was a horror flick ‘Sleep’ released in 2023 — in which he played a husband whose sleepwalking eventually leads to horrifying circumstances — was critically acclaimed and also featured in the Critics’ Week section at the Cannes festival.
He briefly addressed the reporters in late October before entering an Incheon police station to meet with investigators.
“I sincerely am apologetic for creating great disappointment to many people by being involved in such an unpleasant incident,” he said at the time.
“I feel deeply sorry for my family, which is enduring such difficult pain at this moment.
South Korea has absolute stringent laws on illegal drugs, with even Koreans who take drugs like marijuana legally abroad risk prosecution upon returning to their home country. This year, President Yoon Suk Yeol has called for more stringent measures to completely eliminate drug traffickers, saying the country was no longer “drug-free”.
Lee is survived by his wife and actress Jeon Hye-jin and two sons.
