‘Parasite’ actor Lee Sun-kyun found dead

Trigger warning: Mention of suicide

South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun, famous for his role in the award-winning film “Parasite,” was discovered dead inside a car in Seoul on Wednesday, 27 December.

Lee Sun-kyun in 2019’s ‘Parasite.’

The tragic incident unfolded shortly after his third police interrogation on Sunday regarding suspicions of illegal drug use, where the actor reportedly maintained his innocence and requested a lie detector test.

The 48-year-old actor was found unconscious in a car near Waryong Park in northern Jongno-gu around 10:30 a.m. Authorities confirmed his apparent suicide at the scene.

The police responded to the incident following a report from Lee’s wife, actor Jeon Hye-jin, that Lee had gone missing with his car, leaving behind a troubling note at home.

Police investigate a car in which the body of South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun was found at a park in central Seoul on December 27, 2023. South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun, best known for his role in the Oscar-winning film “Parasite”, was found dead on December 27, in an apparent suicide, Yonhap news agency reported. (Photo by Yonhap / YONHAP / AFP) / – South Korea OUT / NO ARCHIVES – RESTRICTED TO SUBSCRIPTION USE

In October, the actor faced initial police questioning over allegations of using marijuana and other illicit substances at a high-end bar in Gangnam.

According to news outlet Korean Herald, the actor was summoned for subsequent rounds of questioning on 4 November and 24 December. He consistently professed innocence, asserting that he had been deceived by the bar host into taking drugs.

Following a lengthy 19-hour interrogation on Sunday, Lee suggested a lie detector test to ascertain the truth between him and the host, who claimed he had used drugs at her residence multiple times.

In a parallel legal development, Lee had filed a complaint against the host, alleging blackmail and extortion amounting to 350 million won ($270,000). Despite admitting to meeting the woman four times and inhaling a substance through a straw that he believed to be a crushed sleeping pill, Lee was said to have tested negative for drugs in both a reagent test and a lab-based examination in November.

This picture taken on December 23, 2023 shows South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun arriving at a police station in Incheon for his police questioning over his alleged use of marijuana and other psychoactive drugs. South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun, best known for his role in the Oscar-winning film “Parasite”, was found dead on December 27, in an apparent suicide, Yonhap news agency reported. (Photo by Yonhap / YONHAP / AFP) / – South Korea OUT / NO ARCHIVES – RESTRICTED TO SUBSCRIPTION USE

Lee’s attorney had previously advocated for private questioning, emphasizing the actor’s discomfort with public appearances during police summons. The circumstances surrounding Lee Sun-kyun’s demise adds a somber chapter to the ongoing legal saga that had unfolded in recent months.

Prior to Parasite, Lee had been a popular hallyu star with hit projects like Coffee Prince, Pasta and My Mister.

In times of crisis, please reach out for Hopeline. It is a 24/7 suicide prevention and crisis support helpline by the Philippine Red Cross and is one of the first to launch in the country. For more information, visit Hopeline PH on Facebook.