“Parasite” director Boon Joon-ho led a press conference in Seoul on Friday after actor Lee Sun-kyun died by suicide in late December.
Lee was under investigation by Incheon police for possible recreational drug use and was at the center of a whirlwind of media and social media commentary in the two months before his death.
Backed by an impressive group of artists, cultural organizations and trade associations, Bong called for an investigation into police methods and urged mainstream media outlets to reflect on the sensationalist reporting that may have contributed to Lee's decision to take his own life. The public broadcaster KBS was particularly criticized.
“Clear legislative improvements are needed to ensure that principles and exceptions are not confused between the human rights of suspects and the public’s right to information, and that investigative authorities do not arbitrarily interpret and apply the intent of the law,” the ad hoc group said .
The media event was held on the 19th floor of the Korea Press Center in Seoul's central business district. A day earlier, the group issued a statement titled “Demands from Artists and Cultural Workers in Light of the Death of Late Actor Lee Sun-kyun.”
In keeping with the intent to discourage sensational online comments, speculation and criticism, conference organizers announced Friday that they would not answer questions, provide additional answers, or hold a photo session.
Instead, with actor Choi Duk-moon as moderator, the event featured a rotating lineup of speakers, each offering their own calls for justice and reform, including words from Yoon Jong Shin, Lee Wontae and Kim Eui Sung, representatives of the Producers Guild of Korea Choi Jung-hwa, Koh Young Jae from the Independent Film Association, director Jang Hang-joon, Kwak Shin Ae (representing both the production company Barunson and Women in Film), Yoon Jong-shin, director Lee Won-tae, Lee Ju -yeon , from Kore Film Marketing Association and PGK Chairman Choi Jung Haw.
“We hope that such a tragedy will not happen again in the investigation of pop culture artists. “This is the demand of the cultural and artistic community in light of the death of the late Lee Sun-kyun,” said Yoon Jong-shin.
“I demand that the authorities investigate. We call on the police to investigate whether the security of the investigation was compromised from the time the details of the investigation into the deceased were first disclosed until two months later. “We want to know that there was no individual contact with the media during the investigation, and we want the results to be made public so there is no doubt,” Bong said, appearing to have tears in his eyes.
There's more to come…