‘Parasite’ actor Lee Sun-kyun found dead in car as he faced drug probe and ‘blackmail’ plot by waitress
South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun, known for his role in the Oscar-winning movie “Parasite,” was found dead Wednesday from an apparent suicide, authorities said.
Lee, 48, was discovered unconscious inside a car beside a charcoal briquette — which can cause carbon monoxide poisoning when burned in an enclosed space — at a Seoul park around 10:30 a.m., South Korean Yonhap news agency reported.
The actor was reported missing earlier in the day. His manager told police that he had left home, leaving behind an apparent suicide note, the news outlet reported.
His death comes amid an investigation into his alleged illegal drug use, which is strictly enforced in the Asian nation.
Lee was questioned three times by police regarding the probe, including for a grueling 19 hours over the weekend. He was first eyed as a suspect in October, the local outlet reported.
The actor apologized for “causing immense disappointment” during the first interrogation on Oct. 28, according to Yonhap. “I am sorry for my family, who are enduring extreme pain at this moment,” he said.
He claimed he was tricked into taking drugs, including marijuana, by a hostess at a high-end bar in Seoul who then attempted to blackmail him, Yonhap reported.
He passed two drug tests during the police probe and also submitted to a polygraph test in an attempt to prove himself innocent and the hostess to be the liar in the scheme.
Lee starred as the father of a wealthy family in the thriller “Parasite,” which was released in 2019. On top of best picture at the Oscars, the acclaimed film won in three other categories in 2020.
It was the first non-English-language movie to win best picture in the Academy Awards’ 92-year history. It was also the first South Korean movie to win an Oscar.
In 2021, Lee clinched a Screen Actors Guild award for “cast in a motion picture” also for his role in “Parasite.”
He had acted in other South Korean movies like “Helpless” in 2012 and “All About My Wife” in 2014.
Lee also starred in Apple TV+’s first Korean-language original series, a sci-fi thriller called “Dr. Brain,” which was made in 2021.
But the recent investigation into alleged drug use greatly affected him despite the fame and led to widespread tabloid coverage.
A person found guilty of violating South Korea’s harsh drug laws can get six months in jail, or as much as 14 years for repeat offenders and dealers.
The country’s drug policy is among the toughest in the world after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol pushed for a “war on drugs” earlier this year, the Washington Post reported.
Lee leaves behind his wife, award-winning actress Jeon Hye-jin, and their two children.
His agency, Hodu & U Entertainment, said his funeral will be private for only family and close friends, Yonhap reported.
“We can’t express how heartbroken and sad we feel … Please refrain from spreading speculation or false information [about him],” the company said in a statement.
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
With Post wires
