Tragic Death of 'Parasite' Actor Lee Sun-kyun Discovered in Car

Article by Eve Batey

International actor Lee Sun-kyun, renowned for his role as the father of the affluent Park family in the critically acclaimed 2019 dark comedy Parasite by Bong Joon-ho, was discovered deceased on Wednesday. The Seoul police department in South Korea attribute his death to suicide. His age at the time of death was 48.

Seoul-based officials communicated to Yonhap News Agency that throughout 2023, law enforcement questioned Sun-kyun three times on suspicions of consuming marijuana and other illicit substances. Drug laws in South Korea are exceedingly strict. As highlighted by the Seoul Law Group, all drugs, including marijuana, are illegal in South Korea, regardless of the laws in other nations. The sentence for drug use can range from a six-month term to over ten years.

Sun-kyun continuously refuted these allegations, asserting that he unknowingly consumed the illegal substances, part of an extortion scheme set up by a hostess at a luxurious bar in the Gangnam district. According to CNN, he lodged a legal suit against his supposed blackmailer, but questioning continued. The police detained him for 19 hours on December 23. In a media briefing earlier this week, Sun-kyun appealed to the police for fair judgement with regards to the credibility of statements made by him and the alleged defrauders. Through his legal representatives, he requested to undergo a polygraph test on December 26 to verify his claims of innocence.

Yonhap reported that all the drug tests Sun-kyun endured during the investigation turned out negative.

Sun-kyun received his drama education at the Korea National University of Arts, commencing his career in Korean television in 2007. He transitioned to film, garnering worldwide attention through the social commentary presented in Parasite which was widely featured in international film festivals. As of 2021, he was announced as the protagonist for Dr. Brain, the first Korean-language original series by Apple TV+.

The National Police Agency of South Korea reported over 17,000 arrests this year owing to President Yoon Suk Yeol's commitment to eradicating drug abuse, thus utilizing all government resources. Increased enforcement has led to similar allegations being leveled against notable personalities like Hellbound actor Yoo Ah-in and K-pop sensation G-Dragon.

Sun-kyun's agency, Hodu & U Entertainment, released a statement expressing "indescribable sorrow and devastation" over his passing and urged the public to avoid spreading misinformation.