The star of one of only two foreign language films to win Best Picture at the Oscars is dead.
Following a search on Wednesday, authorities found South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun deceased inside a vehicle at a parking garage in Seoul. Lee’s wife contacted police earlier in the day, telling officers she found what resembled a suicide note after he left home. Well-known to millions in Asia, Lee achieved worldwide fame, and accolades, for playing the patriarch in the 2019 South Korean thriller “Parasite.”
South Korean police have not confirmed if Lee committed suicide. The actor’s death comes during an investigation into his suspected drug use at the home of a bar hostess.
Lee’s management team confirmed his demise to ABC News:
Lee’s representatives asked the public to “refrain from spreading false facts based on speculation and malicious reports so that the deceased’s final journey will not be unfair.”
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The actor had gone through rigorous police questioning since late October for suspicions of his use of marijuana and other drugs that are illegal in South Korea.
Like many Asian countries, South Korea has strict drug laws. Marijuana users can receive sentences up to five years in prison. Rising drug use among the nation’s youth, especially teenagers, prompted South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to announce a crackdown on drug-related offenses in April. Lee became embroiled his country’s war on drugs during a wider investigation into drug use at upscale bars in Seoul’s Gangnam district.
The allegations against the actor had already cost him jobs. His last interview with police was on Saturday. He remained adamant that he was tricked into taking drugs.
ABC further noted that Lee tested negative in two drug tests administered during the course of the investigation. He filed a complaint against the hostess and an unidentified person, accusing them of blackmail:
The actor’s funeral will be for family and colleagues, according to the management company.
“We express our deepest condolences on the deceased’s final journey,” the statement concluded.
Before his death, Lee earned a Screen Actors Guild Award for his starring role in “Parasite.” He most recently starred in the Apple TV+ series “Dr. Brain,” earning him an Emmy nomination.
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