SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - Popular South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun, best known for his role in the Oscar-winning film Parasite, was found dead in a car in Seoul on Wednesday, authorities said weeks later. strict police investigation into his alleged drug use. Police and emergency services initially found Lee unconscious in a car parked on a street in North Seoul. Seoul's Seongbuk Police Station said rescue
officials later confirmed his death. Police searched for Lee, 8, after she was reported missing. They declined to provide further details, including whether they have determined that Lee killed himself. But South Korean media, including Yonhap news agency, reported that Lee's family told police earlier on Wednesday that he left home after killing himself. Lee starred in Parasite, which won the Oscar for Best
Picture in 2020 and three other categories. The class satire was the first non-English language film to win Best Picture in the then 92-year history of the Oscars. was the first South Korean film to win an Oscar. Lee played the head of a wealthy family in the film. The film's cast, including Lee, also won a 2020 Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Ensemble. Also last year, he was nominated for Best Actor at
the International Emmy Awards for his performance in the sci-fi thriller Dr. Brain. . Even before "Parasite," Lee had been a popular actor in South Korea for a long time. He became famous for his role in the hit TV drama series Coffee Prince (2007) and gained mainstream popularity with several hit TV dramas such as Behind the White Tower (2007), Pasta (2010) and Mine. Sir (2018). Lee was under
police investigation over allegations that he used illegal drugs at a bar hostess's apartment. Lee claimed he was tricked into taking drugs and didn't know what he was taking, according to Yonhap. But the investigation led to widespread tabloid coverage and unconfirmed Internet rumors not only about his alleged drug use, but also about his private life. Lee filed a lawsuit against two people, including the
landlady, claiming they blackmailed him. When he was first summoned for questioning at a police station in Incheon, near Seoul, at the end of October, he repeatedly bowed and apologized to his fans and family. "I feel sorry for my family members who are in too much pain right now. Again I sincerely apologize to everyone," he said. Incheon police said Wednesday they will close their investigation into
Lee's drug-taking allegations but will continue to investigate the people Lee sued. South Korea has strict anti-drug laws, but drug-related crimes have increased in recent years. Last week, the law enforcement agency said it had arrested about 17,150 people this year for allegedly manufacturing, trafficking, selling and using illegal drugs, a record number for a single year. South Korea has long had the highest suicide rate among developed nations. It has also experienced a number of celebrity suicides
involving K-pop stars, prominent politicians and business leaders. Many celebrity suicides have been blamed on hurtful and offensive online comments and severe cyberbullying, experts say. "There are some allegations against Lee, but they have not been officially confirmed. But the media confidently reported on Lee's private life... and I think that is something wrong,” said Kang Youn-gon, a professor of mass communication at Chung-Ang University in Seoul. Lee is survived by his actress wife Jeon Hye-jin and two sons.
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