The head of the district police investigating South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun on Thursday over allegations of illegal drug use defended the harsh interrogation of him before he was found dead.
Incheon Metropolitan Police chief Kim Hui-jung said at a news conference that the entire operation was justified and carried out with Lee's consent. He expressed his “deep regret” over his death and offered his condolences to his family.
Lee, 48, who played the wealthy patriarch in the Oscar-winning film “Parasite,” died on Wednesday. His death sparked widespread sympathy from the film industry and the public alike, raising questions about the seemingly harsh and public nature of the investigation that fueled media coverage of Lee's personal life.
Kim said the questioning of Lee's three appearances, including a final all-night appearance, was necessary to hear his side and took place in the presence of his lawyer.
“The investigation into the deceased was carried out on the basis of specific reports, witness statements and evidence, as well as within the framework of procedures prescribed by law,” he said.
Lee had denied knowingly taking illegal drugs and said he was tricked into doing so by a bar owner who was trying to blackmail him, local news media reported before his death.
He has made three public appearances before police since October, most recently 19 hours overnight, and left the police station on Christmas Eve.
He declined to answer questions from reporters about the allegations against him, but said he was cooperating fully with the investigation.
He was found dead in a car in a Seoul park after being reported missing.
Former South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who was a human rights lawyer before entering politics, was among those who criticized police practices and high-profile media coverage of the case.
“The practice that causes tremendous damage to a person's honor and character, such as excessively placing a person at a media photo line and pushing them to make the extreme choice, must now end,” Moon said Facebook.
Colleagues from the film industry visited the memorial set up after Lee's wake, including “Parasite” director Bong Joon-ho and hit Netflix series “Squid Game” actor Lee Jung-jae.
Incheon police had previously questioned K-pop star G-Dragon on suspicion of illegal drug use, but dropped the case without charging him.
The investigation is part of a crackdown by the government of conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol, who has called it a “war on drugs.”
The country's strict drug laws have resulted in a number of high-profile arrests, including heirs to major corporations and celebrities. Anyone found guilty of drug abuse and drug trafficking is punished with a prison sentence of up to 14 years.
Korea: “Parasite” actor Lee Sun-Kyun found dead in a city park in Seoul