Renowned for his role in the Academy Award-winning movie “Parasite,” actor Lee Sun-kyun was tragically found dead in Seoul, as confirmed by South Korean authorities on Wednesday. Lee, who portrayed the wealthy family’s patriarch in Bong Joon-ho’s critically acclaimed 2019 film, was at the center of a recent illegal drug use investigation.
Police discovered Lee unconscious in a vehicle parked in a central Seoul park at around 10:30 a.m. Inside the car, alongside Lee, was a charcoal briquette, often associated with suicide in South Korea. Prior to this, a report was filed indicating Lee had left his residence with a note resembling a suicide message.
Despite being found in this state, he was declared dead at the scene and was not transported to a hospital. Over the past year, Lee faced multiple police interrogations for allegedly using marijuana and other illegal substances at a high-end bar in Seoul’s Gangnam district. He consistently denied these allegations, maintaining that he was unwittingly drugged by a hostess at the bar.
Lee had tested negative for drugs in both a quick reagent test during the police inquiry and a more comprehensive laboratory test conducted by the National Forensic Service. Just a day before his death, Lee had requested a polygraph test from the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency, reasserting his innocence.
This unexpected and sorrowful event marks the end of a celebrated career that saw Lee rise to international prominence after “Parasite” won multiple Oscars, including Best Picture, in 2020. His passing is a significant loss to the film industry and fans worldwide.
