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Key Points
- South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun has been found dead in Seoul.
- He was under investigation for alleged illegal drug use.
- South Korea has tough drug laws; crimes are punishable by at least six months or up to 14 years in prison.
This article contains references to suicide.
Lee Sun-kyun, an actor in , was found dead on Wednesday by authorities following up a report that he had gone missing, officials in Seoul said.
Lee, 48, had faced police questioning three times over accusations of illegal drug use amid a government crackdown, with one session running 19 hours over the weekend.
The actor had said he was tricked into taking drugs by a bar hostess trying to blackmail him, the Yonhap news agency reported.
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Authorities found Lee in a search triggered by the report that he was missing, a fire official told Reuters on condition of anonymity, as the matter is a sensitive one.
Earlier, citing police, Yonhap said Lee was found in a car at a park in Seoul, after his manager told police the actor had left home, leaving an apparent suicide note.
Officials at Seoul’s Jongno and Seongbuk police stations did not immediately respond to telephone calls from Reuters to seek comment.
Lee’s agency, HODU&U Entertainment, also did not respond to calls. However, domestic media cited a statement by the agency that expressed sadness at the death, while urging restraint regarding false information, speculation, or malicious reports.
Infringements of South Korea’s tough drug laws can lead to six months in jail, or up to 14 years for repeat offenders and dealers.
A 2019 dark-comedy thriller directed by Bong Joon-ho, “Parasite” won the Academy Award in February 2020 in the four categories of best picture, best director, best original screenplay and best international feature film.
It had received six Oscar nominations.
In the film, Lee acted as Mr. Park, whose affluent home is infiltrated by members of a lower-class family posing as highly qualified domestic workers in a tangled scheme that leads to a gory end.
Lee, born in 1975, had leading roles in South Korean films such as the 2012 thriller “Helpless” and 2014’s “All About My Wife”.
He played the lead in Apple TV+’s first Korean-language original series, which rolled out in 2021. A six-episode sci-fi thriller, “Dr. Brain” unspooled the tale of a cold-hearted neurologist, hunting for clues to a mysterious family accident through brain experiments.
Lee’s wife is award-winning actress Jeon Hye-jin, and the couple had two children.
Readers seeking crisis support can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 and Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (for young people aged up to 25).
More information and support with mental health is available at and on 1300 22 4636. supports people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
