South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun, known for his role in the Oscar-winning film “Parasite,” has been found dead. This was reported by South Korean media, citing the police. The 48-year-old was reportedly found unconscious in a car in a park in central Seoul. It is unclear whether he took his own life.
Lee Sun-kyun has been under investigation for illegal drug use since October. He defended himself by claiming he had been tricked into consuming these drugs and faced several charges of extortion. According to several South Korean media outlets, the scandal damaged his image as a successful actor and deprived him of television appearances and endorsement deals.
The actor spoke to reporters before an interrogation at a police station in the city of Incheon, near Seoul, in late October. “I sincerely apologize for disappointing many people by being involved in such an unfortunate incident,” he said. “I feel sorry for my family who have to endure so much pain right now.”
In director Bong Joon-ho's film Parasite, he played Dong-ik, the father of the rich family that owns the luxurious villa that the other characters then enter. The film won four Oscars in 2020, including Best Picture, becoming the first non-English language film to win this award.
The actor had appeared in several feature films directed by Hong Sang-soo, including 2013's “Haewon and the Men.” He achieved international fame with “Parasite”. His latest film, Sleep, in which he plays the role of a sleepwalking husband who terrorizes his wife, was presented out of competition at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival in the Critics' Week category.
South Korean law is very strict regarding drug use. President Yoon Suk-yeol this year called for tougher measures to combat drug trafficking in a country where selling cannabis is punishable by life in prison. There are even prison sentences for those who return to South Korea after legally consuming cannabis abroad.
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